The forest was dark, dappled here and there by lone rays of sunshine that broke through the dense canopy. The light refracted on the dust and made it appear as if columns of pure light were holding up the forests roof. But where the light was a beacon of hope and fond memories, the darkness was an oppressor of cheer and all things good. And for a good reason. Dangerous creatures roamed the darkness. Creatures that wouldn't say no to a meal of a few little ponies.

All the ponies, feeling the omnipresent sense of fear and terror, bunched up behind Zecora. Staying as close as they could to the only being that seemed to understand the Everfree. Though she appeared cheery and fearless, her hesitance and watchfulness gave away her true nature.

After some time of walking, Twilight noticed that the zebra did not appear to be following any one clear path. Meandering from well-maintained paths to small trails that appeared to have been created by wild animals. Occasionally departing from them all to forge her own way through the under brush. If they got separated, they would never find their way back

Having entered this strange and somewhat terrifying realm, all her thoughts about Rainbow Dash had been banished to a small corner of her mind, fear being pushed to the forefront. But now, as she settled in to the rhythm, the fear began to retreat, and the previous thoughts arose once more. Not even realizing it at first, she was absent-mindedly staring at the cyan coloured rear end in front of her. Smiling to herself, she ran into it. She had been caught up in the view and hadn't noticed the group had come to a halt. She blushed and meekly apologized to Dash.

She scolded herself for what felt like the hundredth time that day. But her resolve was weakening in the presence of the Pegasus. Every argument she could bring up would just melt away at the thought of her. It was easy to tell herself that it was wrong when she was alone, or with other ponies. But here, now, standing right beside the target of her affection. All she could do was smile.

She brought her attention, somewhat distractedly, back to the present. Looking to the head of the group she saw Zecora standing stock still, eyes wide staring at seemingly nothing. Her ears twisting back and forth to hear something the others, apparently could not. Twilight became worried, if Zecora thought something was amiss here, something probably was. Applejack however, was the one to voice her concerns.

“Um, Zecora ? Is everything all right? Cause, ya kinda stopped all a sudden.” She asked timidly, afraid to raise her voice too much. The zebra remained completely still for a few moments before turning and replying “Yes my dear, there is nothing to fear. I thought I'd heard the sound of dangers foot, but here I am thinking it was just the creaking of the wood. Now, just a short ways more, we have quite a way to reach are destinations door.”

With that the mysterious mare set off again. The rest fell in line behind her. Twilight tried to pay attention to her surroundings, having been slightly alarmed by the incident, but she found her attention kept wandering back to the pony in front of her. She shook her head again, having let her gaze wonder forwards, and began scanning the darkness on either side of her to stay alert.

Suddenly a mass in the shadows moved. Perhaps noticing her gaze, it retreated deeper into the shade. She let out a tiny scream of terror and galloped blindly ahead. Of course ploughing right into Dash's hind quarters again.

“Geez Twilight, will ya stop running into me like that. I know I'm awesome and all but admire from a distance please.” The mare mumbled as she picked herself off the ground. Twilight paid no attention as she jumped back up and in front of Zecora. “Zecora, there's something there, I saw it move, I think it was watching us. What should we do?” She sounded kind of desperate she knew, but this forest was no laughing matter and there were only four of them.

With her comment, the other two started staring nervously from side to side, while slowly edging closer to each other. Zecora however remained silent, starring of into depths with the same look she had earlier. Twilight gasped. “You saw it too! That's why you stopped!” The zebra’s response was a small nod. Her eyes still scanning the surrounding area. Applejack rubbed the back of her neck and laughed in a disheartened sort of way. “It was nothing right y'all? Just a squirrel or another pony or something?”

Zecora turned her attention back to the group and replied, her voice low. “I do not think so fair Applejack. Rather I think it was something considering us ponies a mighty fine snack.” Applejack gulped. Rainbow Dash traced her hoof in little circles on the ground. So brave, to hide all of her fears just to keep a strong face for her friends, So- Knock it off Twilight! There are more important issues at hoof! She considered what she had seen, and Zecora’s reaction. Biting her lip she eyed the darkness wearily. “Aw heck, this wouldn't be so bad if I could just see anything!” Rainbow Dash burst out.

See anything, in this light? She laughed to herself. But wait … light. They needed more light to keep the fear at bay. Was she a unicorn or wasn't she? Lifting her horn to the green sky above, she willed her magic to flow. Her horn glowed, but it still wasn't enough. She focused her mind, and forced her energy out. A ball of purple light shot from the tip of her horn and stuck to the underside of a branch. It cast a bright light out in all directions. Everyone looked away, fiercely blinking. The light blindingly bright after the shadow of the forest.

Rainbow Dash smirked, and started to comment on the piece of magic, sarcasm dripping from her every word. “Well gee Twilight, not like we didn't need that beforehoof either.” Twilight blushed. “Sorry, it just occurred to me to-” She cut off mid-sentence. They all watched the multiple shadowy forms slink back into the trees, away from the ball of light. They all jumped back, putting flanks to flanks. All staring out of the circle and into the lights barrier. Zecora spoke up finally. “We need to hurry and finish our job. Before the fiends, our lives, can rob.” Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, but nobody moved a muscle.

Twilight tried to conger another ball of light, but was distracted by the rise and fall of the wing pressed against her side. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see the terrified look on Rainbow Dash's face. Her heart dropped, it hurt her to see her friend so scared. Her will restored, she once again called forth the spell, this time shooting it out into the darkness where it impacted the side of a tree. It stayed there, overlapping there circle of light with its own. “Well, shall we carry on everypony?”

They travelled that way for some time. From lit area to area. It was slow, but it was safe. After some time without sightings, their tension released. And once again they travelled in relative ease. Rainbow Dash had grown tired of walking, or as she called it “earth pony nonsense”, and was lazily flying along on her back just above them. Twilight tried not to watch, but she could no longer muster up the “other” voice in her head that argued why she shouldn't. Without turning her head, she admired the Pegasus as she slowly but surely pushed herself through the air. Having such grace and strength to do so with ease. She must- “Uh Twilight.” Applejacks voice cut into her thoughts. She turned her gaze to Applejack, a dreamy smile still on her face. “Yeah? Do we need more light?” Without waiting for an answer she shot another ball of magic ahead into the darkness. Applejack turned her to watch it pass, but turned back to her friend. “Thank ya sugar cube, but that's not what I was gonna say. I was gonna say you seem a little distracted, you keep staring towards the show off there.” At the mention of her, and at the remark of her being a show off, Rainbow Dash flipped over and flew right at them. Stopping right in Applejacks face. “How am I a show off?” She replied hotly.

Applejack sneered up at her. “Ah really got to answer that? You been floating along over there trying to get everypony to look at you. Yes, we all know you have wings. Now either fly normal or walk.” Dash did a flip and landed in a hover on the other side of them. “I am not going to stop, or walk. So meh.” With that she stuck out her tongue at AJ. Resuming her composure she carried on. “Plus Twilight seems interested, she's been watching. Haven't you Twilight?”

Twilight was startled at being brought into the conversation. She'd been content to remain on the side-lines for this one, but apparently she was going to be pulled in. “Well it is very entertaining to watch Pegasus perform.” She threw on a stupid grin to try and convince the two. Rainbow Dash just laughed. “Ha, told ya.” She did another somersault in the air and continued flying along. Applejack didn't look convinced, and she stared at Twilight sceptically as they continued on.

Twilight tried to pretend like she didn't see. Noticing they were coming to edge of the light, she conjured another spell, and sent it on its way. After the flash of the light she looked to see if the mare was still staring, which she was. She sighed and kept walking. Yet again, into the back of the stopped Pegasus that had landed at Zecora's side. “Oh for Celestia's sake Twilight! I'm starting to think you like doing that.” Twilight bust out laughing in a nervous, almost hysterical cackle as she stumbled back. “Wh-what ? Of course not ! That's so silly. Good one Dashie.” The others eyed her suspiciously. She gave one more nervous chuckle before going quiet.

Having observed the entire exchange, Zecora took the pause as an opportunity to speak. “Ah my little ponies, I know are journey has been hard and well spent, but that fragrance, can you catch it's scent ?” The group all inhaled deeply as one. Searching for the elusive odour. Applejack's face lit up in recognition. “Smells like the apple orchard on a summer's eve. That's odd though, I can't see no apple trees.” Zecora smiled. “No my friend not quite. The smell is whatever brings us are hearts delight. For the Everfree Florist is magical plant, which brings to mind that which we hold dearest.”

Dash took another deep breath. “Hm, I can smell … paper ? And dust ? That's weird, smells like a library ...” She trailed off into silence, her face contorted as though she were thinking hard. AJ spoke up. “What about you Twi, what do you smell?” Twilight focused on her sense of smell. She looked down and blushed. She could tell the smell was coming on the breeze, but she knew that scent. The fragrance she had smelt all along their trek. A certain ponies perfume perhaps ...

“Oh I smell err um … Rain! Yeah that's it. Rain, from a storm.” She shot a glance at Rainbow, who appeared to be still deep in thought. She looked away and caught Applejack smirking. She looked at her and raised her brow. But before she you could speak Zecora cut in. “Take heart my friends! For look here, we have found are goal and as are journey ends.” They all looked down at their hooves. Small blue flowers dotted the forest floor around them. Hundreds of them. Applejack turned a couple of circles. “Now how did we almost walk past all dem little flowers?” Zecora smiled and continued on.

“Now we must gather all we can, pluck them from their purchase in the land. When you've got all there are to be had, place them inside my little bag.” She gestured to the saddle bags she carried. And with that she went to work, delicately pulling a bunch of the small flower out of the ground with her teeth, before turning and depositing them in the reciprocal on her back. The others wondered off in different directions to begin gathering. Twilight wondered over to the tree, on which her current ball of light was stuck.

She bent her head to the ground; her horn glowing as she magically pulled a dozen or so out of the ground. She repeated the process several times till she had a fairly large quantity in a pile next to her. She picked up the whole bunch and walked over towards Zecora, depositing the lot into her already stuffed bags. She glanced up to her friends. Applejack was a little behind them, still picking away. Rainbow Dash was at the edge of the light, a bundle in her hooves as she flew along picking the flowers. A worried look caressed Twilight’s face. “Rainbow ! Don't get so close to the darkness. Who knows what could be out there!” The Pegasus turned and smiled though a mouth full of small blue flowers, before returning to work. Twilight sighed and turned back to the task at hand.

She had stuffed several more bundles into the bag, which was almost full, when a lone cry rose up over the forest. Everypony stopped dead in their tracks as fear gripped them. The cry was answered by several more. They were everywhere, the mournful howls encircling their little lighted ring of safety. “Girls!” Twilight cried out. “To the tree! Get under the light!” At once Applejack and Zecora jumped to the safety of the tree. But Rainbow Dash remained frozen in mid-air at the edge of the circle. “Rainbow! Get yer rear over here!” No response, the howling continued, and Rainbow remained frozen in place. Twilight took a tentative step forward, preparing to go to her friends’ aid, when a shadow leaped into the light. Leaped right at Rainbow Dash. Twilight didn't even remember conjuring the spell, but it sprung forth from her horn in boiling spear of lavender energy. The bolt of magic and the beast connected in mid-air. There was a flash of light, a yelp, and the creature was flung smoking back into the darkness. Dash seemed to come out of her trance. Dropping her bundle he turned and raced to the tree. “Wolves!” She screamed as she flew.

And as if on cue a pack of the creatures emerged into the light. Rainbow reached the tree and quickly dropped down beside her friends, staring with them at the group of Timber Wolves forming a circle around the tree of light. “Uh hey Twilight? I hope it isn’t too much to ask, but do you spose you could, I don't know, whip up a little more magic ?” The fear was poorly disguised in her tone. Twilight's gaze wondered from the wolves to her friends a few times before it clicked into place. “What? Huh- Magic? Oh right! Magic!” Her horn glowed and she lowered her stance. Her confidence restore she spoke out to sly forms. “Okay you monsters, come at me. “

And that they did. They couldn't rush them from behind or the sides at they would've preferred because of the tree, but those that could, charged head long at the ponies. They let forth a blood curdling howl as they approached. Twilight let forth her own cry, and a pulse of magic to match. The lavender magic flowed out into a wave like shape, and rushed to meet the charge. As the wolves reached the foot of the tree, the magic reached them. It impacted them like a wall. Picking them up and carrying them back to their companions it deposited them into a heap.

“Woo hoo !” Applejack and Rainbow Dash let out simultaneously. “That showed those pesky vermin!” Applejack chuckled. “Yeah! That's what happened when you mess with ponies you stupid- Ahh!” Rainbow cried out as a wolf lunged past her. Another wolf snuck around the other side of the tree and leapt for Zecora. She turned and bucked the thing with all her might. Catching it with a mighty blow in the jaw. The wolf tumbled backwards before jumping up and rushing back to its fellows, yelping and snapping all the way. Applejack let out a low whistle. “Whew Zecora, a buck like that seems be the key. Maybe you should come and help out at the orchard sometime, strength like that.” Applejack finished with a grunt as she bucked at another wolf creeping around the tree. “Yes but it is hard work, and quick to tire. They key with wolves, is to scare them with fire.” She emphasized the last word with a buck into the midriff of a charging beast. “Fire?” Twilight asked. “Well why didn't you say so!”

And with that the magic waves turned into balls of fire. She hurled them left and right. Into the ground, trees, wolves. The wolves began to yelp and whine in an uproar that was almost deafening. Combined with the crackling of fire, the noise was certain to be heard round the world. But despite the noise, the fire seemed to be working. Where ever flames licked the wolves avoided, barking and yelping in fear at it. She flung a few more flaming conjurations into gaps, and completed the wall of fire around them. The majority of the wolves howling around the outside, with the group inside at the base of the tree. Only one wolf was unlucky enough to be caught between the terrible fire, and the even more terrifying conjurer.

It dashed back and forth growling and snapping at them, but unwilling to get close. It ventured towards the wall and cried out again. It was busy staring at the rest of the pack outside of the ring when it was hit. Applejack rushed forward, turning quickly she brought her hind legs to her before bucking them out and up. She caught the wolf on its underbelly with such force it was picked up and launched out of the ring and over the fire. It landed amongst its comrades, who all took off howling into the darkness

The ponies let out a cheer of victory. “Wait.” Applejack said, a frown on her face. “Where's Rainbow? She was right beside me a moment ago.” With that a frightened squeak was admitted from above them. There was Rainbow Dash, clinging to a tree branch like her life depended on it. “Ah ha ha.” Twilight laughed at the sight. “You okay up there Dash? No wolves get you?” Applejack chimed in. “So that's what the Element of Loyalty does when her friends are in danger. Huh, always wondered.” They all laughed. Rainbow looked down at them somewhat ashamed. “Hey knock it of guys.” They all erupted out laughing again.

Zecora wiped a tear from her eyes and muttered something “… fifteen birds in five fir trees ...” She burst out laughing again. Twilight smiled. “What was that Zecora?” She looked up and shook her head, still laughing and unable to speak. Rainbow Dash groaned and dropped down to the ground. “You guys are never going to let me live that down are you?” They all smiled and as one and answered. “Nope!”

The laughter once again rang through the forest.

Authors Note
Okay guys, sorry about the delay in getting this chapter up. But I have editors now (thank god) so it had to go past them before coming here. If you happen to find anything we missed, or that's out of place, please make a comment regarding it. Special thanks to Paradox949 for helping me out with this. You are a life saver. Also, I think you can expect this to be the schedule for the rest of this story. Still a ways to go though.