The Jedi Prince

Nightmare Moon cackled amongst the gather of frightened ponies before her. She stood high and mighty, believing she had won over her subjects. The only pony brave enough to speak up was Mayor Ivory Scroll.

“Seize her!” Ivory Scroll shouted. “Only she knows where the princess is!”

A group of Pegasus guards flew toward Nightmare Moon, in an effort to prevent her escape.

“Stand back, you foals!” Nightmare Moon laughed.

Generating gigantic thunderbolts, Nightmare Moon knocks the guards back. Seeing the guards crash upon the grounds, amidst the frightened ponies, made Cody furrow his brow angrily. Without thinking, he charges toward Nightmare Moon.

“Hey! Over here!” Cody shouted.

Cody ran ahead at full speed. He activated his lightsaber, Nightmare Moon shot a beam which Cody was able to block with his lightsaber.

“Ergh…” Applejack groaned.

In the meantime, Applejack had tried to hold Rainbow Dash back. But eventually, the blue pegasus finally broke free, sending Applejack flying backward as Rainbow tried to pursue the newly-returned Mare in the Moon. But the mist proved too fast, disappearing into the night.

“Come back here!” Rainbow panted.

It was then that she allowed Nightmare Moon’s words to sink in, realizing what she meant, “Nighttime? Forever?”

Just then, before Rainbow had more time to think, she spots Twilight Sparkle dashing out the building as fast as her hooves could take her. Cody ran out of the building, “Twilight, wait for me!”

Before Rainbow Dash knew it, she watched them run away at incredible speed as if he had just made a remarkable recovery. This stunned the speedy pegasus, but then remembered her train of thought.

“Where’re they going?” She demanded from above. “Hmph… They know something!”

Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle had just arrived back at the library by the time Cody entered through the doors. She had just put Spike to bed, the baby dragon completely oblivious to the situation as he slept.

“Uh… We gotta stop Nightmare…” Spike said.

But it wasn’t long before the young dragon conked out again, falling fast asleep. Twilight smiled warmly, as she tucked Spike into his basket for the night.

“You’ve been up all night, Spike,” Twilight pointed out, as he slept. “You are a baby dragon after all.”

“You need to get some sleep too, Rex,” Cody said as he put his brother to bed, before turning to his other friend, “Sunset, can you please stay here with Spike and Rex?”

“Of course, Cody,” Sunset replied.

R5 also stayed behind as he was told.

Once she turned off the light, Twilight quickly searched the library, tossing books around. Just then, she heard an ‘OW!’ when she noticed one of the books hit an already stunned Cody in the face. It annoyed him that his so called ‘best friend’ didn’t even ask if he was okay. She just kept going while he rubbed his face, dodging the barrage of books.

Cody used the Force, at the last moment, to stop a book from flying toward him. He drops it on the ground angrily, as he made toward another shelf searching for the book Twilight was desperate to find.

“Elements, elements, elements…” Twilight said frantically. “Ugh! How can we stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony? Cody, can you…?”

Twilight didn’t finish when a certain blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail flew right into Twilight’s face, forcing the unicorn to back away nervously.

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow demanded. “And how do you and Cody know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you two spies? Whoa!”

Rainbow was pulled back just as Applejack appeared. Cody watched as the farm pony tugged the blue Pegasus away by the tail with her hands, letting her go at a safe distance from the two visitors.

“So much for being friends,” Cody muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

“Simmer down, Sally,” Applejack remarked. “She and Cody are no spies. But they sure knows what’s going on. Don’t you, Twilight? Cody?”

Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity arrived close behind, clearly sharing the same train of thought as their faces showed. Twilight looked at them one by one, hesitant to answer. Cody stood beside her, motioning her to talk.

“I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon,” Twilight explained. “Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her, but I don’t know what they are, where to find them; I don’t even know what they do!”

Pinkie Pie merely walked over to a nearby shelf, examining a rather old book.

“’The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide’,” She read aloud.

Hearing the title, Twilight zipped over and pushed her out of the way.

“How did you find that?!” Twilight asked.

“It was under ‘E’,” Pinkie said, in a sing-song voice.

Cody slapped a hand over his face; Twilight felt rather silly as well.

“Of course!” Cody muttered.

“Oh…” Twilight remarked.

Regardless, Twilight Sparkle was quick to recompose herself before reading the contents of the book.

“There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters.”

It was during this time a mysterious black mist returned, floating as if it were watching the Cody, the Thrace brothers, and the six ponies from outside the window. Having heard enough, the mist zips away unnoticed by the group.

“It is located in what is now—” Twilight read.

“THE EVERFREE FOREST!” Everyone said in unison.

Ominous music is heard, as if the melody rushed into the dark marsh that stood before them. A short time had passed since they read for where to find the castle, where the Elements are said to be secured. But the overall dread remained as the only way to find the castle was to enter the very mysterious, very frightening Everfree Forest.

“So… The only way to find the castle and get the elements is to enter the deepest darkest forest, risk being attacked by monsters, and possibly being hopelessly lost in an endless maze of trees and ravines?” Cody asked, for clarification.

“Yep,” Twilight answered, short and simple.

“… Okay then.”

“Whee!” Pinkie cried eagerly. “Let’s go!”

Pinkie Pie bounced forward to the entrance of the forest when Twilight Sparkle ran in front of her stopping the party pony in her tracks.

“Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but… Cody and I can handle this on our own…”

But Cody shook his head rapidly, mouthing ‘No, we can’t’. But whether Twilight Sparkle saw his lips move or not, at least some ponies wouldn’t be brushed off that easily.

“No can do, sugarcube,” Applejack said firmly. “We sure ain’t lettin’ any friends of ours go into that creepy place alone. We’re stickin’ to you like caramel on a candy apple.”

The rest of the girls agreed with a ‘Hmph’, as they ventured forward. Even Fluttershy, the most nervous of the group, trotted with the group of eager ponies. The only one who didn’t go in with them was Pinkie Pie.

“Especially if there’s candy apples in there,” Pinkie Pie replied.

But her rambling earned some stares from both Twilight Sparkle and Cody.

“What? Those things are good,” Pinkie said.

Twilight Sparkle just sighed heavily, while Cody stifled a chuckle. The young prince had to admit that Pinkie’s wacky sense of humor had grown on him. They wasted no time following the group of ponies close behind, venturing into the deep dark wood in search for the legendary Elements of Harmony.

The trek through the Everfree Forest was quiet… Perhaps too quiet. Apart from a slight breeze brushing against the trees, the forest was as inactive as the starry night sky as the moon cascades over the area. As they walked, Twilight Sparkle turned towards Cody who kept a lookout as if expecting an ambush.

“So… Are you okay?” Twilight asked, breaking the silence.

At first, Cody didn’t answer or didn’t seem to hear her. Course, it was hard to tell from his expression as Twilight tried to observe him. She released a sigh before she pressed on.

“Look… I’m sorry I didn’t ask earlier. It’s just… It’s been overwhelming with all this, you know?” Twilight asked.

“Eh, I’m fine,” Cody shrugged it off. “I’ve had worse.”

Eventually, the two childhood friends managed to catch up with the rest of the group. When things got quiet again, Twilight once more spoke up.

“So, none of you have been in here before?” Twilight asked.

“Ugh, heavens no!” Rarity answered, surveying the marsh. “Just look at it – it’s dreadful!”

“I’m not going to argue with that one,” Cody nodded.

The ponies approached a large cliffside overlooking the entire forest. It was then the dark mist appeared, creeping into the cracks of the ground beneath them.

“And it ain’t natural,” Applejack added. “Folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria.”

“Funny, I’ve been reading about that too,” Cody replied. “Course, I always thought they were just rumors to keep fillies and colts from wandering into the forest.”

As they walked through the dark brush of the wood, he couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous over this whole endeavor. But never once did his belief falter nor his courage waver.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Twilight asked Applejack.

“Nopony knows…” Rainbow said.

The way she lowered her voice, Rainbow Dash made it sound as if she were about to tell a scary ghost story. It was more than enough for Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy to shiver nervously.

“You know why?” Rainbow asked.

“Rainbow, quit it!” Applejack scolded.

The farm pony knew exactly what Rainbow was trying to do, and she did not like it, not one bit.

“’Cause everypony who’s ever come in has never come out!” Rainbow Dash concluded.

The three mares flinched quietly, but Cody grumbled as he stood behind Rainbow.

“Please…” He said confidently. “I’m pretty sure this forest is nothing ‘we’ can’t handle.”

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, as the ground beneath their hooves gave away. Every pony screamed as they slid along the steep slope. Only Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were able to avoid the drop, but saw their friends were in danger.

“Fluttershy! Quick!” Rainbow shouted, swooping down.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!” Fluttershy panicked, before joining Rainbow.

Both Twilight Sparkle and Rarity screamed their lungs out, trying to slow their descent down the slope, which ended at a very large drop off. Cody fought hard, scratching the earth with his feet, but was unable to slow down. Applejack managed to clamp her feet on a root to stop sliding. Rainbow scooped up Pinkie Pie, while Fluttershy grabbed Rarity’s tail slowing her down.

Poor Twilight was losing ground fast and soon dangled over the edge of the cliff. Cody tried to hold on, but part of the cliff he held onto suddenly broke away.

“TWIIIIIIIIII-LIIIIIIIIIIIGGHHHHHHHT!!!” Cody cried, midfall.

“CODY!!!” Twilight cried out, as her grip slipped.

Soon, Cody was falling very quickly, very fast, the ground just inches away. He thought this was the end of him, he said to himself, “I’m never going to see my family again; I should’ve gone to the party with my Canterlot friends, and invited Flash Sentry! All the years growing up with my Jedi training, my loyal companion…”

Just then, Cody’s eyes widened as if he had an epiphany.

“WAIT A MINUTE… I’M SMART!” Cody shouted.

Cody took a deep breath and released a loud, shrill whistle which echoed through the entire forest. Suddenly, a loud screech was heard as a creature was flying rapidly in his direction. This was his loyal pet, Padme the Aviserpen.

“Over here, Padme!” Cody shouted.

Padme screeched again, seeing her owner quickly descending to the ground, flying at a rapid pace. Using her strength, Padme caught Cody in her coils, floating themselves down to safety. Cody released a huge sigh of relief once back on the ground, as Padme landed gracefully on his arm.

“Thanks for the help, girl,” Cody thanked his pet.

Padme gave a soft chittering, rubbing her head against Cody’s cheek. Cody looks back toward the cliff, seeing the others struggling to hold on. But his eyes were on Twilight who was in a precarious situation.

“Hold on!” Applejack called out. “Ah’m a-comin’!”

Applejack let go of the branch, gently making her way towards Twilight. She grabs her arms, preventing the unicorn from falling.

“Applejack! What do I do?” Twilight asked, frightened.

Applejack just held Twilight tightly, before she looked up and saw something. She then turns toward Twilight Sparkle.

“Let go,” Applejack said, plainly.

“Are you crazy?!” Twilight retorted.

“No ah ain’t,” Applejack assured. “Ah promise you’ll be safe.”

But the frightened look on Twilight’s face proved she wasn’t convinced.

“That’s not true!” Twilight protested.

“Now listen here,” Applejack said firmly. “What ah’m sayin’ to yah is the honest truth. Let go, and you’ll be safe.”

Twilight Sparkle hesitated for a moment, before she eventually lets go.

“YAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Twilight screamed before she felt her fall stop midway. She turns from side to side, realizing both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy caught her in the air.

“Phew!” Twilight replied, with relief. “WAH!!!”

They dropped suddenly, but soon stabilized their flight again as the two Pegasus ponies tried to bring her down, but they lost their grip. Twilight fell once more until Cody caught her bridal style, she immediately blushed. Rarity and Pinkie Pie were already there.

“Sorry girls,” Fluttershy apologized. “I’m not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two.”

“Thank you, Cody,” Twilight said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his face.

“She digs me,” Cody said to himself.

Rubbing his front shoulder, Cody follows as the ponies head out. Little did they know, the purple mist swooped about the forest before approaching a creature, its contact made it utter a mighty roar.

“So tell me, Cody,” Rainbow rambled, pointing at Padme. “Is that an aviserpen?”

“Sure is,” Cody answered.

“That is so cool!” Rainbow practically squealed.

“Oh, you must tell me all about her!” Fluttershy spoke excitedly.

“Maybe after this whole adventure is over,” Cody suggested.

It was for the best, as he knew Twilight would keep moving even if there was a chance to talk. As they ventured through the forest, Rainbow couldn’t stop bragging about herself.

“And once Pinkie and Rarity were saved, and Cody was caught by Padme,” Rainbow spoke, excitedly. “Whoosh… Me and Fluttershy loop-de-loop around and WHAM! Caught you in the nick of time.”

Twilight looked indignant, or at least ‘tried’ to be. Suffice to same, Cody shared the same thoughts as he grew tired of all the bragging. Even Padme got sick of it, as she chittered in Cody’s ear.

“Get used to it, girl,” Cody said, with a headshake. “She does this… A lot.”

“Yes Rainbow, I was there,” Twilight replied simply, before smiling. “And I’m very grateful, but we gotta—”

Suddenly, to every pony’s surprise, a creature pounced before them. Twilight gasped, as before her eyes stood a hybrid between a lion and a scorpion.

“A MANTICORE!!!” Twilight cried, as it roared. “We’ve gotta get past him!”

The creature tried to attack, with a swipe of his paws. But Rarity gave him a good buck in the face, forcing him to jump back.

“Take that, you ruffian!” Rarity called out confidently.

The manticore responds with a mighty roar, the intense breeze messed up Rarity’s mane, making it poofy and messy.

“My hair!” Rarity cried out, before noticing the Manticore’s glare. “Woop—”

Rarity just barely missed getting swiped, dashing off to the side.

“Wait,” Fluttershy said, softly.

“You say something, Fluttershy?” Cody asked.

Cody managed to dodge the manticore’s attack, then Applejack lands atop the creature.

“YEE-HAW!” Git along, little dogie!” Applejack called out.

Cody watched Applejack ride the beast like a wild bull at a rodeo.

“Wait,” Fluttershy repeated.

But firm as she could, her voice was still too soft no pony could hear her. Cody uses the Force, ready to hurl a massive rock at the monster. But just then, he’s interrupted when he sees Applejack tossed off with a ‘WHOA!’. Sal comically runs around, reaching his hands out trying to catch her.

“Don’t worry A.J., I got you!” Sal shouted.

‘CRASH!’

As the dust settles, Applejack had landed directly on top of Sal, looking like she was straddling him. They immediately blushed at the position they were in and got back up. Her Stetson hat floats softly back onto Applejack’s head as Rainbow Dash flew above them.

“All yours,” Cody said.

“I’m on it!” Rainbow replied, diving towards it.

“Wait!” Fluttershy called out, louder.

Rainbow Dash soared round and round the manticore, trying to distract him. But the monster’s roar blows the Pegasus away, making her scream.

“Rainbow!” Twilight called out.

The beast’s grunt gestures the group toward them, Soon, all the ponies, minus Fluttershy, leapt into battle. Twilight snorts with determination.

The five girls and three boys charge at him at once…

Well ‘four’, since Pinkie bounced toward the manticore…

Anyways, the ponies were just within attacking range until…

“WAIT!!!” Fluttershy called out.

The beast and the ponies stopped charging, though the creature still growled. Fluttershy simply approached the Manticore, who raised its paw to attack. The others flinched nervously, anxiously assuming the worst.

“Shh… It’s okay.” Fluttershy said.

The ponies open their eyes as Fluttershy kindly nuzzled the Manticore’s other front paw. The creature extends it, revealing a very thick thorn in his paw.

“Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” Fluttershy cooed.

“Little?” Rainbow replied, stunned.

“Baby?!” Cody spoke, eyes widen.

The others watch with interest, as the manticore faced the kind yellow Pegasus with a rather sad look.

“Now this might hurt for just a second,” She told him gently.

The Pegasus quickly used her hand to pull the thorn out. The beast roared, scooping Fluttershy towards his mouth quickly.

“Fluttershy!” The others cried out.

But what really made all their jaws drop in shock… The manticore wasn’t going to eat her. Instead, he just licks her, clearly grateful that this pony removed the thorn from his paw, practically purring even. Everyone smiled, as Cody breathed a sigh of relief.

“Aw, you’re just a little ol’ baby kitty, aren’t you?” Fluttershy replied sweetly. “Yes you are, yes you are.”

The manticore continued licking her mane, before setting her down. By then, her pink mane stuck upward like a rock star. Every pony gave her a cheer, as the manticore went on his way. Of all the ponies, Twilight Sparkle was the most impressed.

“How did you know about the thorn?” Twilight asked.

“I didn’t,” Fluttershy replied, as she walked by. “Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”

Twilight just smiled as Fluttershy moved on, before noticing Cody smiling with his arms folded.

“What’re you smiling about?” Twilight asked.

“Honestly, I’m just amazed she was able to calm him for simply being nice,” Cody replied, “If Fluttershy can calm a manticore, then surely she could calm down a gundark or a rancor.”

Twilight Sparkle shook her head, as the two, plus the Thrace brothers, followed the other ponies deep into the marsh, missing the fact that the thorn shifted back into the mist as it followed them.

The march through the marsh continued for this rag tag group of ponies, plus the three boys. But the forest seemed to go on forever, they felt like they weren’t getting any closer.

“No,” Rarity groan. “My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck!”

All at once, every pony’s vision went black as darkness casted over the forest.

“Well, I didn’t mean that literally.” Rarity said.

“That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn’t even know it,” Twilight pointed out.

“Don’t you just hate those situations?” Cody remarked.

It was so dark in fact, Rarity bumped right into Twilight Sparkle.

“I didn’t see you there, my apologies,” Rarity remarked.

“Right here… Guh…” Rainbow remarked but bumped into Cody.

“Watch it, will ya?!” Cody snapped.

Rainbow merely growled in annoyance.

“Oh wait,” Applejack paused, raising her hoof. “I think I stepped in somethin’.”

Fluttershy suddenly screamed, but Applejack was indifferent.

“It’s just mud,” Applejack reassured.

Suddenly, there was an ominous growl from one of the trees. Then another, another, and soon, they were all surrounded. On each tree, they seemed to make a scary face at the ponies, plus Cody and the Thrace brothers with large eyes and razor-sharp teeth. They all screamed, while the boys guarded the girls trying to hide their fear toward the growling trees.

“Don’t worry, girls,” Cody said. “We’ll protect—”

Suddenly, they heard Pinkie Pie… Laughing?! Surprised, all the ponies noticed how Pinkie was busily laughing and making goofy faces toward one of the scary trees.

“--you?” Cody finished, confused.

“Pinkie, what are you doing?!” Twilight asked fearfully. “Run!”

“Oh girls, don’t you see?” Pinkie Pie asked.

And all at once, before any pony knew it, Pinkie Pie… Started singing…

Soon, with a little help from her friends, all the scary trees disappeared. The rest of the ponies rolled on their backs, laughing themselves silly. Cody, Sal, and Bucky, especially, were most impressed.

“Where was that all my life?” Cody said. “Sure could have used that lesson when I was younger.”

“Sometimes we learn when we are ready,” Pinkie replied, before zipping away.

Cody looked bugged out for a second, before shaking his head. A giggly grin forms on his face.

“I’ll never understand that pony,” Cody said to himself.

As they continue to laugh and hop merrily on their way, Pinkie Pie came to a sudden stop causing every pony to collide with each other. Before they could say anything, they noticed before their eyes was a wide stream dividing the forest. While it appears rather shallow, the water was actually raging violently.

“How are we gonna cross this?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Hmm…” Cody muttered, studying the stream. “Too strong to swim across, and no bridge to cross. Guess we can say we’re…”

“Don’t… Even… Say it!” Rainbow warned.

Storm held his tongue and kept silent as the ponies looked on… But only for a few seconds.

“Up a creek without a paddle,” Cody finished.

“YOU!!!” Rainbow shouted.

Before Rainbow could charge at Cody, they suddenly heard crying in the distance. Confused, they turn towards a rather large, yet very lanky sea serpent weeping himself in the middle of the water. His elongated figure wiggling so fast, the rapids were building. They also noted one half of his orange mustaches, which matches his orange hair, looked torn as if it were chopped off.

“What a world,” the serpent sobbed dramatically. “What a world!”

“Excuse me, sir,” Twilight called out, trying to be polite. “Why are you crying?”

“Well, I don’t know,” The serpent replied, facing the seven ponies. “I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off, and now I look simply horrid!”

The serpent wailed as he slammed back into the water, creating a massive wave toward the ponies and boys.

“Oh, give me a break,” Rainbow muttered annoyingly.

“That’s what all the fuss is about?” Applejack asked, in disbelief.

Suffice to say, Rarity felt indignant of the situation.

“Why, of course it is!” Rarity replied, stepping forward. “How can you be so insensitive?”

“Rarity actually has a point,” Cody added, in agreement. “Anyone would feel the same if they had to be out in public, only to have a bad or messy mane… Or in this case, a mustache.”

Cody and Rarity walk side by side toward the sorrowful serpent.

“Precisely,” Rarity nodded. “Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales.”

“I know,” Cody nodded. “And that expertly coiffed mane.”

“Oh I know, I know,” The serpent replied, running his fingers through it.

“Your fabulous manicure,” Rarity pressed on.

In the meanwhile, Cody watched her with interest. Course, it was hard to tell if Rarity was genuinely cheering him up or buttering up his vain ego. Either way, he allowed her to keep talking.

“It’s so true!” The serpent answered, looking at his fingers.

“All ruined without your beautiful mustache,” Rarity finished, sympathetically.

“It’s true, I’m hideous!” The serpent cried dramatically.

As over the top as the serpent was acting, Cody too felt sympathetic for him. Something needed to be done to cheer up this poor creature, but ‘how’ to do it was another matter. Luckily, Rarity was already a step ahead of him.

“I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!” She declared.

Before the serpent or Cody could say any further, the determined mare pulled off one of the serpent’s scales, making him yelp.

“What did you do that for?” he asked.

Rarity said nothing and held up her pointer finger as she held the round part of his scale in her hand. The sharp end gleams in the moonlight, as she raised it in the air. The rest of the ponies were stunned, unsure what she was about to do.

“Rarity, what are you—”

SWIPE!!!

Every pony’s eyes shrunk with shock, as the serpent fainted. Fortunately, he neither splashed them with water and neither was he severely hurt. Instead, Rarity’s now long, beautiful tail was cut off, leaving just a short remainder of purple hair. Using her magic, she levitates the cut tail and carefully ties it with the remains of the serpent’s sliced mustache. When he awoke, he saw that his mustaches had been restored… To some degree.

“Oh-hohohoho!” The serpent exclaimed, gleefully. “My mustache. How wonderful.”

“You look smashing,” Rarity said, returning to her friends.

“Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail…” Twilight said sadly.

Rarity looks upon her now short tail sadly yet still smiling.

“Oh. It’s fine, my dear,” Rarity said bravely. “Short tails are in this season. Besides, it’ll grow back.”

“So would the mustache,” Rainbow muttered on the side.

“Good point,” Cody said, hearing Rainbow. “Tell you what: Next time that awesome mane of yours gets a buzz cut, I’ll be sure to remind you, ‘It’ll grow back’. What do you say?”

Rainbow nervously put a hoof on her mane, as the others chuckled to each other.

“Heh, heh… No thanks!” Rainbow replied, chuckling. “I’m good.”

Just then, Twilight Sparkle looks ahead and gasped as the water before them was shallow again.

“We can cross now,” Twilight informed, walking through the water. “Let’s go. Ah!”

Twilight was startled when she found herself upon the hump of the serpent’s elongated body.

“Allow me,” He offered.

And so, the serpent creates a set of hump platforms with his body for all the ponies and boys to cross to the other side.

“Hmm… What a gentleman,” Cody replied, jumping across. “Thank you, good sir.”

One by one, the rest of the ponies jump across and follows Cody and the Thrace brothers as their journey to recover the elements continues.

It wasn’t long, during their travels, when Twilight Sparkle recognized the site which they had been searching for.

“There it is!” Twilight said, excitedly. “The ruins that hold The Elements of Harmony. We made it!”

“Well, what are we waiting for?!” Cody asked, rhetorically.

Twilight and Cody proceed to take off, with the rest of the girls following in hot pursuit.

“Twilight! Boys!” Applejack called out. “Wait for us!”

“We’re almost there!” Twilight called back. “Whoa!”

In her hurry, Twilight Sparkle nearly tumbled down a large gap but managed to hang onto the cliff side preventing herself from falling. Cody took Twilight’s hand and helped her up.

“What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Rainbow joked.

“Oh… Shut up!” Cody muttered, annoyed.

“Now what?” Pinkie sighed.

“Duh,” Rainbow remarked, flapping her wings into the air.

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie chuckled.

Taking to the skies, Rainbow searched for the rope holding the boards to the bridge in place. Finding them through the mist, she flies back toward the opposite end intending to tie the bridge together.

“Rainbow…”

A mysterious voice caught the blue Pegasus’ attention, dropping the rope before she could tie it.

“Who’s there?” Rainbow asked.

“Rainbow…”

She stood upon her hoofs and placed her arms in front of herself in case the mysterious figure had malicious intent.

“I ain’t scared of you!” Rainbow said bravely. “Show yourself!”

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria,” The voice spoke, deviously persuasive.

“Who?” Rainbow asked curiously.

“Why, you, of course.”

“Really?! I mean… Oh yeah, me,” Rainbow stuttered. “Hey, uh, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? ‘cause I’ve been trying to get into that group for like, ever.”

“No, Rainbow Dash…”

Before Rainbow’s very eyes, three Pegasus ponies, wearing dark blue-and-black flight suits and goggles, appeared before her. While two of the ponies were silent, the leader, a woman, did the talking.

“We want you to join us, The Shadowbolts. We’re the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria, but first, we need a captain.”

The lead pony began to fly around Rainbow Dash, stroking her ego more and more.

“The most magnificent—”

“Yep,” Rainbow agreed.

“Swiftest—”

“Yes.”

“Bravest flyer in all the land.”

“Yes,” Rainbow chuckled. “It’s all true.”

“We need… You,” The leader offered.

“WOOHOO!” Rainbow shouted excitedly. “Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge ‘real’ quick and then we have a deal.”

Rainbow grabbed the rope in her hands, proceeding to tie it to the post. Suddenly, the leader charged next to her, making the blue Pegasus drop the rope.

“No!” She barked. “It’s them or us!”

Rainbow suddenly felt as if she was in a tight spot. On one hoof, Rainbow needed to get the bridge tied so their friends can cross and help find the missing elements. But on the other hand, if she turned down this offer to join a real flight team, word of this will surely get out and Rainbow may never get accepted into ‘any’ flight team. She won’t get another chance if she refused now.

“Rainbow, what’s taking so long?” Twilight called out.

From the other side, the other ponies were waiting for Rainbow Dash to tie the bridge. Cody quickly saw the Shadowbolts and silently pointed them out to Twilight Sparkle.

“Oh no,” Twilight gasped. “Rainbow!”

The Shadowbolt leader’s eyes glowed, creating a thick fog drowning Twilight out.

“Don’t listen to them!” Twilight called out.

“It’s a trick!” Cody added.

But it was all for naught, their cries were muted by the fog. Twilight tried to shout again when Cody raised his hands over his mouth. From the other side, Rainbow was unsure what to do while the mysterious flight team waited for her answer.

“Well?” The leader asked.

Rainbow Dash hesitated for another second, until a decision was finally made.

“You…”

The three Pegasus ponies seemed satisfied with her answer, when she suddenly took the rope to secure the bridge, much to their shock.

“Thank you! For the offer, I mean,” Rainbow clarified. “But I’m afraid I have to say no.”

Rainbow zipped away, as the leader and her two cohorts grit their teeth before flying away. The rest of the ponies cheered as Rainbow Dash flew back to the other side, as they began to cross the bridge.

“See?” Rainbow told Twilight. “I’d never leave my friends hangin’.”

Twilight and the boys just smiled.

It wasn’t long before our heroes found themselves in the ruins of the Castle of the Royal Sisters. As they explored the ancient castle, they pause before a large stone structure, which held several orbs around it. In a way, it reminded the ponies of something out of a planetarium.

“Whoa!” Twilight and Cody gasped, in unison.

“This is all that’s left of my mother’s old castle,” Cody pointed out.

“Come on, Twilight and Cody,” Applejack said. “Isn’t this what you’ve been waitin’ for?”

“The Elements of Harmony,” Twilight said, gapping at the statue.

“The legends are true,” Cody added. “We’ve found them!”

Slowly but surely, Rainbow and Fluttershy brought down the orbs one at a time.

“Careful, careful!” Twilight warned.

But fortunately, all the orbs were set in place before Twilight Sparkle and Cody.

“One, two, three, four… There’s only five!” Pinkie pointed out.

“Where’s the sixth?” Rainbow asked.

“The book said,” Twilight explained. “When the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.”

“What the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack asked curiously.

Twilight and Cody kneel forward and channeled her horn to glow, focusing her magic, while Cody focused with the Force upon the orbs before them.

“Come on now, y’all,” Applejack said, guiding every pony out. “They need to concentrate.”

As Twilight and Cody concentrated, the dark mist soon arrived and encircled the elements, all while they tried to generate a magical spark. Soon, they both open their eyes and witnessed a huge blue cyclone before them. Twilight and Cody gasped, realizing what was happening.

“Aah!” They both shouted.

“Twilight! Cody!” Everyone shouted.

“The Elements!” Twilight shouted.

“We must stop her!” Cody added.

The two friends dove into the funnel of the cyclone, as it magically disappeared along with them. The other five ponies looked around, talking amongst each other.

“Twilight?!” Fluttershy called out. “Cody?”

“What?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Where did they go?” Rarity asked.

“What happened?” Pinkie asked.

“What’s going on?!” Rainbow Dash finished.

All of them, minus Applejack, dashed about, wondering where their two friends disappeared to.

“Twilight, Cody, where are you?” Applejack asked, worried.

“Look!” Rarity called out.

They turned toward where Rarity was pointing, as a nearby rundown ruin glowed nearby and the Shadowbolts came toward them.

“Come on!” Applejack called.

“Not to worry, girls! Bucky and I will take care of these goons,” Sal said.

Together, all the ponies rushed out as fast as they could to reach their friends.

Meanwhile, the blackish blue mist transported Twilight and Cody toward a new location, the two of them coughed and sputtered from all the dust. Before them was Nightmare Moon herself, laughing evilly over the Elements. Twilight gasped, before she and Cody glared sternly, preparing to charge.

“You’re kidding,” Nightmare mocked. “You’re kidding, right?”

“You wish…” Cody replied.

Twilight just glared, before she and Cody ran toward her and Nightmare Moon came right at them. At the last possible moment, just when her horn were about to make contact, Twilight conjured her magic to instantly vanish and reappear in the middle of the elements. Cody jumped and flipped over Nightmare Moon at high speed, zipping over the Mare in the Moon, before he ran toward the center of the elements besides Twilight.

Slightly woozy, since Twilight wasn’t used to teleportation, she ignited her horn once more trying to generate life back into the elements.

“Just one spark,” She groaned. “Come on, come on!”

“Spark…” Cody grunted. “Spark!”

Nightmare Moon quickly turned back into mist, sending an electric blast propelling them backwards and onto their sides. However, the elements seemingly charged back to life.

“No, no!” Nightmare Moon cried out.

Twilight and Cody smiled triumphantly… Until the charge fizzled out, leaving them agape.

“But… Where’s the sixth element?!” Twilight cried out.

Nightmare Moon laughed sinisterly, lifting herself up, and stomped around the orbs, causing them to shatter into a billion pieces. Twilight and Cody stood in shock, their only weapon against her… Destroyed before their very eyes.

“You little foals!” Nightmare Moon laughed. “Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your precious, or your sun! The nightwill last forever!”

Nightmare Moon cackled evilly, generating a great dark blue storm above her. Twilight and Cody felt that it was all over, their efforts to prevent Nightmare Moon’s take over were in vain. Suddenly, familiar sounds caused them to turn behind, as a group of shadows approached talking over each other.

“Don’t worry, Twilight! We’re here!” Pinkie called out.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be there!” Applejack added.

As they waited for their arrival, something clicked between Twilight and Cody. A special spark suddenly appear in both their eyes. Exchanging looks, they give each other a quick smirk silently realizing what this means. They turned around to face Nightmare Moon, their expressions shifting to fierce confidence.

“You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that?” Twilight challenged, as Cody stood beside her. “Well, you’re wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here.”

As if they rehearsed this moment, all five mares stood around Twilight Sparkle and Cody Ando.

“What?” Nightmare Moon exclaimed.

Before Nightmare Moon’s eyes, several shards suddenly rose from the broken elements, surrounding the mares one by one as Twilight spoke.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of… Honesty! Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of… Kindness! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of… Laughter! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of… Generosity! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the spirit of… Loyalty! These five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.”

“But you still don’t have the sixth element!” Nightmare Moon protested. “The spark didn’t work!”

“But it did!” Twilight corrected, facing the five ponies. “A different kind of spark. I felt it at the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you.”

Twilight smiled, as a single pair of tears escaped her eyes.

“The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all… Were my friends!”

Upon Twilight Sparkle’s epiphany, a light glowed around the unicorn as all eyes watch it descend before her. It did not take long for Twilight Sparkle to realize what it all meant.

“You see, Nightmare Moon,” Twilight continued. “When those Elements are ignited by the… The spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: The element of… Magic!”

It was then the sixth orb appeared, revealing the sixth element as it descends above Twilight. The shards of the other elements restored themselves, creating special gold necklaces with each element residing in the center. Twilight’s element was more special, a tiara with the element of magic shining triumphantly on her head. Cody smiled proudly, watching the six ponies wielding the elements.

“Cody,” Twilight said. “Ever since I’ve met you, you’ve shown the core values of friendship: Honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, and loyalty. You’ve shown to me and my friends you understood the magic of friendship long before I ever did.”

“Well said, Twilight. My understanding of the magic of friendship, as well as my connection to the Force, means I represent all six of them!” Cody announced.

A bright light surrounds the ponies, as the six elements converge with Cody in the center of what was raw power.

“Taste the rainbow, Nightmare Moon!!!” Cody shouted.

Using the Force, Cody helps directs the energy, a large and powerful rainbow, toward Nightmare Moon, engulfing her in a multicolored cyclone.

“Nooo!” Nightmare Moon screamed. “Nooo!”

As the rainbow’s power consumed the Mare in the Moon, the elements themselves glowed brighter until Twilight Sparkle opens her eyes, which glowed as well. The brightness consumed them all, filling the entire room with radiance. Eventually, the bright light faded, leaving every pony laying on the ground, clearly spent from the exposure to all that power.

“Ugh, my head,” Rainbow groaned, sitting up.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked, as the rest got back on their hooves.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity cried.

All the ponies turned as the fashionista looked behind herself. Apparently, the magic of the elements was so powerful, it restored her beautiful tail to its former glory.

“Why Rarity, it’s so lovely,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“I know!” Rarity said, cuddling her tail. “I’ll never part with it again.”

“No, your necklace,” Fluttershy corrected. “It looks just like your cutie mark.”

Rarity finally noticed her gold necklace, noting how the purple diamond in the center matched her cutie mark swimmingly.

“What? Ohh!” Rarity exclaimed. “So does yours!”

Fluttershy looked upon her own necklace, smiling warmly. All the other ponies acknowledged their new jewelry bestowed upon them by the elements’ power.

“Look at mine! Look at mine!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“Aw yeah!” Rainbow said proudly, admiring her own.

All the ponies ‘oohed’ and ‘awed’ at their elements, as Twilight admired her tiara with a big smile.

“Gee, Twilight!” Applejack spoke. “I thought you two were just spoutin’ a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship.

“Indeed you do…”

A majestic voice draws the group toward the window, as the sun returns, and a warm light enters the castle ruins. As the familiar golden orb of hope and light ignited the dark sky, another made its way before the ponies. And there, standing majestically before them, was Princess Celestia herself, towering before her subjects. All, minus Twilight and Cody, bowed before their mighty ruler. The two friends in question were all too happy to see her again.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight gasped.

“Mom!” Cody added.

The two friends rushed towards her, sharing a warm embrace.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student,” Celestia said proudly, “I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you too, Cody.”

“But… You told me it was all an old pony-tale,” Twilight pointed out.

“I told you and Cody that you needed to make some friends, nothing more,” Celestia corrected.

As the other ponies stood up, minus Fluttershy given her shy nature, Celestia continued as it all became clear for her student, as well as her son.

“I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew it was you both who had the magic and power inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart.”

Celestia’s words spoke directly to Twilight Sparkle, given she was the one who not only discovered how her friends represented the elements, but that it was also the will of the Force, that Cody would represent all of them. Twilight turned toward the other ponies, offering a grateful smile.

“Now if only another will as well,” Princess Celestia said.

The ponies and boys turned as Princess Celestia made her way towards what remained of Nightmare Moon, or rather her true form…

“Princess Luna!”

There, sitting upon the remains of now useless pebbles and shards, a lighter blue alicorn, with an even lighter mane and tail, met their gaze. The paleness of her coat and mane a sign she had been drained of her magical power, the alicorn much smaller in size compared to the white-coated Princess Celestia. She gasped upon hearing her name, one she hadn’t heard in so long, as she looked toward Princess Celestia fearfully.

“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this,” Princess Celestia said. “Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.”

Every ponies’ jaws dropped upon that startling twist.

“Sister?” Twilight and Rainbow said at once.

“Will you accept my friendship?” Celestia offered, extending a hand.

The other ponies, plus Sal and Bucky, leaned forward with interest, anxiously waiting to see how Luna would answer. Pinkie Pie, however, learned too far forward.

“Whoa!” She called, losing her balance.

After a brief moment, Princess Luna burst into tears and raced to embrace her older sister.

“I’m so sorry!” Luna sobbed. “I missed you so much, big sister!”

Tears formed on the bottom of Celestia’s eyes, holding Luna close.

“I’ve missed you, too,” Princess Celestia said, tearfully,

“Luna, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. Your nephew, Cody Ando,” Celestia finished.

“Good to finally meet you, Aunt Luna,” Cody said, voice breaking.

“Same here, dear nephew,” Luna replied as she hugged him.

That was when Pinkie Pie burst into tears, sobbing… For a few seconds, before blowing her nose.

“Hey, you know what this calls for?” She asked.

“A party!”

It wasn’t long before the six ponies, the three boys, and the two princesses, alongside Prince Blaze returned to Ponyville, as the entire town cheered for the princesses’ and prince’s return, as the celebrations began. Amongst the crowd, Sunset, Spike and Rex appeared giving both Twilight and Cody a warm welcome. Even R5 gave some cheerful whistles and beeps. Princess Luna, unsure about being there, was suddenly approached by two young Pegasus foals presenting her with a beautiful necklace of roses, as she gave Celestia and Blaze a teary smile. All of Ponyville was happy… Except two. Despite their success, Twilight and Cody exchanged sad faces with one another, assuming this is how it all ends.

“Why so glum, my faithful student and my son?” Princess Celestia asked gently. “Are you not happy that your quest is complete, and you can return to your studies in Canterlot, as well as your Jedi training, Cody?”

Exchanging looks once more, Twilight and Cody turned toward their friends, who seemed sad that they were about to leave.

“That’s just it,” Twilight spoke. “Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, we have to leave them.”

“I really don’t want to, Mom,” Cody added. “I’m not sure why, but I somehow feel as if I fit in around here. To be honest I was always wanting to come here and see more of Equestria…” Cody paused before turning toward Twilight Sparkle, looking her straight in the eyes.

“…And also, Twilight and I are a team and we need each other. Wherever Twilight goes, I always want to be by her side no matter what.” Cody finished.

Twilight Sparkle gave Cody a warm hug, as they exchange smiles. Princess Celestia smiled, understandingly.

“Spike take a note please,” She commanded.

On command, a quill and parchment in hand, Spike took notes as Princess Celestia made an announcement before all the ponies in Ponyville; “I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle and my son, Prince Cody Ando, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. They must continue to study the magic of friendship. They must report to me their findings from their new home in Ponyville.”

“As for Cody, learning the magic of friendship shall be part of his Jedi training,” Blaze finished.

Twilight and Cody smile excitedly, as the rest of the ponies cheered, and their new friends gathered around them for a group hug.

“Oh thank you, Princess Celestia!” Twilight said happily. “We’ll study harder than ever before!”

“Thank you, mom. You too, father,” Cody added.

Cody nodded in agreement, as all of Ponyville cheered once more. As Cody looked around, to all their friends gathered together, he had to admit… What started as a simple research project would evolve into a brand-new adventure. He may not know where their journey will take them, what dangers they may encounter, or how this entire experience will forever affect his life. But come what may, Cody couldn’t wait to get started.