We have the 'fight or flight' response when we encounter danger. The fight response is when we decide to attack and defend ourselves. The flight response is to escape the threat that could potentially harm us. This is what's happening to our friend DemiTwi.

DemiTwi takes a step back. Her eyes never left the creature standing in front of her. She takes a look at DemiShy standing behind her. DemiShy looks back at DemiTwi in fear. DemiTwi looks back at what seems to be DemiShy. Except, it wasn't. How could DemiShy be in front of her if she was behind her? The DemiShy-looking creature suddenly lunged at her.

"DEMITWI!!" DemiDash cried out.

DemiTwi stood paralyzed in fear as the creature lunged at her. Everything seemed to play in slow motion. DemiTwi closed her eyes awaiting whatever was to come until...

BAM!!

DemiTwi opened her eyes to see DemiShy with a bat now bloodied in her hooves and the other DemiShy on the floor.

"I-is it dead?! What have I done?!" DemiShy says.

"I don't know... but... it seems to be dead," DemiDash says flying towards the corpse.

DemiDash tries to check for a pulse until the corpse bites her!

"AHHH! FUCK!!" DemiDash says kicking the corpse in the face.

The DemiShy falls back. Its disguise fades off revealing it's a changeling.

"A changeling..." DemiJack says in a scared whisper.

The changeling flies up and starts to fly towards DemiPie. DemiPie grabs a book ready to defend herself until DemiRarity shoots at the changeling. The magic had been shot at a strong amount causing it to die.

"...Now it's dead," DemiTwi says.

In Canterlot

Everything in Canterlot had been going okay. Everything was calm just like any other day. Princess Sunrise was in the throne room organizing the decorations.

"It's nice to have a little me time every now and then. Not everypony wants to be sitting on a throne all day." Princess Sunrise says.

A sudden pegasus flies into the throne room looking panicked. It was the mail pony.

"Hm? Yes?" Princess Sunrise says startled.

"N-new from Ponyville! I-it's under attack!!" The mail pony says worried.

"What could you possibly mean? Who is attacking?" Princess Sunrise says starting to get worried.

"The changeling queen! I-I was on the way t-to deliver some mail at the Ponyville village until a-a changeling attacked me!!" the mail pony says revealing his injured wing.

Princess Sunrise's eyes widen. She immediately opens her wings.

"Tell all the royal guards to start their protection spell around Canterlot. THAT'S AN ORDER!!" Princess Sunrise says running up to an open window and flying out.

Back in Ponyville

The seven sit around in the library unknowing of what to do.

"Thanks, DemiShy..." DemiDash says looking at her now patched-up hoof.

"No problem..." DemiShy says.

DemiTwi sits in one of the corners looking at different books trying to figure out how to defeat the changelings. DemiSpike helps out while looking for something to calm DemiRarity.

"None of these books are helping... the screams outside aren't helping either...I can feel myself slowing but surely... losing... my-"

"What about this?" DemiSpike says holding up a book with little to no use.

DemiTwi immediately gets infuriated.

"That isn't going to help! UGHHH!" DemiTwi yells out.

Everypony immediately turns to her concerned. DemiTwi immediately realizes what she has done.

"I'm sorry everypony... I-I'm just... stressed. I haven't found anything... and Princess Sunrise has not answered my scrolls..." DemiTwi says.

"Ah understand ya, sugarcube. We're all stressed. But ah can assure ya everythin is gonna be just fine." DemiJack says.

"Yeah! Everything is going to be just fine!" DemiPie says.

The group looks at each other trying to cheer each other up.

"...We can't stay here. Sooner or later those... changelings are going to find out we're here. We have to get to Canterlot! I'm sure it's safe there." DemiTwi says.

"How are you so sure?" DemiShy asks.

"...I... ...It's our best option right now. Canterlot is heavily guarded." DemiTwi says.

"Alright... lead the way," DemiDash says.

DemiTwi nods and cautiously approaches the door. DemiSpike tugs onto her hoof.

"...I- I can't risk you getting hurt, DemiSpike..." DemiTwi says, "I need you to stay here."

"But DemiTwi, the changelings might break into here and... you know. We don't know how desperate these changelings are to find anyone and..." DemiRarity stops herself.

DemiTwi thinks for a bit. She knows DemiRarity is probably right. The choice DemiTwi makes now depends on if DemiSpike goes unharmed or not. Suddenly, DemiJack speaks up.

"Uh... y'all? Look at what ah found." DemiJack says peaking between two books on one of the bookshelves.

DemiTwi trots over and looks between the books DemiJack was looking between. She sees a hidden book... trapped. DemiSpike walks over to DemiTwi.

"What do you see?" DemiSpike asks.

"I see a book... maybe it could help us!" DemiTwi says feeling a bit of hope.

"But how are we supposed to get it? It's clearly out of reach! Unless someone finds a hidden le-"

"Hey look!" DemiPie says cutting DemiDash off and pulling a book.

The bookshelves covering the book immediately move out of the way letting the ponies get through to the book.

"Well! Thank Sunrise!" DemiTwi says.

DemiTwi steps up to the book and opens it.

"The... Elements of Harmony?" DemiTwi says in confusion.

"I think I have heard of those before! I don't know much... but I think they are like some special gems!" DemiRarity says.

DemiTwi starts to read the book word by word. She tried to ignore the screams outside as best as she could.

The Elements of Harmony are special. Once said to have been wielded by Princess SunRise to banish a dangerous alicorn threatening the lands to the moon. This story has been told for a total of 1000 moons. The elements of harmony are said to hold immense power and give power to those who wield them. The location of these elements is unknown.

"Woah... maybe we can find them!" DemiDash says.

"But how? We have no idea where the elements are! The book doesn't even tell us where they are!" DemiJack says.

"Maybe it's somewhere in this book! We just-"

"CHANGELINGS!!!" DemiSpike says yelling.

DemiTwi and the others turn to the windows. Their eyes are met with changelings breaking through and trying to force themselves inside the room.

"GO! GO!" DemiTwi says galloping to the front door.

The others follow behind her escaping the changelings.

DemiTwi gallops to try and find safety in the village. Everywhere she goes there are just changelings. DemiTwi turned to look behind her. The other ponies nor DemiSpike were behind her. She starts to panic until a changeling pounces her.

“AHH! Get off of me!” DemiTwi says panicking.

The changeling hisses at her and starts to get ready to bite her.

“HEY! GET AWAY FROM HER!” DemiJack yells out bucking the changeling.

DemiJack bucking the changeling didn’t do much. In fact, it only made things worse. She had bucked the changeling too far a crowd of changelings alerting them. DemiTwi quickly got back up and got beside DemiJack. DemiJack looked around only to see changelings started to surround them.

“DemiJack! What do we do?!” DemiTwi asks scared.

DemiJack tries to think of something before getting an idea.

“Let them get near.” DemiJack says.

“Are you absolutely crazy?!” DemiTwi says.

“No. Just let them get near. We’ll be fine.” DemiJack says.

“You don’t know that!”

“Yes, ah do. Just trust me.” DemiJack says.

DemiTwi was about to protest when the changelings started to charge at them. She closed her eyes, ready to accept her faith.

"HEYA!" DemiDash yells out striking some of the changelings with a lightning cloud.

"WOOHOOOOO!!!" DemiPie screams grabbing some of the changelings and throwing them towards DemiJack to buck.

"I-Is that all of them?" DemiTwi asks.

"I think so..." DemiDash says looking around for any more changelings.

"Wait... WHERE'S DEMISPIKE?! DEMISPIKE!! DEMISPIKE!!" DemiTwi says starting to panic again.

"Hey hey! Calm down... he's with DemiShy and DemiRarity. We told him to stay with them so he wouldn't get hurt." DemiPie says

"Alright... we have to get a move on! Where did they go to?" DemiTwi asks.

"They went to the train station!! When you ran off, we saw Princess Sunrise gathering surviving ponies to evacuate to Canterlot! Maybe we should-"

"Thank Sunrise, we found you three!" DemiRarity says running towards the four with DemiShy.

"DemiShy? DemiRarity? Why aren't you with Princess Sunrise?!" DemiDash says confused.

"Y-you two left DemiSpike?!" DemiTwi says starting to panic again.

"No no! We told him to get out with Princess Sunrise... he's fine! ..but we have great news! We got information about the elements we're trying to find!" DemiShy says.

"Oh yes darling! Princess Sunrise told us where the elements are located!" DemiRarity says.

"We can finally find them!" DemiPie says.

"Are you three out of your minds?! We gotta get out of here!" DemiDash says.

"Ah gotta agree! It ain't safe!" DemiJack says.

The friends continue to argue while DemiTwi thinks about what to do. Going with Princess Sunrise to escape sounds like a great choice, but gathering the elements feels like the right option. She looks at DemiRarity, DemiPie, and DemiShy who want to get the elements. She turns her head to face DemiJack and DemiDash, who wanna evacuate to Canterlot.

"We have to get the elements," DemiTwi says.

DemiDash looks baffled hearing DemiTwi.

"Fine! I'll be right back then!" DemiDash says flying off.

"Wait! DemiDash come back! Please!" DemiTwi says trying to call out to her before she completely disappears from her view.

The friends wait for DemiDash to return, but she never does. DemiTwi sighs before turning to DemiShy and DemiRarity.

"Where did Sunrise say the elements were?" DemiTwi asks.

The group of five trot through the Everfree Forest ready to defend themselves if a changeling was to attack them. DemiPie continues to bounce full of energy until she sees her friends stressed. DemiTwi is scared thinking about what could happen.

"Uhm... ahem... did you all know I have once mistaken glue for frosting? Super insane am I right?!" DemiPie says.

DemiRarity giggles a bit while DemiJack chuckles. DemiShy looks back at her smiling. DemiTwi though is confused at how she could be so positive in a time like this.

DemiTwi continues trotting still a bit confused while the rest laugh at DemiPie's jokes. DemiTwi while the others laugh looks at DemiPie.

"How... are you not scared?" DemiTwi asks.

"Well sure the situation is a bit scary... but what could negativity contribute? You should always have hope no matter what! Have a giggle! As long as we stay happy, we can do anything!" DemiPie says giggling.

DemiTwi thinks about what she had said for a bit before stumbling across... a baby changeling stuck?

"Hah! This is karma for killing a bunch of innocent ponies you disgusting changeling!" DemiRarity says looking at the baby changeling.

"It's best to get rid of it. Once it gets free it's gonna harm us no doubt." DemiJack says.

"Right." DemiTwi says getting her horn ready.

The baby changeling braces for impact before DemiShy steps in the way.

"No," DemiShy says in a low voice.

"Erm! I thought she said to end the changeling! Not DemiShy!" DemiPie says.

"DemiShy! Get out of the way!" DemiTwi says a bit confused.

DemiShy turns around and looks at the baby changeling that is stuck.

"Don't worry... I'll help you." DemiShy says lifting the rock off the baby changeling's leg.

"What the hay are ya doing?!" DemiJack says ready to defend herself.

"Can you tell us where the abandoned castle is? We just need a bit of confirmation!" DemiShy says.

The baby changeling nods before pointing in the right direction. DemiTwi and DemiJack were shocked by the unusual friendliness of a changeling.

"But... why did..." DemiTwi tries to finish her sentence.

"Sometimes... all you need is a little bit of kindness," DemiShy says before trotting off in the direction the baby changeling pointed in.

"...hm."

DemiTwi follows DemiShy, everypony else following.

DemiTwi continues to trot with the ponies, some of them making conversation to pass time. A changeling has not come to attack them giving the hint that no changeling has reached the Everfree Forest. DemiTwi suddenly winces in pain. She looks at her hoof, a wound that has been bleeding for a while visible. How had she just felt it now?

DemiRarity looks back at DemiTwi. She removes the tie around her hat and starts tying it around her hoof.

"Hm? Wait... DemiRarity! That's the tie for your hat!" DemiTwi says.

"Oh please... don't worry about it! I have extras! Besides, it was too out of season!" DemiRarity says finishing off and continuing to trot.

DemiTwi looks at the tie around her hoof before continuing to trot.

The five finally make it to the bridge connecting to the land that has the abandoned castle lying on!

"We're almost there! We just have to get to the other side! Follow me carefully." DemiTwi says setting a hoof on the bridge.

DemiTwi continued to trot across the bridge.

"Alright everypony!" DemiPie says about to get on the bridge until...

SNAP!!!

“DEMITWI!!” DemiPie yelled out.

“AHHHHHHH!!!!” DemiTwi screams as she sees herself falling to her demise.

DemiTwi was about to hit the ground until...

“CAUGHT YA!” DemiDash says catching her just in time before she hits the ground.

“D-DemiDash! But I thought- “

“I said I’d be right back! I would never leave my friends! Also, I had to make sure a friend of mine was in a safe area.” DemiDash says flying DemiTwi and herself up to where the others are.

DemiDash finally got to the top and put down DemiTwi. The others sighed in relief while DemiDash started to tie the bridge back together with DemiRarity’s help.

“Come on, y’all. We got some elements to catch!” DemiJack says starting to take the lead in crossing the bridge.

The group of six makes it across and enters the abandoned castle. They look around at their surroundings, their eyes meeting the abandoned decorations around them.

"My... this castle sure needs a... deep cleaning." DemiRarity says.

DemiJack nods her head, "It sure does." she says

DemiTwi, not making any conversation, gallops towards the elements laying on the stands in the middle of the room.

"The elements! We found-"

Changelings suddenly attack the group pinning down every one of them except DemiTwi.

"AH! Get off me!" DemiDash says trying to fight back.

"Guys!!" DemiTwi says starting to light up her horn before she is blasted with dark magic.

DemiTwi hits the ground hard before turning to see what had hit her. There she was. The queen of changelings was standing right next to the elements. She quickly decides to try and help out her friends before the queen grabs her.

"Let me go, you stupid bastard!" DemiTwi says.

"Did you really think you'd be able to defeat me?? So pathetic... came all this way and for what?" The queen says before teleporting the two into another room.

The queen throws DemiTwi away from her and grabs the elements with her magic.

"AH! You... you knew we we're gonna come here all this time..." DemiTwi says realizing.

"HAHAHAH! Your efforts were all in vain! Now... where was I? Oh yes... destroying all the little hope you had!" The queen says ready to shatter the elements one by one.

"NO!" DemiTwi says shooting a blast of magic at the queen.

"OOF!" The queen yells out in pain being pushed back from the magic.

DemiTwi quickly runs towards the element and starts to try using her magic.

"One spark... one spark! I-it's what the book said!" DemiTwi says desperate to defeat the queen.

DemiTwi finally shoots magic at the elements before being flung back from the queen's magic. The elements start to emit a glow while being filled with magic.

"No! NO!" The queen says a bit worried from the elements glowing.

DemiTwi smirks feeling victory before the elements stop. DemiTwi's expression immediately shows one of defeat and worry.

"No! But the elements... they're-"

Before DemiTwi could finish, The queen shoots at the elements with a powerful amount of pure dark magic.

The elements... they're gone.

"You foal! Thinking you can defeat me?! My changelings will kill every last of your being... we will rule Equestria! You lost! You and your pathetic princess will either die... or bow down to me!" The queen says laughing with an evil tone.

DemiTwi starts to tear up. What was the point of even moving forward if defeat was guaranteed in the end? All the work and efforts... useless. DemiTwi's ears perk up when she hears the ponies' voices grow louder. Their hoofsteps started to get louder as they traveled up the stairs to the room she was in. DemiTwi's eyes widen. A sudden spark flashed through her eyes.

"You think you can destroy the spirits of the elements just like that? Well, you're wrong! Because the spirits of the elements of harmony... ARE RIGHT HERE!" DemiTwi says as the shards of the elements start to glow.

"W-what?!" The queen says shocked by the shards of the elements glowing.

"DemiJack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty! DemiShy,Who helped a baby changeling from possibly dying out despite their species with compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness! DemiPie, who stayed positive despite the situation by cheering her friends up and getting them to laugh, represents the spirit of... laughter! DemiRarity, who gave up something valuable to her to help out a friend in need generosity! And DemiDash, who could not abandon her friends no matter the situation represents the spirit of... loyalty! The spirits of these five ponies got us through problems along the way..."

"You still don't have the sixth element! The spark didn't work!" The queen says

"But it did. A different kind of spark... I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends! You see, Nightmare Moon, 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!"

The sixth element emerges from a bright light that appeared out of nowhere in front of DemiTwi. The element shards and the sixth element start to glow before forming into necklace-like forms of themselves on the ponies' necks. The sixth element turns into a crown and rests itself on DemiTwi head. The six by the element's control get into a formation ready to put an end to this mess.

The queen starts to back up. But it is too late! A rainbow-like laser starts to form from DemiTwi's crown aiming at the queen. The queen is soon surrounded by the laser.

The air is suddenly filled with the painful screams from the queen. The laser grows brighter and brighter.

FLASH!!!

DemiTwi suddenly finds herself waking up from being passed out. She looks around after remembering what had happened. She sees her friends also waking up from the impact. She looked from where the queen had last been only to see that she was nowhere to be found. It didn't matter though. Outside was bright and there were no changelings to be spotted.

"Ugh... my head..." DemiDash groans.

"Woah! Dashie, look!" DemiShy says pointing to DemiDash's element, "It looks just like your cutie mark!"

"Sick! Yours does too!" DemiDash says.

"Oh my darling! These are gorgeous!" DemiRarity says looking at everypony's elements including hers.

DemiTwi looks up at her crown. It did look pretty! Suddenly... a pony trots into the room they were in.

"PRINCESS!!" DemiTwi says galloping towards her.

DemiTwi hugs Princess Sunrise. She was so glad to see that the princess was okay. She looks beside Sunrise and sees DemiSpike. She stops hugging Sunrise and hugs DemiSpike.

"DemiTwi!" DemiSpike says hugging her back glad to see her.

DemiTwi looks up to Sunrise. Her friends bow down when seeing the princess.

"I am so proud of you, DemiTwi. I knew you could do it. You today have saved many ponies' lives. All you six have. I am also very proud that you have let friendship into your heart and not only accepted it but used its power to defeat the queen. You, my faithful student, have completed your quest." Princess Sunrise says

"WOOHOOO!! YEAHHHH!!" DemiPie says cheering for DemiTwi in the background.

The others start cheering for DemiTwi. DemiSpike joining in. A smile forms on DemiTwi's face hearing her friends cheer for her as well as DemiSpike.

DemiTwi looks up at the princess.

"Thank you, Princess." DemiTwi says, "Thank you for... making me move to Ponyville."

DemiTwi hugs Princess Sunrise once again. Princess Sunrise hugging her back. This time, the others joined in.

Perhaps friendship isn't a bad thing after all.

Author's Note

finally finished this... it was so rushed so-