The next ten minutes of Octavia's life were a blur. One minute, she was hearing the emotional speech of her beloved mentor. The next, she was running for her life from Warlock Stallion, a monster that was supposed to be a legend. How crazy could life get in just ten minutes?

"Octavia! Where are you going?!" Hugin shrieked beside her. If she wasn't running at the moment, she would have said the library. But now it was not the time for giving answers. Right now, she needed answers. And given the circumstances, there was only one source of information that could be trusted.

"Hugin, find that book! Now!"

"The harmony tome?" Hugin flew above her.

"Yes! That one!"

Unfortunately for her, it was dark. The only light was the moon, which, as beautiful as it might be, provided little help when most of its light was blocked by the leaves and branches of the library. Why did the book have to have a dark leather cover!? Who even uses leather these days!? No matter how hard Octavia tried, the tome was nowhere to be found. It was as if it had vanished. Where the hay was it!?

"Looking for this?"

Octavia whirled to face the voice. Minuette was holding the book with her magic. With her were Fleur, Berry, Flitter and Cloudchaser. What were they doing here? Octavia quickly regained her composure. She couldn't appear weak now. Not in front of them.

"Yes. I am." Octavia moved to grab the book. "I will just grab it and-"

Minuette moved the book away from her hoof. Octavia frowned.

"I really need that book."

"We need answers," Minuette said. "I'll give you the book if you give them."

Octavia's frown deepened for a while before she sighed in defeat. If the earlier experiences today were any indication, she was not going have her way, especially with these ponies.

"Let us go inside."

The library was still mess. In fact, if the circumstances were different, Octavia could swear that the books were even more messy now than before. Pushing a book and some scrolls off from the table, she placed the tome on it, quickly flipping through the pages.

"Well?" Berry asked. Octavia flipped a couple more pages before stopping.

"Before I came to Ponyville, the princess sent me this book to read." She stepped aside, letting everypony see. "It has all the information about the Warlock Stallion and the method used to stop him." Octavia explained.

"The princess gave you a present? Cool!" Cloudchaser exclaimed. Octavia ignored her for the moment.

"According to this book, the elements are located in the ruins of the old castle where the princess lived. They and they alone can defeat him." Octavia continued.

"And you are going to look for them? All by yourself?" Fleur asked worriedly. Octavia closed the book.

"The princess and I — argued. I said some things I should not have." She walked to the door. "I have to save her and apologize no matter what."

"We're coming with you." Flitter hovered in front of her, blocking her path.

"I can not have you dragged into this. It is gonna be dangerous." Octavia tried moving beside her. " I will not risk your lives for this."

"Dangerous?" Berry laughed as she walked besides Flitter. "I'm a bartender. I know dangerous. Besides, this Warlock guy is threatening my tavern!"

"We all have something at risk here Octavia." Fleur joined Berry and Flitter. "I love this town. And I will not let somepony as cruel as that monster burn it to ashes."

"Right! What she said!" Cloudchaser said above them. Octavia was about to move past them when Minuette stood directly in front of her.

"Look. We're coming with you, whether you like it or not." she said sternly. "You can either stay and waste time arguing with us, or we can get moving and stop this guy."

Octavia tried to appear intimidating enough to scare them off. The lack of movement proved that it wasn't working. This was not going to be easy. Not at all.

"Fine." She groaned. "Hugin, I want you to look for the princess. She needs to know what I am up to." Hugin nodded before flying out the window and into the night. Octavia silently wished him good luck before turning to the ponies in front of her. Time to get this started.

"Let us go." She opened the door. "Where is the Everfree forest?"

Meanwhile, in the town hall, Princess Twilight did her best to ignore the pain that ran through her entire body. She was suspended in the air, magical chains bounding her legs. The Warlock Stallion paced around her like a watchdog.

"It has been a very long time sister." He growled. "Have you thought about me? About the treason you committed against me?"

"I — I had to … ." Twilight croaked.

"Had to? Did it include sealing me for a thousand years In the stars?" Twilight shivered as he circled around her, like a beast stalking its prey. She couldn't break. Not now. Not in front of him.

"You were going to ravish the world!"

"I was doing what I was supposed to do!" He shouted. "Defend Equestria!"

"By initiating a world war?!" Twilight spat. "Sounds more like an excuse to kill ponies to me." The Warlock Stallion slapped her. The slap echoed through the entire hall, now devoid of all decorations. He had burned them to the ground the second he entered.

"The only way to survive is to take the fight to the enemy. Kill them before they kill you. Thats how the world works!"

"Times have changed brother … ." Twilight groaned. "That world ended centuries ago."

The Warlock Stallion grinned, thought it could better be described as flashing teeth. Razor sharp teeth.

"Then I will just bring it back into existence." He walked to the door. "And your little pet will be the spark."

"My pet?" Realization hit her like a freight train. "No! Don't you dare touch her! Leave her out of this! Or I will-"

"Or you will what? Banish me for another thousand years?" He laughed cruelly. "Just hang tight sister. I'll be back soon." And with that he flashed out of her sight, leaving the princess alone. Twilight felt bitter tears run down her face.

"Octavia … ." She silently cried. "Please be safe … ."

Said earth pony stood at the entrance to the forest. The dark woods were menacing and visibly dangerous. But she was undaunted. Mostly because she, like most of the population, was completely unfamiliar with the reputation of the place. To her knowledge, it was just large forest, one that you could easily get lost inside. To the ponies accompanying her, it was a place of danger, death and creatures that ate ponies for breakfast.

Not like she really cared. She had a job to do, and she was going to do it right.

"Are — are you sure its here?" Flitter asked.

"The book said Everfree forest, so it has to be here." Octavia looked back at them. "This your last chance to turn around."

"No way. You have no idea what kind of monsters live there. You need a guide, and what better guide than a fellow earth pony?" Berry placed a hoof over her.

"There's no way I'll let somepony like you waltz inside." Minuette said. "You might snap your bow tie." Fleur, Flitter and Cloudchaser followed their examples, ready to begin the adventure. Octavia smiled to herself a little. While she really didn't want them around and get themselves killed, the company did make her a little more confident in herself.

"Alright then." She walked inside the woods. "Let us go."

Author's Note

I think this one was the worst written one before my editor came in.

I love english. I wished it was my first language.