When will it end?

Artorias, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash sprinted through the trees, the fallen adventurer held in Artorias' arms. Branches whisked past them, unnoticed as they headed towards the light. They burst through the trees, where Twilight saw a welcoming sight. They were greeted by an old cabin, with strange masks hanging around its perimeter. "Zecora!" yelled Twilight. She sprinted towards the entrance and pounded on the door. "Zecora, we need your help!" A rustling came from the bushes behind Rainbow. She turned around to see the zebra walk out of the woods, a satchel across her back.

"Twilight, I see it is you. And Rainbow Dash too. Come inside, and bring your friend, so I can make a most delicious brew. Zecora walked past Artorias as if he wasn't even there. She unlocked the door to her hut, and stepped inside, beckoning Twilight to follow. She stepped inside, along with Rainbow. Artorias had to stoop to fit inside the hut. When he stepped inside, he was greeted by a most mysterious sight. A multitude masks hung on the walls, along with several bottles of ingredients hanging from the ceiling. A large cauldron bubbled in the corner, where a pleasant smell seemed to originate from. He carefully shuffled his way towards it, setting down the mysterious mare on the softest surface he could find. He felt a nudge at his side, where Zecora handed him a simple broth from within. He set it down next to the mare, and started to tend to the wound on her head.

"So Twilight, what brings you here to me? Ponyville was fine, when I went to see."

"Well Zecora, earlier today, at around mid-afternoon, a strange creature, taller than the highest pillars of Canterlot sprung out of the ground. Our friend over there, whose name is Artorias, crawled out ahead of it. He climbed the beast and killed. It almost crushed me, but he managed to save my life. As the beast fell, it disintegrated and carried us into the Everfree. He built a bonfire and gave me some bread. Thanks for the soup, I haven't gotten to eat much. Rainbow flew after us and met up with us. As night fell, Artorias gave us some gear, like this cloak I'm wearing. He gave me this simple leather shield, and he gave Rainbow that dagger." With those words, Rainbow unsheathed the blade with a flourish, then resheathed it and continued to tuck into the soup. "We set off into the forest, where we met a Timberwolf. It attacked Artorias, but he just smashed it. We found some ancient ruins where a beast called a Syphon lived. It attacked Artorias, but he managed to defeat it. We traveled deeper into the ruins, where we found–"

"Ahhhh" with a dry groan, the previously unconscious mare awoke . Artorias reached over and grabbed the broth that he had set aside.

"Drink." He took a spoon and scooped some out, holding it to her lips. She gratefully took a sip, spluttering a how hot it was. "Drink." Artorias took another spoonful, and held it up to her lips. She took another sip, and managed to swallow it this time. Artorias proceeded to feed her in this manner as Twilight explained what happened in the ruins. Rainbow was sitting next Artorias, watching the mare with a look of excitement on her face. She was muttering under her breath,

"ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh." As Twilight finished her recap, the mare finished the bowl of broth. She slowly sat up, rubbing her head with her hoof. As she opened her eyes, she saw a purple unicorn in a cloak sitting by a zebra stirring a cauldron. Next to her, on her left was a rainbow pegasus cloaked in black cloth. When she looked right, she gasped as she saw a strange creature, with bits of birdlike metal covering its body.

"I must be dreaming. Where am I?"

"You are safe." She started back a bit when the...thing spoke.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"I am Knight Artorias of the Abyss, and I won't harm you."

"Alright then, where am I?"

"I can answer that miss Do. For I was confused too." She looked over to the zebra, who was sitting by the cauldron. "My name is Zecora, and this is my hut. They brought you here to rest, no buts."

"Alright, who are you?" She directed this question to the purple unicorn.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I'm Ponyville's librarian. That pony next to you is Rainbow Dash, and be careful, she's a fan." Daring looked to her right, at the rainbow mare.

"Hi." As soon as she spoke those words, Rainbow stopped moving, a huge grin on her face. Daring nudged her, and she fell over. "She gonna be okay?"

"It's just shock." responded Twilight. She grabbed Rainbow with her magic, and carried her to Zecora's spare bedroom. "I'm going to try to get some sleep, I recommend everyone else do the same." Daring nodded, and set her aching head back onto the cushion Artorias provided for her. As Twilight carried Rainbow off, she glanced one last time at Artorias. He was sitting with his back to her, looking at a ring. She could barely make out a wolf symbol on the ring. With a shrug, she carried Rainbow into the guest room.