Star walked silently along the dusty dirt road. He heard the other three ponies talking in a hushed whisper, but he just ignored it. The sun beat down on them and they were starting to sweat. They neared the Everfree Forest and although the sun seemed to be growing and everything was getting brighter, the Everfree Forest was still dark as night. Even Solar Flare couldn't mess with the Everfree Forest.
"I heard that things don't work like they do in Equestria in the Everfree Forest." Scribe stated.
"Well, we have to defeat Solar Flare, and the only way to do that is to go in." Thunder said. Star nodded in response.
"You guys don't have to come with if you don't want." Star said.
"No, we're coming. I-we want to help you." Song said.
"Well let's go." Thunder exclaimed and then pulled on ahead, walking straight into the eerie darkness. Followed by Scribe, Star, and then Song. Star looked back at Song and she smiled nervously at him. As the foursome walked along they absorbed every detail of what they saw. The plants themselves were like twisted versions of plants in Equestria. Thunder suddenly stopped and the rest of them lined up beside him. He had stopped at a cave, too dark to see beyond the entrance. Strange noises came from inside, like thousands of whales or something all making noise at once. Slowly, a long, scaly body emerged from within.
"That's-"
"A dragon." Thunder cut off Song. It raised its head with its long neck and yawned. With one look at the little ponies it opened its mouth and roared. The girls screamed and Star stepped back with them, terrified by what he saw. The mouth was caked in blood and he could smell it on his breath. Its scales were scratched and some were falling off, revealing red, raw skin. Its claws had a layer of blood and dirt on them.
Star and the girls huddled against a tree a few yards away. Thunder stood right in front of the dragon, seemingly unfazed by the grotesque features.
"Thunder, what are you doing?" Scribe whisper-yelled.
"Just trust me." He shouted back.
"What is he going to do?" Star asked.
"I don't know, probably kick it." Scribe said.
They watched as Thunder flew up to look it in the face. Star noticed the way its eyes were glazed over.
"Yep. He's going to kick it." Scribe said again. Star waited for it to attack him, now you can imagine his surprise at what happened next.
"What are you doing?" Thunder asked it in a firm voice. The three ponies jaws dropped and the dragon had a confused look on his face. "I'm serious. What are you doing?!" The beast started backing into the cave. "You have no reason to scare ponies like this! Now go back and ask yourself, what are you doing?!" The dragon was scared; you could see it in his face. He backed into the inky blackness of the cave and Thunder landed near his friends as they got up from their huddle.
"Wow. Nice job Thunder!" Scribe told the white pegasus. She walked past and on ahead.
"That was incredible!" Song said and then followed Scribe.
"Wow Thunder. I didn't know you had it in you." Star told him.
"Neither did I. I'll tell you a secret, I was scared to death."
"But you looked so brave!" Star couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Well no one has that much bravery. If you act like it though, everyone will believe you do, even you! That's called courage." Thunder followed the two mares deeper into the forest. Star stood for a moment, deep in thought. He galloped after the three ponies and continued walking.
Although it was dark the forest was heating up. They had to get to the elements of harmony before it was too late and Star was beginning to freak out. As they walked Star noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A small flame floating into the side of the cliff! He looked over, but there was nothing there. He just assumed he was under a lot of stress. He caught up with the rest of his group to get in on the conversation.
They were all incredibly surprised when the cliff gave out and they were sent down the side. Song was able to fly to save herself and Star used a spell to stop one boulder and he and Scribe landed on it. Thunder wasn't as lucky. He plummeted down, in too much shock to do anything about it.
"THUNDER!" Scribe screamed down after him. She jumped from the ledge and slid down, more controlled but still life-threatening, after Thunder. Star looked up at Song, who flew down closer to him. He slid his boulder down the hillside until he reached the bottom. At the bottom Thunder lay there, attempting to hide his pain. Scribe sat next to him, checking his wounds. She was checking his wing. He was covered in scrapes and bruises, but they were nothing compared to the strange way the wing was bent.
"It looks like the bones are snapped. Don't worry, you'll be ok." She spoke softly and sweetly. She used her magic to pluck a good amount of the nearby grass. She used a spell to turn it into a long, cloth-like paper. "This might hurt for just a second, but it's for a good reason." She gently pulled his wing out in full and began wrapping the cloth-paper around it.
"Thank you, Scribe." Thunder said, standing up. He gave her a quick hug and kept walking, although his spirits seemed to have gone down since the quartet had entered the forest.
"You're good, Scribe!" Song didn't seem too down like the others.
"Wow. That was really cool, how you did that for him." Star told the purple unicorn.
"Well yeah. Everyone needs a little love. Even manly Thunder." Star and Scribe followed the others. Thunder was telling Song how it "didn't even hurt that much." Star was deep in thought and was caught by surprise when a pack of timber wolves ran by, snapping their jaws and growling and howling. The four ponies screeched and started backing away, but Song was just a little too slow. One rammed straight into her, knocking her to the ground. It's hot breath blew in her face as it stood over her. Star was scared to death, Song was under attack! It surprised everyone when it ran away suddenly, taking a piece of the pegasus' dress with it. She stood up and shook herself off.
"That's it. We need to get out of here." Scribe said. "Its way too dangerous and already two of us have been injured!" Song had been scratched in the leg and she was bleeding profusely. Thunder nodded his head in agreement and Star hung his head in shame. He had allowed them to come with and put them in danger. It was his entire fault. Scribe and Thunder began walking away and Star just stood, feeling guilty.
"No." Song mumbled.
"What?" Thunder asked.
"I said no!" The ponies turned around to face Song. "We can't leave now! We made a promise to Starlight. Equestria is counting on us and we need to do this!"
"How are we supposed to help? We're a ragtag group of ponies from a tiny town most ponies haven't even heard of!" Thunder asked.
"Never doubt that a group of strong, smart ponies can change the world. We all have so much to offer here! Thunder, you are incredibly strong, physically and mentally! Scribe, you are so sweet and caring and you've stuck with me, even with all my flaws. And Star, even though we haven't known you long, I know that you are hardworking and smart! If we can all be a team, a group of good friends, we can accomplish this. We've faced danger in here, and we're still around. I think we can take anything the Everfree Forest or Solar Flare can throw at us. Are you with me?!"
The three ponies cheered and began walking ahead again, determined to find the elements of harmony to save Equestria. Star stopped when he reached Song though.
"Wow that was fantastic. I didn't know you were so smart as to lift pony's spirits like that." He told her.
"Well sometimes you need a little inspiration to keep you going." They continued walking.
"You certainly have a way with words."
"Thank you." She smiled and blushed. "Now you can't just do that to keep ponies going. You need to keep it up." Song trotted ahead of the group and began to sing. Everypony was happy, excited even. Before long they reached the ruins of an old castle.
"This is the place." Star said. Song stopped singing, but continued to softly hum the tune. They trotted in and the place looked less run down on the inside than the outside. In the middle of the room a great display/alter sort of thing sat there. There were three arms extending from the middle part and on top of each sat a stone ball with a gem shape carved in them. In the middle was a huge ball covered in vines.
"The elements of harmony." Star whispered. He used his magic to pick up the three and placed them on a little stage like area in front of the display/alter. "The book had said the last element would appear after a spark ignited the first few." He sat down and powered up his horn.
"We should let him concentrate." Scribe said. And they each left him to ignite the elements. Star was deep in concentration, his magic getting more powerful each second. He heard a laugh and looked up from the elements. Star backed up as a flame burst from within the triangle the elements had made on the floor. It became bigger, and as it disappeared Solar Flare stood there, laughing maniacally .
"You really thought you could defeat me?!" She said. "I'll give you credit Starlight, you learned about the elements and got through the Everfree Forest. But your journey ends here."
"You won't get away with this." Star said. He tried again to create the spark that would ignite the elements.
"Oh how cute! You think you still have a chance! Not so fast." Solar Flare powered up her magic. A white hot flame burst forth from her horn, engulfing the elements of harmony.
"NO!" Star shouted. It was too late. They were nothing but a pile of ashes.
Solar Flare laughed once again. "Yes! Now you will burn little ponies, you will burn! You will all burn alive and I will be rid of this place." Star began to back away. The red alicorn was spreading flames all around the room and he was doomed. Then he heard it. Hoof steps up the stairs.
"Starlight!" He heard Song's voice calling his name. He turned around and as he did, he felt something. Something inside of him changed in that moment. He turned back to Solar Flare, just as the three ponies that came with him burst in, just before the flames blocked the door.
"You think the elements of harmony can be destroyed that easily? Well you're wrong!" Solar Flare tried to hide her confusion. "The elements are all here, right here behind me!" The flames danced higher, pushing the ponies towards the center of the room. "The elements lie within the ponies with the strength and smarts to wield them! These are the true elements: Thunder Crack, who even though he knew the danger faced the dragon and pushed him back to his cave, represents the spirit of courage!" One of the ash piles rose up in a blue glow and placed themselves around his neck. "Scribe, who helped a friend in need and risked her life to do so, represents the spirit of love!" The next ash pile rose up in a mint green glow and placed them around her neck. "And Song Bird, who encouraged all of us to keep going with her amazing words and song, represents the spirit of inspiration!" The last pile rose up in a gold glow and placed them around her neck. "You can't destroy the elements of harmony Solar Flare. And the last element, it isn't awaked by a physical spark. It's awaked by the coming together of all the elements. When I heard Song's voice, it made me realize what I had been missing all along. Friendship. The last element resides within us all, earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns alike! The spirit of magic!" The large stone ball in the center of the display/alter glowed white, and turned into another pile of ashes. They gathered up and placed themselves on Star's head.
"NO! This isn't possible, I had everything planned out!" Solar Flare was starting to freak out.
"You're done." Star said simply. Each of the little ponies floated up and was glowing with the colors of their elements. Star's eyes opened and glowed a bright white. A rainbow aura burst from the four and covered a panicked Solar Flare. The flames disappeared and the ponies stood in the center of the ruins.
"Thunder, your wing!" Scribe shouted. Both of Thunder's wings popped up completely healed.
"Oh Song, it's beautiful!" Thunder called. Song's dress was fixed and even more shimmery than before.
"Thank you! It's cool how it fixed itself."
"No, your necklace!" She was wearing a silver necklace with a gold music note gem.
"Wow! You have one too!" She pointed and Thunder was wearing similar one. Silver with an electric blue cloud gem. "You too Scribe!" Scribe's was silver with a mint-green quill.
"They look like our cutie marks." Scribe giggled. "Whoa Star!" Star looked up where she was pointing. He was wearing a silver crown with a white star gem on top. The four of them giggled for a few more minutes before the table where the largest stone ball had sat just a few moments ago began glowing. The ponies looked up as Princess Twilight Sparkle materialized on the display/alter. Song, Scribe and Thunder bowed to her.
"Princess Twilight!" Star ran up as she stepped down and nuzzled her.
"Starlight. You have done a wonderful job. I am very proud of you. And your new friends!"
"Oh thank you Princess!" The princess looked over and all of them noticed for the first time a white alicorn lying on the ground.
"Princess Celestia…" Princess Twilight walked over to her and lay down next to her. The alicorn looked up at the princess. Her multicolored mane flowed as if it were a river, much like Twilight's did.
"My student." The new alicorn said weakly. Princess Twilight began to cry, tears streaming down her face so fast. "You have done so well. I am very proud of you."
"Princess, please don't leave me again. I have spent 5,000 years without you and seeing you now…" Twilight was having a hard time speaking through the tears. The other four ponies stood back, allowing this princess a moment with her old mentor.
"You know I can't stay. You have been able to rule this land for so long, and you must continue. Your new student is powerful; I know you will teach him as I taught you." Twilight nodded, unable to speak. "Thank you." This "Princess Celestia" was looking at Starlight.
"Me? What for?" He asked. The princess just closed her eyes and smiled, nodding slightly.
"Princess? Princess no! You can't leave!" Star had never seen the princess so vulnerable, so scared.
"You'll be fine. Good luck Twilight Sparkle." Princess Celestia became surrounded in a yellow glowing aura. All the ponies had to shield their eyes and when they looked back, she was gone. Princess Twilight stood up and composed herself.
"I'm sorry you all had to see me like that." She apologized. "Now I believe there was a Summer Sun Celebration going on?"
Star stood with his new friends in Ponyville's town square. All around him ponies threw flowers and pieces of cloth with suns on them at the princess's of harmony. Princess Twilight decided most things for Equestria, but she had five other princess's that were like royal advisers that helped her make decisions: Princess Rarity, Princess Rainbow Dash, Princess Fluttershy, Princess Applejack, and Princess Pinkie Pie. Twilight was taller and had flowing hair while the others didn't.
"Enjoying the celebration?" Princess Twilight walked up to Star and asked him.
"Well yes…"
"But…"
"Well it just means I'll have to leave Song, Scribe and Thunder."
"Well, how would you like to stay here and continue your studies in Ponyville?" she asked him.
"You mean it?" Star asked, very excited.
"Well, you must write me a letter each week telling me about your discoveries about friendship. Can you handle it?"
"Yes Princess. Thank you!" He nuzzled her and turned to his friends. "Did you hear guys? I get to stay here in Ponyville!" They all cheered and hugged him. Zephyr leaped from Star's back and onto his head.
"Yes! Song, maybe you can teach me how to fly!" She said.
"Sounds like a plan!" Song replied and then ruffled her feathers. She looked Star in the eyes. "I'm really glad you're staying." She said.
"Me too." He said. Scribe stood behind Song and Thunder stood behind Star. They nodded at each other and then shoved Song and Star together. Star's lips landed on Song's and they just stood like that for a moment, taking in what had just happened. Song pulled away and giggled a bit before Star pulled her in and kissed her again. Star pulled away slowly and looked her in the eyes.
"So, you want to um… Hang out, sometime?" Star asked.
"That would be awesome." She said, flashing that smile.