A/N: Nothing new to report. Enjoy the action sequences. I hope I did an okay job. Also, please excuse the mess of concrete and glass. Don't worry, you'll get that in a minute. Let me know how I'm doing. It's always good to get feedback from you all.

My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Interlocking Stories

By: Snidne

MLP & Characters © Hasbro

Standard Disclaimer:

All characters are copyrighted to their respective owners and do not in any way, shape, or form reflects the nature of said owners (Unless, of course, they actually do).

This story is a work of fiction and is not meant to resemble any person, place, or situation outside of sheer coincidence.

Due to the nature of this story, it is intent for Mature Audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

You have been warned.

We now present you our Feature Presentation with no commercial interruptions. Enjoy the story!

Chapter 5: Forest of the Dark

Celestia looked around the room she was in with a surprising amount of calmness. The room didn't have the traditional walls, but instead mirrors that seemed to wrap Celestia's image different in each one, much like funhouse mirrors. In the corner of the room was a hedge that was growing out of a flower pot and trimmed and shaped into the image of a palm tree. Elsewhere in the room was a table with a red and blue checkered pattern, complete with figures of ponies on it. A hole could be seen in the ceiling of the room, leading to what appeared to be the ocean. Rather than a staircase, a waterslide instead seemed to link the two floors together. And rather than water, it flowed upwards with chocolate milk.

It seemed Discord had redecorated since the last time she visited.

Random chaotic elements in the room aside, there was no sign of the one who created all this. Whenever Chaos was around, Discord was never far. Sighing in frustration, Celestia called out "Discord! Come out here at once."

A bright flash of light appeared in the middle of the room, revealing the master of Chaos in all his glory. A creature known as a draconequus, his body was a mishmash of several different animals, pieced together like a patchwork quilt. With a long, snake-like body, he had the paw of a lion for his right arm and the claw of an eagle in the left. His left and right legs were that of a goat and lizard respectively, and his tail was that of a dragon. On his back were a set of wings, one being like a normal Pegasus wing while the other was bat-like. He held a single horn on one side of his head, with an antler on the other. A fang could be seen hanging out of his grinning mouth, as he stroked his beard.

"Hey! Don't forget my captivating eyes," he said wriggling them. (The author of the story hereby requests he stop breaking the fourth wall.) "Oh you're no fun."

"Discord," Celestia called out again, trying not to think why he was talking to himself. "We need to talk."

"Oh, Celestia, I almost didn't recognize you," he said, ruffling her mane. "Did you get a new stylist for your mane? No, wait, don't tell me! New tiara? No? Wait, it's the glasses, right?" As he said this, he snapped his fingers and a set of glasses appeared on Celestia's face, startling her. She used her magic to float them away before banishing them.

"Discord, while I would like to say this is merely a social visit, there are very important things that we need to talk about. Something unexpected has happened."

"What, are you talking about that human boy?" Celestia was surprised by this, though she tried not to let it show. "Oh come now Celestia, you should know me better by now." Celestia seriously wanted to debate that statement, especially considering his recent actions. Still, she had to give him some benefit of doubt, as he had seemed genuinely sorry for the incident with Tirek.

"In that case, you should already know that I am at a bit of an impasse regarding what to do with him," she said. "I have already spoken with him, and while I promised I would help him I fear I cannot do so without your help."

"Why Celestia, I'm so flattered you would come to me for help." He snapped his fingers again, one of his hands becoming a sock-puppet of Celestia's head. "Oh Discord, Discord, where for art thou Discord," he said, heightening the pitch of his voice and moving the head to act as if it were talking. Celestia took a deep breath to calm herself. This was one of his usual tricks after all, to throw others off guard. "What? No encore? I'll have you know that theater is one of my favorite subjects," Discord said pouting.

"Well, don't quit your day job for it," Celestia said good naturedly. "But in all seriousness, the human being here is a big problem especially if he did come here because of another."

"Oh you mean him."

"What!? You know who is responsible for this," Celestia shouted, unable to hide her surprise.

"In a sense… look Celestia," he said, and the Sun Princess froze. Discord was actually speaking seriously to her, and that alone scared her more than she wanted to admit. "You can't handle this. I can't handle this. It's better if we don't get involved."

"What do you mean by that," Celestia asked, wondering if this was some ploy for him not to help.

"Look, even if I was to try and help, I can't actually do anything. I don't know what world that human came from, so I can't send him back. And even if I did, there's a good chance that guy who sent him here in the first place would try to stop me. Unfortunately, he might actually be able to." Celestia was shocked. Even she knew that if Discord were to ever remotely think of getting serious with the use of his magic, he far outclassed her. There would be almost nothing that could stop him. So to hear that something out there could potentially stop him was alarming.

Suddenly Discord smirked. "Hey, all you out there watching, tell me that was cool? I sounded cool back there, right?" (The fourth wall. STAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.) "Tough crowd."

"This is not a joke Discord," Celestia yelled, finally losing all patience with him. "This could bring serious consequences to Equestria!"

"Oh, lighten up, little Miss Ray of sunshine. Do you really think I would let someone, anyone, mess around here and let them get away with it?" A brief pause. "Wait, don't answer that."

Celestia narrowed her eyes at him, something about his attitude feeling wrong before they widened in realization. "No… Discord, you didn't!" Discord turned away, snapping his claw to materialize a set of headphones on, but Celestia wasn't having it. She forced them off with her magic before yelling at him, "Are you seriously going behind my back on this?"

"It's not what you think! I didn't have anything to do with him being here, I swear on my friendship with Fluttershy," he said. That alone settled some of Celestia's anger. Joker he may be, Discord's friendship with Fluttershy wasn't something he would risk on a whim. At least, that was what the incident with Tirek had proven. "Look, Celestia, I can't help. And that's all I have to say on the matter."

Celestia frowned. She felt there was still something unresolved here, but for now, she knew she couldn't press further without Discord trying to dodge any questions. This would be the best she could get from him for now. "Discord, I want to believe in you. I really do. I'll let it slide for now, but at least promise me that I can count on you. That your friends can count on you," she said, stressing the importance of it. Without waiting for a reply, she left him be.

Discord sighed. He wasn't used to this feeling inside of him. He was a very casual and laid-back sort of Chaos God. The last time he had felt this way had been, coincidently enough, the first time he had made Fluttershy disappointed in him. The first time that he had ever cared to admit to himself that he really did value the efforts the shy Pegasus made to become his first friend.

"Well, this turned out to be a fine mess." He snapped his fingers, causing a large manuscript to fall into his hands and began to flip through it. "Maybe I can… Hmm… wait, what!? What is the meaning of this? I'm not going to show back up in this story for HOW LONG!?" He threw the stack of papers up where it crashed through the ceiling and into the ocean that was the second floor of his home. "I need a new agent. Probably should have read the fine print too. Oh well, I won't be defeated that easily! Hey, all you out there! Let's have a party! Big and loud! The most chaotic party you will-."

(ENOUGH! Scene transition, scene transition!)

"Wait, no! I was just about to-!"

"Are you absolutely sure you girls want to do this?"

"Of course. We promised after all."

Alex, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie were all standing before the entrance to the Everfree Forest. 'Entrance' being relative to the fact that it was the only way in that had something that could be considered a 'path'. Of course, they could have entered from any number of places along the border, but there was a high chance of getting lost. The path was worn throughout the ages, as if the forest seemed to avoid trying to grow over it.

It had been three weeks now since Alex had arrived, and with still no word from Celestia about the means of getting home, Alex was starting to become desperate. As much as he wanted to have the patience for things, he couldn't help but wonder what things were happening back home. He was certain that by now his disappearance was noticeable, and there was likely a large search going out for a missing person. Especially one that seemed to disappear off the face of the planet.

Life was continuing without him back home. And the longer he stayed here, as nice as it was, the harder it would become to readjust back home.

The seven of them entered the forest, Alex with his hand on his weapon, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Everyone in the group seemed tense, save for Pinkie who looked as carefree as ever. The forest's calling to him also seemed to be stronger, as if it were leading him somewhere. But to where, and what he would find, he was unsure.

Not ten minutes in, and the trees were already starting to make light scarce. Alex wondered if the forest did this intentionally. Several times he had been told that this place seemed to have a mind and will of its own. A rustling sound could be heard from nearby, causing everyone to freeze.

"W-what was that," Fluttershy asked, terrified of what the answer might be.

"It was probably nothing… just the wind," Applejack said, trying to reassure her.

Alex drew his sword, looking around. He felt a chill run down his spine. "Be careful. We aren't alone."

"Well, duh," Pinkie said as if it were the most obvious statement she had heard. "There's seven of us here! Of course we aren't alone."

"No, Pinkie, that's not what I-."

His words were cut short as three shadowy figures burst from the trees behind them, charging towards the ponies. Rainbow Dash reacted first, charging at the oncoming creatures. The action was so foolish it stunned the one she was aiming for enough to be knocked down. The other two paid no heed to their fallen comrade as Twilight set up a barrier, blocking the two creatures. Several more growls could be heard as Alex faced the front to see six more of them.

"Timberwolves," Applejack called out, answering Alex's unspoken question. The beasts certainly looked like wolves, though the defining aspects of them seemed to be that they were made entirely of tree branches. Where eyes would have been instead were glowing lights and a green mist-like substance was escaping from their jaws. They bound towards the group, intent on making a meal of them.

Alex raised his blade against the one that lunged for him, jaws of wood clenching around steel and trying to wrestle the weapon out of his grip. He held fast, keeping the sword in hand, and after a few moments was able to pry it away and swing, knocking the creature back. It wasn't enough to stop it, but it did give the human some breathing room.

"Yeehaw!" Applejack let out a cry as she swung her lasso at the Timberwolf that was charging her, dodging it expertly as if she were at a rodeo. The rope latched around the creature's mouth, holding it shut as she pulled. The creature struggled, but for all the fight it put up, the Earth Pony was stronger. She gave another mighty pull, flipping the creature over and before it could right itself, had found all its limbs tied together. "There, that outta hold you."

Pinkie and Fluttershy were together, with three wolves descending on them. Fluttershy was cowering behind Pinkie who had a look of determination on her face. Pinkie reached behind her to pull out a cannon roughly just as big as she was. "It's party time!" Pulling on the rope attached to it, the cannon shot out a blast of pressurized air and confetti, blasting apart the three wolves easily.

Rarity assumed a defensive stance, trying to look brave in the face of danger. "Stay back, you… you… uncouth ruffian!" The Timberwolf howled and launched itself at her in response. Rarity gave a scream and ducked down, just in time to let the wolf sail overhead. It quickly turned as it landed, ready to strike again, when it was met with the glow of a lavender horn.

"Take this!" Twilight unleashed a blast of magic point blank to its face, knocking it away and forcing it down. "Rarity, are you okay?"

"No, I am not okay," she wailed. "Do you have any idea how long it's going to take to get all this dirt out of my coat?" Twilight rolled her eyes, taking that as Rarity-speak for 'I'm fine, thank you for asking'.

As Alex readied himself, his gaze flickered upwards for a moment before he threw his sword at the wolf. It nimbly dodged, and charged in, sensing the human now had no weapon and was unprotected. "The first rule of fighting is…" Right as the wolf was about to snap at his head, Rainbow Dash came crashing down, both hooves striking at the wolf's back and reducing it to a pile of branches. "…it's only over, when it's over. Nice moves."

"Thanks," the Pegasus said proudly. "See, told you you'd need our help."

"Alright, alright, no need to rub it in," Alex said annoyed.

"We should keep moving," Twilight said. "Timberwolves don't stay down for long, so we shouldn't be here when they reassemble themselves." Everyone nodded as Alex grimaced. He couldn't help but wonder just what kind of dangers he was getting himself into.

They continued to march along the path, keeping an eye out for any potential dangers. The ground suddenly seemed to become unstable, and Alex looked down to see large vines crossing over the path. Part of him wanted to dismiss them, but having just seen pieces of wood animated into potentially deadly creatures, he knew he couldn't trust anything in this forest.

"H-help!" Everyone turned to see Rainbow Dash tied down by the vines in the air, the plant-life binding her wings to her body to keep her from escaping. Several more wrapped around Applejack and Rarity, with even more approaching for the rest of them.

"No rest for the weary huh," Alex said, slashing at the vines with his sword. After cutting off a few of them, they seemed much more hesitant to strike at him. Twilight kept the ones coming for her at bay with her magic, while Pinkie nimbly dodged every attempt at her with some rather impressive acrobatics. For some reason, they seemed to ignore Fluttershy.

Alex rushed to the trapped ponies, the vines lashing out to stop him. "Out of my way!" The last two weeks, he had trained with his blade alongside Rainbow Dash. Though he had only won a handful of times, and each time it was exploiting some trick rather than a true win, it didn't mean his training was for nothing. He was able to wield his blade much more efficiently than before. And compared against Rainbow, who's speed was unmatched by many, these vines seemed to move much slower than they actually were.

Cutting a path through, he freed the speedy Pegasus before shouting, "All of you, retreat! I'll hold them off!"

"No way," Rainbow said, now working to free Applejack. Alex covered her, keeping the vines away. "We can't just leave you here!"

"Rainbow's right," Applejack said, now properly freed. "We're in this together!" Alex looked over to the others. Twilight had resorted to a large shield spell that prevented the vines from coming close, but it looked to be taking all her concentration to maintain. There wasn't a lot of time left.

The three quickly freed Rarity, and they ran. The vines seemed intent on chasing them, to which Alex turned every now and then to cut them down when they got too close and continued to run, Twilight and Rarity providing some magical support to help him get back together with the group. After several minutes of running, the vines looked to be no longer chasing them, causing them all to give a sigh of relief.

"C-can we go home now," Fluttershy asked.

"Not yet," Alex said. "We still haven't found what we're looking for."

"And just what are we looking for," Rainbow said a bit peeved. "All you've mentioned is 'clues' but we don't even know what that looks like!"

"I'll know when I see it. I have this… feeling." Alex looked around, trying to determine where they might be. In the distance, he could see something rising up above the tree line. As he gazed to it, he could feel the pulling sensation in his chest increase. "That there… what is that," he asked, pointing to the structure.

"Ah! That's the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters," Twilight said. "It used to be Celestia's and Luna's castle before the one in Canterlot was built."

"They had a castle all the way out here? What possessed them to do that," Alex asked.

"Well, it was over a thousand years ago… who knows what this place used to look like back then."

"Is something the matter about it Alex," Applejack asked.

"I've got this feeling… the answer might be inside." The group moved out, heading in the direction of the castle. Thankfully, it seemed the forest had no more surprises for them as they made it to the bridge that connected to the castle proper.

"Still as majestic as ever. Though it could do with a proper dusting," Rarity said.

"You've been here before?"

"Yup! Lots of times! There's all sorts of secret passages and fun slides and even an organ," Pinkie said cheerfully.

"Yeah, this place used to the resting spot for the Elements of Harmony, before we gave them back to their original holding place," Twilight said. "Since then it's kind of been a…"

"A clubhouse," Rainbow Dash said, to the annoyance of Twilight. "What? We hung out here and stuff."

"We did a lot more than just 'hang out' here RD," Applejack said. The group made their way into the destroyed throne room. It was there that Alex saw it.

'It' being a black sphere floating above one of the thrones that had the insignia of the moon on it. It looked like it could fit in the palm of his hand, and the strange pulling sensation seemed to originate from it. "Girls, I think this is it! What do you suppose that thing is?"

"Um, what thing? The throne?"

"No, the thing floating above the throne. That sphere."

"Um, Darling are you quite alright," Rarity asked concerned. "There's nothing there."

"What? No it's…" he looked at them as they gazed back in confusion, trying to see what he was talking about. "You guys… can't see it?"

"I guess not… you said it was a sphere? Does it have any markings or anything on it," Twilight asked.

"No, it's just…" Alex turned back to look at it. Suddenly he was overcome with a strange urge to grab it. He didn't understand what it meant, but he felt his body reacting to the thing of its own accord. He didn't even seem to notice he was walking towards it. He thought he could faintly hear someone calling his name. But a loud buzzing noise seemed to be filtering anything else out. He reached his hand out and touched the sphere.

"What lurks… in your heart?"

Several things happened all at once. The sphere grew to match his size and 'opened' up before swallowing him. Alex gave a confused shout as the thing enveloped his body. As it did so, the others could suddenly see it, and shouted in surprise and fear at the object that seemed to have eaten their friend whole. As soon as it closed over him, it distorted in shape before sticking to him like a second skin. They could see Alex struggle against it, trying to tear it off before he went limp, simply standing there.

The black mass began to evaporate off of him, leaving behind the human seemingly unchanged. Fluttershy stepped forwards. "Alex? Are you… okay?"

Rainbow had been watching very carefully and had thus been the first to notice the human's hand tighten around his blade. "Fluttershy, look out!" She raced forwards and grabbed the shy Pegasus by her tail and pulled. Fluttershy gave a shout of terror as she saw the tip of Alex's blade pass over her face, a mere inch away from slicing her open. "What the hay has gotten into you!?"

But her words were falling on deaf ears, as Twilight gave a gasp of surprise. "Girls, get away from him! Something's wrong!" Indeed, Alex's posture had changed to one ready to strike. He let out a low growl from his throat, as his eyes bored into them with challenge. Twilight was surprised to see that instead of their usual color, they had changed to a deep red. And they were glowing as well.

With a wordless scream, Alex charged.

Chapter 5 End!

A Ray of Hope instead leads to the Dawn of Despair. With Discord unwilling to help and Alex under a strange influence to attack his new friends, things don't look good for our Heroes. But is this strange dark power another of the mysterious man's means of controlling Alex? Or a different Entity altogether?

Find out, next time!