"Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everypony becomes a poet."
We all find where we Belong
Chapter 5
The dark alicorn lingered on the town hall's stage, wreathed in hatred and malice for the ponies of Ponyville. Long had Nightmare Moon been trapped on the moon's surface because of their rejection of the glorious night she once brought for them. This night however, the shadowy mare chuckled at what she could do to them now that she was free.
The mares and colts of Ponyville stood in silence and fear at hearing Nightmare Moon's plan. Not even Pinkie Pie was making jokes or giggling along with the alicorn now, but Dash was growing impatient and angry at being held back.
Why wasn't anypony doing anything? Nightmare Moon was laughing at the fear in everypony's eyes and nopony thought to do something while she was distracted. Do I have to do everything myself? Dash groaned, getting into position to escape Applejack's grasp on her tail and speed towards the dark mare. The cyan pegasus looked over at the ceruse pony, noticing the lack of laughing and bouncing going on. She appeared to have an apple in her mouth preventing her from talking, probably Applejack's doing. Dash rolled her eyes, Wish I had thought of that. At least she's safe.
As Nightmare Moon's laughter subsided, Mayor Mare pointed at the tall alicorn and called to the Princess' guards, "Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!"
The stallions rushed forward to capture the new threat, but this only managed to bring the dark shadow back to attention. "Stand back you foals!" Nightmare Moon cackled and blasted the guards to the ground with her lightning.
Ponies cantered and flew out of the way as the stallions fell to the tiled floor, dazed and shocked at the mare's power. The dark alicorn smirked once more at beating these ponies so easily. She turned to smoke and poured out of the town hall, into the cold night air with victory in her hooves.
"Come back here!" Dash screamed, breaking free of Applejack's grip and flying after the purple mist, but by then she was already gone. "Nighttime…forever?" The cerulean pony repeated those words as she hovered above the town hall. Dash glanced over her shoulder at the path leading away from the building. The purple unicorn she had crashed into before galloped from the doors with the baby dragon on her back. "Where's she going?"
As more and more ponies began to run from the hall, Dash returned to find the other four ponies gathered at the base of the podium. Pinkie had long eaten the apple and was once again chatting and bounding around them as if nothing bad had happened in the last minute. It amused the blue pegasus, but there was no time to smile at the little pony's antics.
Dash landed in front of the group, placing their attention on her. "If you want to find out what's going on as much as I do, then you'd probably want to follow me. I've gotta hunch." Dash quickly flapped her wings and was once again outside, to keep an eye on the lavender pony.
"That's not good for you; at least I don't think it is. But punch is yumm." Pinkie replied from the ground as the others trotted along. The amaranth pony licked her lips, making even Applejack chuckle a bit.
"Ya'll are one strange pony, Pinkie." The orange mare remarked beside her.
You don't know the half of it, Dash thought to herself as they neared the Ponyville library. The blue pony opened the front door to find Twilight scrambling around the house, magicking and tossing books around the room.
Twilight mumbled as she raced around, not even noticing the five's presence. The unicorn groaned at the library's lack of ancient pony history books and picked up another, reciting aloud what she had read in the morning, "Elements, elements- Ugh! How am I supposed to beat Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?!"
Dash's ears perked at hearing this from the mare. She sped forward, stopping right in front of the unicorn with a determined look on her face. "And just what ARE the 'Elements of Harmony'? And how did YOU know all about Nightmare Moon huh? Are you a spy-? Whoa!"
Applejack grabbed Dash's tail again and pulled her back from Twilight's personal space. "Hold on now, she ain't no spy…but she sure knows what's goin' on, don'tcha Twilight?"
Twilight sighed and told the five ponies what she had read about in her books in Canterlot. How Nightmare Moon was locked away for a thousand years and how to stop her now, "But I don't know where they are; how to find them; I don't even know what they do."
"The Elements of Harmony; a reference guide." Dash turned from listening to Twilight's explanation to look at the Pinkie Pie, who was pointing at one of the shelves with a serious expression on her face.
Twilight shoved her out of the way and grabbed the book with her magic, "How did you find that?!" The lavender unicorn exclaimed, wondering how Pinkie could find it so quickly after just being told what she was looking for.
Pinkie bounced across the room, giggling away at her job well done, "It was under 'E'!"
Dash shook her head at the little pony and smiled at how Pinkie was always happy no matter what danger she was in. It really made Dash want to remember the week before, thinking that there was more to it then dragons and lots and lots of laughing.
Rainbow Dash wanted to know why she felt this way around Pinkie, but all she remembered was baking cupcakes and flying around Manehattan. The pink mare was always with her and she wanted to know why only she remembered anything about her.
As the six friends reached the Everfree Forest, Dash felt a shiver run down her spine. Something about this place seemed familiar and unsettling. She found herself glancing at Pinkie more and more as they neared the border of the dark woods.
The six ponies stood in silence, staring into the Everfree with a mixture of fear and respect. Pinkie hopped up, unable to stay still or quiet any longer. "Wee! Let's go-!" The little pony trotted forward, but Twilight shouted for her to stop.
Twilight cleared her throat and explained herself to the others. "I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own."
"No can do sugarcube, we ain't leavin' letting any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone." Applejack responded as she trotted forward under the tall trees of the forest. "We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple."
The other mares mumbled their agreement and followed the orange pony into the woods. As Dash trotted in, she looked back with her ears perked to hear Pinkie add, "Especially if there's candy apples in there…What? Those things are good." Dash smiled and began trotting along beside the bouncy maned pony. "Hey Dash, are you getting funny feelings from this place too?"
Dash was a little startled to hear that from Pinkie. She couldn't reply for a few minutes as they caught up with the rest of the ponies. "Uh, well…what do you mean?" Dash managed to say after a while.
Pinkie shrugged and bounced a bit lower. "You know, how we've been in here a couple times."
"I…" Dash stopped and stared at the ceruse mare as Pinkie came to a halt a few hooves ahead of her.
The pink pony looked back at the stunned pegasus and smiled slightly, "Well…the week before is all blocked out except for a few visions I get sometimes, but I've been remembering things ever since I woke up in the hospital. Haven't you been seeing stuff too?" Pinkie's smile faltered at seeing Dash's confused expression. She lowered her head a little.
"Uh…well, yeah I-" Dash tried to respond, seeing the pony's ears droop in disappointment, but before she could Twilight trotted up behind them.
"What's going on? Why did you guys stop back here, something wrong?" The lavender mare glanced at the two mares for an answer.
"Oh, hey Twilight. No reason, come on Pinks. We gotta catch up with the others." Dash spread her wings and flew into the air, looking back at the little pony for her to follow.
Pinkie perked up and began bouncing again almost immediately. "Okie dokey lokie! Come on Twilight, race ya there!" The amaranth mare zoomed forward, passed Dash at blinding speeds.
"Whoa!" Dash blinked at Pinkie galloping ahead of her. It only took a second before she was flying forwards beside the pink pony.
"Hey Dashie…again." Pinkie giggled as she slowed to a trot.
Dash landed next to the little pony and matched Pinkie's pace. She smiled awkwardly and sighed softly to herself. "Hey, uh…just so you know…I am remembering a few things. I wasn't sure if you had too or if I was just…"
"…going a little bonkers?" Pinkie Pie finished Dash's sentence as they neared the other ponies.
The cyan mare blinked a few times and then chuckled at the pony's bizarre answer. "Heh yeah, something like that."
Dash walked along at a slower pace, behind the rest of the ponies. She kept glancing around at the overgrown trees and shrubs on the edge of the path. They seemed familiar to her, but when Dash turned her head they just looked the same as the last ones. She didn't know why, but it made her heartbeat quicken as she walked.
Dash felt a ringing in her ear suddenly; like somepony crying far away. It sounded so sad, but when the cyan mare looked around the ringing stopped. Dash chose to ignore it. She didn't want to seem like she was worried or scared…because she wasn't. Never.
"So…have any of you been in here before?" Twilight asked, shaking Dash from what she was thinking.
"Heavens no," Rarity replied, looking around at the underbrush and shuddering slightly. "Just look at it. It's dreadful."
"And it ain't natural." Applejack added, from the front of the group. "Folks say it don't work the same as Equestria."
As Dash focused back on the task at hoof, she heard the shake in Applejack's voice. She had an idea, to get her mind off the ringing in her ears and give the cowgirl pony a spook at the same time. Dash smirked at her plan and took flight.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight shook at the orange mare's cryptic answer. She looked over at Applejack to hear her response.
"Nopony knows," Dash whispered in an eerie voice as she flew out of the shadows. She landed in front of the other ponies and crouched low. "Do you know why?"
"Rainbow, quit it." Applejack said from beside Twilight.
Dash ignored her, only noticing the slight tremble in the mare's voice as she spoke. "Cuz everypony who's ever gone in…has never…come…out!"
She lunged forward at Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy to give them the final shock of her tale, but Dash felt the ground shake from under her. Before she could react, everypony except her and Fluttershy were falling down the cliff.
Everypony? Pinkie Pie.
Dash's heart raced. She stared down for a millisecond, processing what just happened. Dash's fears and visions of the Everfree Forest seemed to be coming to life in front of her. "Fluttershy! Quick!" Was all the blue pegasus managed to say before her wings took over.
She dived into the ravine, faster than the cerulean mare had flown in a long time. Her eyes began to water as Dash continued down into the gorge; the only thing that was on her mind at that moment was saving Pinkie.
Her vision was blurring quite quickly, but she kept speeding forward; adrenaline being the only thing driving Dash on. She saw a flash of pink against the darkness of the cliff and aimed straight for it with her hooves outstretched.
Dash blinked the tears away just in time to feel the bright fur and mane against her hooves. She tightened her grip on the colorful pony as she lifted her up and came to hover just above the ground.
"D-Dashie?" Pinkie's voice echoed in Dash's ears.
Dash opened her eyes and saw the ceruse mare's shimmering eyes staring back at her. Only her, and suddenly Dash's worries were no more.
"You saved me." Pinkie said after a moment of silence.
The cyan pegasus smiled brightly at the pink pony, not knowing or caring why she felt this way right now. She was with Pinkie Pie and for some reason, Dash felt like she had done this before. "Yeah…I guess I did."
As the cyan mare looked at Pinkie, the little pony seemed to blush a little. Although it was difficult to tell because her fur was already pink, but to Dash she was nervous about something. "Th-thank you…Dashie." Was all the amaranth mare managed to say.
Dash flushed a little and glanced down at her hooves around the pink earth pony. "Oh…yeah, I should probably put you down huh?" She chuckled and began to bring Pinkie down to the ground.
Pinkie touched one hoof down to the slanted dirt cliff as she was lowered until all four hooves rested comfortably on the floor. "Thanks Dash. You're always there for me huh?"
"Always Pinks. You're worth saving you know." Dash replied, smiling easily at the truth in her statement. It felt like she had thought of saying that before, but what was also coming back to Dash was that three ponies were still falling. "Oops, be right back!"
As Dash sped off to help Fluttershy save the others, Pinkie watched her leave. She could only smile as she watched the rainbow-maned pony fly deeper into the night of the forest. "I…I am?" Pinkie blushed and looked down at her hooves with an ever growing grin on her face.
Pinkie walked along with Fluttershy as the six ponies continued to the ancient castle of the Old Pony Sisters. She felt bubbly inside, in a good way…and also more than usual. Dash's words still buzzed around in Pinkie's head.
She kept having visions of when the two were together, as they walked. She couldn't see anything that made sense to her, but for some reason just the thought made Pinkie a little sad. The little pony tried not to show it though, worried that her friends would be concerned for her.
Pinkie's ear twitched, hearing the familiar sound of Dash's wings flapping through the damp air of the Everfree. She looked up in time to see the blue pony soar over the group. "And once Pinkie and Rarity were safe, me and Fluttershy loop-dee-looped around and wham! Caught ya right in the nick of time."
Dash's high-flying attitude always cheered Pinkie up. She decided then that she should make a song about how Dash makes her happy. Ooh, I wonder how it will go. "Dashie is the best, she's better than the rest; the most wonderfullest pony in all Equestria and that's all I need to smile…all day long." Hmm, I guess it's a work in progress.
"Uhmm, Pinkie Pie? Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked from beside her, concern for the little pony showing on her face.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine Fluttershy. I was just…thinking." Pinkie answered after a moment of silence. She didn't want to give anything away for her idea.
"Really? What were you thinking about?" Fluttershy asked innocently. Her eyes showed caring and her voice held no other intention than to listen to and respect Pinkie's reply.
Pinkie smiled at the yellow pegasi's loving attitude. She had remembered going to see her at her cottage the week before, but she couldn't recall why. Did we meet back the week before too? "Oh, I'm planning on writing a song for somepony."
"Oh, that sounds lovely. Is it finished yet?" Fluttershy asked, glancing around at the damp forest. It looked to Pinkie like she was trying to distract herself from thinking about the Everfree.
The little pony started bouncing slightly, trying to cheer Fluttershy up. Pinkie never liked to see anypony scared or worried and this pegasus seemed quite anxious. "Nopey dopey, I just started. Oh, but when it's done I'll sing it to you."
Fluttershy nodded. "Sure, oh, I mean, if you want to."
Before Pinkie had a chance to reply, the floor shook beneath her. She looked up to see a lion with bat wings and a scorpion's tail blocking their path. It roared and rose up on its hind legs.
"A Manitcore!" Twilight gasped from the head of the group. "We've gotta get passed him."
Wow, he looks totally cool. He doesn't really look that scary. "Hey Fluttershy, do you think he would enjoy a party?" Pinkie asked, turning her head to the yellow mare for her response. "Might cheer him up and turn that frown upside down."
"Oh, Pinkie, this is no time for parties. I think there's something wrong." Fluttershy replied breathlessly as she watched the other ponies fight the mythical creature.
"What do you mean 'Shy?" Pinkie questioned, tilting her head to the side curiously. No time for parties? But there's always time for parties, especially at times like this. Now what was that song Granny Pie used to sing?
Fluttershy didn't shift her eyes away from the Manticore. She seemed more worried now than she had been when Pinkie was walking with her. "He's hurt…somewhere. He doesn't want to fight, he's just upset."
Pinkie nodded slightly and glanced from the pegasus to the Manticore. She turned back to Fluttershy and smiled. "Well go tell them that."
Fluttershy smiled back to the ceruse mare and started to walk forward.
Pinkie watched her leave for a moment and then looked back at the others. The Manitcore was being circled by a rainbow colored lightshow; Pinkie thought she recognised it. She started to trot forward to get a better view.
The mythical creature raised its tail and swung down on the multicolored light, causing it to fly backwards to land just in front of the group of ponies. Pinkie saw the rainbow mane and tail and the cyan pony on the floor.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted as she cantered up to the cyan mare; she put her hooves over the pegasus to see if she was injured. She had seen this before, in a dream. More like a nightmare. Dash looked so beaten and hurt in her vision, Pinkie didn't want that to come true. "Are you okay?" She said in a whisper.
Dash wiggled from Pinkie's grasp and sat up; she was smiling softly. "If you'd give me a chance to get up Pinks." She chuckled at Pinkie's concern for her and stood on all fours, ready to join the others in a charge.
"Oh, heh, sorry." The pink pony bounced onto all fours as well and started to gallop towards the Manticore with the rest.
"Wait!" Fluttershy suddenly screamed, flying in front of them and stopping the charge. She landed softly in front of them and walked towards the tall creature.
"What is she doing?" Dash whispered to Pinkie as they all watched her march up to the Manticore.
Pinkie smiled brightly and shook her head. "I dunno, but I really wanna see this."
"Shh, it's okay," Pinkie heard Fluttershy say as the lion raised its paw to swipe at her. She rubbed her snout on the Manticore's other paw and waited for a response. "Oh you poor poor little baby."
"Little?" Dash shouted in disbelief. Pinkie giggled at her.
"Now this might hurt for just a second." Fluttershy quickly took the purple thorn in her mouth and yanked it out. The Manticore screamed and grabbed the yellow pegasus in his paws.
"Fluttershy!" The others screamed all at once.
The creature began to lick Fluttershy's mane and purr happily. "Aww, you're just little baby kitty aren't you? Yes you are. Yes you are."
Pinkie smiled at the little pony's way with animals and bounced forward with the others, deeper into the forest.
"Now what was that song I was thinking of?" Pinkie whispered to herself from the back of the group. They had made it passed the Manticore, but now it seemed like things were getting more damp and dark than before. The little pony didn't really care though; she just wanted to remember her Granny Pie's song.
"Ugh, my eyes need a rest from all this icky muck." Rarity complained from up ahead. Just as she said that, the lights overhead went completely dim and everypony was shrouded in shadow. "I didn't mean that literally."
"That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it," Twilight said from the front. She sounded frustrated to Pinkie, and she wanted to fix that.
Pinkie didn't really hear her though. She was too busy thinking of that song. What was it? Suddenly, she gasped. Oh yeah, the No Fear song! How could I forget something like that? Another vision flashed before her as she finished that thought. Pinkie saw a tall serpent, coiling in to strike out at her. She felt quite nervous just then, but soon the snake was gone and she was back in the Everfree. What was that? Why couldn't I remember how the song went then?
Rarity screamed suddenly, shaking Pinkie away from those terrible thoughts. Soon that shout was joined by others. Pinkie knew just what she had to do though. Whatever it was making these ponies scream, she would make them laugh and smile no matter what.
Pinkie turned around and saw what was making the mares so frightened; a tree with a scary looking expression on its bark. Pinkie just started to laugh at the grumpy tree. She didn't really know why, maybe the tree just looked more silly to her than scary. Maybe she was just overdue for some laughter.
Maybe both.
"Pinkie, what are you doing? Run!" She heard Twilight say from behind her.
Pinkie opened her eyes and shook her head at the five mares. "Oh girls, don't you see?" Suddenly music started up in the background and Pinkie started tapping her hooves and wiggling her tail to the cheery beat of the song. "When I was a little filly and the sun was going down!" She lowered her head as she began to sing. "The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown! I'd hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw. But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way, to deal with fears at all."
"Then what is?" Dash asked interrupting her song for a second.
"She said 'Pinkie you gotta stand up tall," Pinkie answered Dash, hopping right up to the pegasus as she continued her happy song. "Learn to face your fears, you'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear! Ha ha ha!" The scary tree popped back into a normal tree in a second.
All the ponies gasped, not believing their eyes. Pinkie just started bouncing around clearing the forest of those scary expressions and singing her song so everypony could laugh along with her.
"So, giggle at the ghostly
Guffaw at the grossly
Crack up at the creepy
Whoop it up with the weepy
Chortle at the kooky
Snortle at the spooky
And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha...heh...
Laaaaaaauuugh!"
As the ponies made their way deeper into the Everfree, a fog fell over the trees and bushes around them. This made it seem all the more spooky to look about.
"Ooh, this looks like fun." Pinkie exclaimed, trying to grab some of the mist in front of her hoof. The fog faded as her hoof touched it. "Hmm, so it's a game then is it? Catch the fog?" Pinkie giggled at this new game idea.
"This isn't a time fer games Pinkie. We gotta stay focused on what we gotta do." Applejack replied from beside the pink mare.
"Oh. Okay…what is that again?" Pinkie asked with a tilt of her head.
Applejack rolled her eyes and said nothing.
"There it is!" Twilight spoke up, once she saw the castle beyond the bushes of the Everfree. "The ruin that holds the Elements of Harmony, we made it." She started galloping ahead of the others, being filled with hope for their mission.
"Twilight, wait fer us!" Applejack yelled to her as they started catching up to her.
"We're almost there- Whoa!" Twilight shrieked as she lost her hoofing and slid over the side of another cliff.
Dash grabbed her tail with her teeth and pulled the lavender unicorn back up. "What's with you and falling off cliffs today?"
Pinkie giggled at the cyan mare's question, but soon her laughter faded and she sighed. "Now what?" She exclaimed as she looked at the new gap between them and the ancient ruins.
Dash rolled her eyes and flapped her wings for Pinkie to see. "Umm, duh!" She pushed off from the ground and flew to the other side to tie off the bridge.
"Oh yeah!" Pinkie shouted with a smile growing on her muzzle. The amaranth pony sat down and watched the pegasus work.
"So, Pinkie Pie, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been in Ponyville?" Rarity asked, trotting up beside the pink pony and sitting down. "I must say I haven't seen you around that much, only at the party you threw for Twilight."
"Oh I've been here for a few weeks." Pinkie replied, nodding truthfully as she smiled at the white unicorn. "I was in the hospital for a couple days, but then they let me out cuz I was all better. Dashie came to see me and cheer me up when I was lonely and sad."
"Rainbow Dash? How long have you known her?" Rarity asked, curious to know how she met the cyan pegasus.
"Oh, well we met in the hospital." Pinkie answered, feeling a little less sure she should say. She didn't really know how long she'd been there, or when she and Dash met. "She got out before me, but she promised she'd come back and see me when she could. It was really nice of her to do that."
"You don't say. Well, you two seem to be getting along quite well." The elegant pony said, smiling back happily at the little pony.
"Oh, but if you want we can hang out sometime. You seem kind of familiar really…and you look like lots of fun to hang out with too." Pinkie replied quickly, trying not to upset the unicorn by only talking to Dash.
Rarity shook her head at the pony's sudden concern. She held in a small giggle and replied to Pinkie. "Oh, it's no trouble and it would be a lovely idea to get to know one another better…actually you seem familiar as well. It's just that-"
"Oh no!" Twilight shouted suddenly, interrupting their conversation. They looked over at the bridge as a dense fog came over and shrouded it and Rainbow Dash in a haze. "Rainbow! Don't listen to them!"
Pinkie hopped up and trotted over to the unicorn, trying to get a better view against the mist. "What's wrong Twilight?"
"Rainbow Dash is in trouble. I'm pretty sure it's Nightmare Moon tempting her to leave the bridge untied, so we can't find the Elements." Twilight replied breathlessly.
Pinkie shook her head in disbelief. "No way. Dash wouldn't do that; she'll get rid of those meanie pants ponies."
Twilight nodded slowly, not taking her eyes away from the opposite side of the cliff. "I hope you're right Pinkie. We need to get over there before Nightmare Moon gets to the castle."
The little pony sat her rump down on the edge of the ravine and waited patiently for a flourish of color to come out over the fog. I know you can do it Dash, you're too loyal to possibly do anything silly like not tie up the bridge.
A few tense, silent minutes passed by when Rainbow Dash flew up from the fog and landed triumphantly in front of them. Everypony cheered for her and began trotting over the newly repaired bridge.
"See, I'd never leave my friends hangin'." Dash said to Twilight, as she cruised over the gap with a full grin.
Pinkie smiled at the cyan mare and trotted to the front of the group on the other end of the cliff.
When the ponies made it into the first room of the castle, Dash and Fluttershy collected the Elements of Harmony and set them down in a circle in front of Twilight. They left her alone to allow Twilight to focus on activating the stones.
As Pinkie waited outside for Twilight to concentrate on the elements, her ear twitched. The little pony heard a zapping sound from inside the castle and spun around, recognizing the noise immediately. "Twilight!"
The other four ponies quickly got up and galloped back in with Pinkie just in time to see Twilight disappear along with the Elements of Harmony in a blaze of purple smoke.
The pink mare began to search for any trace of Twilight or the Elements, but came up with nothing. She saw Dash and the others doing the same and shrugged helplessly when the colorful pegasus glanced over at her.
Dash flew over and sat down next to Pinkie Pie. "Come on Pinks, we can't give up now. She's gotta be around here somewhere. We've gotta keep looking."
After a silent moment Pinkie nodded her understanding and smiled at the cerulean pony. You always cheer me up, huh Dash?
"Look!" Rarity cried from the window sill. She pointed a hoof at a flashing light at the top of the tower.
Pinkie and Dash looked at each other and galloped up the staircase with Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack following swiftly.
"Don't worry Twilight we'll be there." Applejack shouted up the stairs as the group spun around for the last time. They stood in formation in front of Nightmare Moon, unafraid to see her shadowy form.
"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well you're wrong; because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!" Twilight spoke up with a commanding voice. "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." As she spoke those words the shards of the stones gathered around the six ponies and shined brightly with energy. The energy spiraled up into the top of the tower as a giant rainbow and came pouring down on the shaking form of Nightmare Moon.
"Nooo!" She screamed as the rainbow colored force circled around the alicorn and caused the entire room to shine and blind the ponies with white light.
Pinkie sat up after a few moments. She still felt a ringing in her ears from using the Elements, but she just brushed the noise out with a fore-hoof. Pinkie skimmed around the dust covered room as the other ponies came to and smiled her big smile at each of them.
Dash rubbed her head and moaned. "Ow, my head!" She sat up and looked over at Pinkie, to make sure she wasn't injured. Pinkie smiled back at her and wiggled her pink cotton candy tail. It made Dash grin to see her still full of joy after all that's happened.
"Everypony okay?" Applejack asked leaning back on her rump as she woke up.
"Oh thank goodness!" Rarity shouted from around the circle. She was already up and walking around with her full length tail.
"Why Rarity, it's so lovely," Fluttershy said with a smile.
"I know, I'll never part with it again." Rarity replied, wrapping her tail around her tightly.
Dash rolled her eyes at Rarity continued on with her melodramatics. Pinkie giggled from beside her and bounced over to Applejack.
"Look at mine, look at mine!" Pinkie screamed with excitement as she glanced down at her pink balloon necklace.
Dash looked down at her necklace as well and stood up triumphantly. It was in the shape of a blue lightning bolt. "Aww yeah!"
Applejack looked over at the lavender unicorn and breathed a sigh of relief. "Gee Twilight, I thought you were just spoutin' a lot o' whooie. But I reckon…we really do represent the elements of friendship."
"Indeed you do," A wise and bright voice replied as the sun finally rose over Equestria. A light from the sun shown down on the six mares and before them, Princess Celestia materialised to greet them.
The ponies bowed low to show their respect for the ruler of all Equestria. Pinkie and Dash thought they recognised her, but they didn't say anything. Celestia stepped forward into the light of the sun, nodding for them to stand.
Twilight trotted up to her and nuzzled her gently. "Princess Celestia!"
"Twilight Sparkle," The Princess replied, nuzzling the small unicorn back with a smile. "My faithful student. I knew you could do it."
Twilight backed away slightly as the other ponies sat up and listened intently to their conversation. "But, you told me it was just an old pony tale."
"I told you, you had to make some friends. Nothing more." Celestia answered her, as she smiled down on the bearers of the Elements. "I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew that it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart."
As Pinkie and Dash watched their conversation unfold, they both saw visions of their time in the Everfree forest. The night the dragon attacked.
They both caught glimpses of white light shining through the dark woods, just like the one moments ago. Their visions made them feel weak and injured for a moment, but the sensation soon passed and they saw a white alicorn standing over them. At that moment, the vision faded and they saw no more of it.
"Now if only another would as well. Princess Luna." Celestia spoke walking up to the spot where Nightmare Moon had stood. A smaller lighter colored alicorn now lay in her place. She whimpered as she looked into the older pony's eyes.
That's where I know her from. I knew I saw her before. Pinkie thought to herself. I don't remember much, but I recognise her voice. I still hear it sometimes…did…did she save me and Dash in the Everfree from the dragon? I can't tell.
Dash stood staring at the white alicorn as her memories came back to her. She felt weaker than she had in the hospital. Her thoughts shifted back to the vision from before, but she couldn't remember what she had seen. The cyan pegasus was dizzy; it felt like she had scrapes and bruises all over her, but soon those too faded away. What's going on? What was that all about? Was she there that night in the Everfree? Is she why me and Pinkie survived? …Is she why I can't remember a thing about Pinkie Pie before that night?
"Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together little sister." Celestia said as she stood up from kneeling in front of the purple alicorn.
"Sister?" The six ponies all said together in surprise and confusion.
"Will you accept my friendship?" Celestia asked Luna as she smiled down on her, awaiting her response.
Pinkie and Dash waited in anticipation to hear her reply along with the other ponies. Pinkie leaned in closer to hear them and lost her balance, toppling over her hooves and making a squeaking noise as she landed on the floor of the ruins. Dash couldn't help but chuckle a little at how cute she looked while doing that.
"I'm so sorry! I missed you sooo much big sister." Luna screamed as she leapt up and cried into her older sister's shoulder.
"I missed you too," Princess Celestia whispered as she nuzzled the teary eyed mare. Her eyes were also watering at reuniting with her sister after Luna's one thousand year imprisonment on the Moon.
Pinkie couldn't take it any longer. Her eyes started pouring with happy tears at this wonderful moment, but just as soon as they had begun, Pinkie's tears disappeared and she was smiling again. "Hey, you know what this calls for? A PARTY!"
All the ponies in Ponyville were invited to the celebration. The sun was back, Luna was back, and Celestia was present for the rest of the Summer Sun festival.
At the end of the parade that Pinkie had arranged in Princess Celestia's honor, Dash trotted up behind the ceruse pony with a very important question on her mind.
Pinkie was sitting on top of a hill, looking down on the park where her party had been. Streamers lay scattered on the path and decorations were in the trees and hanging off the fountain in the center. All in all, Pinkie thought it was a party well planned…and on such short notice too.
Dash eventually worked up the courage and stepped up to ask her. "Hey, uh, Pinkie Pie?" But before she could ask Pinkie what was on her mind, Dash was swiftly tackled to the grass of the hill with a soft pink pony laying on her. "Ooph!"
"Dashie!" Pinkie exclaimed from on top of the cyan pegasus. "Hi. Whatcha doin'?"
Dash wiggled around uncomfortably under Pinkie Pie. "Trying…to breath…Pinks."
"Oh, oops. Sorry Dash." Pinkie said, getting off of Dash and sitting down in front of her. "So whatcha doin'?"
Dash sat up and caught her breath after being tackled to the ground by a surprisingly strong little pony. "I just wanted to ask you about something that happened in the Everfree forest. You said you had seen visions of us being in there before all this. Do you remember the dragon?"
The two ponies sat in silence, looking at each other. By then most of the ponies had left and only Pinkie and Dash remained to clean up the party decorations.
"Mmhm. I've been seeing a lot of that stuff, mostly before I go to sleep. I don't know why, but I thought I saw Princess Celestia in one of them. She was talking to me, but I couldn't tell what she was saying." Pinkie lowered her head suddenly as another thought and fear entered her mind.
Dash noticed this change in mood and started to worry about her friend. She moved closer to the pink mare and rested a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "Pinkie? What's wrong? What did you see?"
Pinkie gulped and raised her head. She stared into Dash's concerned eyes and felt a pang in her heart. Pinkie couldn't stand to see Dash so upset over her. She didn't want this kind of attention, it hurt to make the cyan pegasus so sad. "I saw you…you were lying on the ground. You looked really hurt…and I wanted to do something, but I just stood there. I couldn't move- I'm sorry Dash. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." Her blue eyes began to water at the thoughts returning to her. She tried to hold them in, but they just kept coming.
Dash held the poor mare in her hooves on impulse, afraid and unwilling to let go until Pinkie stopped crying. "It's okay Pinkie, I'm right here remember? I'll always be here, and I'm never gonna leave. I won't leave you Pinks."