It took me a few days to work this chapter like the last one, but I have to continued.


Two hours later until the evening, as it gets dark.

Corn Flour had Gloria settle in her bed. For she need to rest and get recovered. She was unable to get up and use her magic.

Arthur is the same, he was in deep pain from Terra zap. Filbert, Fixit and Martino are now watching him and make sure he well enough, after all they are his close pals. It will take him a while for him to recover, as much as Gloria.

Wind Whistler and Corn Flour are the only head ponies to keep the ponies of the valley clam and safe.

As for Ember, she was in the library with her five mare friends. Jasmine, Melody, Sweet Stuff, Buttons and Shooting Star. They came to covert Ember and trying to cheer her up. For she still blame herself for being a failure.

"How could I've let this happen?" Ember question herself with her hung head.

"You been asking that for two hours after coming back here." inquired Jasmine. "This isn't your fault Ember."

"Yes it is. I really miss up back there. My mother, Arthur and every pony were continuing on me, they trusted me, with my chance as a princess for our home and for Equestira.

"But I've got beating, I've let everyone down and worst…" Ember begin to cry, "I've lost the golden heart, the one item we had."

"Can we contact Twilight and her friends for help?" ask Sweet Stuff. "She can use the elements of harmony to stop Terra."

"That won't do." Said Jasmine. "We learn that the elements were return to the tree of harmony and there's no way we can get to Twilight in Ponyville."

"And it will be hard to call for Princess Celestia." Added Buttons. "Or Princess Luna."

"So you're saying that we're on our own?" Shooting Star question.

"And you don't suppose Terra will use the golden heart to do some bad things?" Melody with a worried wonder.

"I don't think so." said Ember "There's no way she cannot use the hearts' power, it can only use of good and she doesn't know how use it."

"But is there's a way we can get it back?" ask Shooting Star, "You can still use it and take down that evil bird."

Ember sighed. "It won't be easy. Terra is very frightful, cunning and dangers to get close, even getting back the heart. And I'm not sure I can try again."

"Come Ember." Jasmine insisted trying to get Ember's sprite. "I mean, what's happen to you? Don't you remember when you got the magic to fight Merissa the ice cat?"

"Not to mention how you help Twilight and her friends? And save Equstria?" Added Buttons. "You were great back there and you never lose hope, even of what you've become."

"We don't blame you for being a princess," insisted Melody, "or that you get your first try. We still have fate in you and you are our friend."

"You're not pathetic like that evil bird said." Said Sweet Stuff with encouragement. "You're the best friend and the best pony we ever had."

"You've got the gust Ember." declared Shooting Star. "And you can let that monster take away our home."

Ember looked at her friends and knowing they've cared for her. She did hade responsibilities right now, even she is now a princess. Not only for the golden heart. But only to those she had cared and loved. She once did have back the heart before while helping Twilight and she can do it again. Not for herself, but for the whole valley and Equestria.

Until as last, Ember now has the courage to get back the item she priest and help her subject and her home. As she stand tall.

Her friends were happy to see Ember is better and now Ember is ready finish what she has planned. Although there is one thing, she need to know where Terra is holding up.

But luckily, Shooting Star had some news. Just before Terra left Maren Tone, she heard that Terra's new nest is that the Eastern Tower, an old and abandon watchtower that hasn't been use for few hundred years.

"I am beating that where Terra is keeping herself and the heart." Ember suggesting, "Where is this Eastern Tower?"

"Well," said Shooting Star, "it's at the other far east side of…"


"The Shimmering Forest!" the ponies cried.

They've had already left the library just ten minutes ago and as they got to the forest, they've become much nervous. Terra had not only change the valley with frightful plants, but the forest too.

That is no longer a peaceful forest, but a big creepy dark forest with growing weeds and plants that like to grab some pony. Even the trees had change with purple leaves, vines and hand like branches.

Even when it dark, it became very scary. How knows what the ponies will find in there, they hope there are no terrifying beast like some Timberwolves.

"I beat this is the work of Terra." Ember inquired.

"You not thinking for going in there alone, are you?" Buttons stammered.

"I have no choice. I have got to go through the forest to get to the tower. Terra will never notice if she in the skies, while I'm under the trees."

Jasmine came beside her. "But we can't let you got in to the corrupting forest alone and facing that evil witch. Which is why, we're going with you."

That make Ember worried.

"Jas is right." Shooting Star agreed. "We're going to be right there next to you to the end."

"No." Ember suggested, "I cannot let anything happen to you. The heart and Terra is my responsibility and…"

"We understand Ember." Melody interrupted, "But you can't fight Terra alone."

"Melody is right." Buttons agreed, "We're not just your subject, we're your friends and friends are always there for each other."

"So were sticking next to you like an apple crumble on a stick." Sweet Stuff suggested, "And it will be fun if we stick together."

"And this time," Shooting Star, "We're not going to get you have all the excitement."

They match in the forest without feeling afraid. Ember still is, she worried her old friends might get hurt. What can they do? They don't priest the elements of harmony like Twilight and her Ponyville friends. That she wish they were here with her, even with the elements.

So for that, she do her best to keep her own friends safe and match until they get to the Eastern Tower, just at the east side of the corrupting forest that use to be peaceful for once.


At the Eastern Tower, just on the other side of a cliff. The old watchtower that it still stands, but now been abandon for years. At the top of the watchtower in the highest room, where some crossbows had been unused. Terra is using it as her chamber and her nest.

As she arrived, she went to her nest where the golden heart lies. She gaze upon it and grinned.

"If that little pony princess said about that object is true," she said, "that they can use it to overpower me? Well that's not going to happen. For I'm in control now, for those ponies will never see their light and the beauty of their precise land. The terror will last forever!"

She laugh around the room until she sighed. "Oh, I do love the way I work right now."


Right now, the six ponies venture in the Shimmering Forest. That it is now a dark and spooky forest, with creepy trees and plants. A chill of wind and with all the strangers sounds. Like howling, hooting and growling.

There were no sign of the critters that lived in the forest, not a twit of birds. Knowing they must have flee their homes before the changing of the forest. Which made Melody and Ember felt sorry for them. And the one thing that Jasmine felt sorry for, is the beauty of the plants, as much as the animals.

"I never thought that witch can turn anything that is pretty into something creepy like this." Jasmine mutter as she look around as she goes.

"Well that witch is going to pay for this." Shooting Star snapped for pay back by pounding her hoofs.

"Safe you energy Shooting Star." said Ember, "We haven't made to the tower yet. But we have to be careful, there no tell what we might run into."

"But do we know where the tower is?" Buttons question.

"Well it is known as the Eastern Tower." inquired Sweet Stuff. "So we just have to keep going east."

"But which way is east?"

"Maybe I can help with that." Ember ponded, "I bet I can use my seeking spell to lead us you the golden heart. I hope I'm still connect to its powers."

"Can you really do that?" Melody ask in surprise.

"I don't know, but it's worth a shot."

Ember focus on her magic, to get her seeking spell to locate the hearts' powers. In a few moments, she can feel the priest of the heart and then the seeking bubble appeared to her and her friends in amazement.

The bubble went to show the ponies the way to go to the tower, which make it much easier when it glows through the dark.

"You think that way is east?" Melody ask.

"I bet so," said Ember, "and the way to where Terra is hiding."

"Then let's go." Suggested Shooting Star, as she flew ahead.

The others followed, but as they journeyed on by passing through some unknown plants which Jasmine had never seen before, but somehow she heard something about them.

Suddenly, something garb Shooting Star's back leg. A vine branch that appeared from the boshes. Ember quick use her beam to get it off her friend.

"Thanks Ember." Shooting Star sigh, but then complained, "But what is the matter with those plants that bird witch did?"

"I think is because the forest has changed," said Jasmine, "and causing the plants to go wild."

"Well, duh!" complained Sweet Stuff, "What made you think this place is creepy because of that witch?"

Just then, they hear a grow coming near to them. Some yellow glowing eyes appeared from the darkness from the trees and the ponies can smell something offal. To Ember's fears, she realized that smell is coming from.

"Timberwolves!" she cried "Run!"

She was right, the timberwolves come out from the darkness and chase after the six mares.

"How could we get timberwolves right here!?" Jasmine question as she run.

"Who did you think!?" complied Shooting Star and Buttons.

"I wish Arthur was here," mutter Melody, "he learn how to fight against the timberwolves."

"But it looks like we have to try and lose them." Ember suggested, "But how?"

Just then, Jasmine came with an idea. "The plants! She yelled. "We can use them to get rid of them. If we get close to them and…"

"Get close to those plants!?" Shooting Star bellowed knowing what that branch did to her. "Are you crazy!?"

"It's our one chance. Trust me!"

Ember and the other are not sure about Jasmine idea. But with the timberwolves are on their tales, they have to believe in their friends.

So they run towards the plants, the ones that nearly got Shooting Star. As they got close, Jasmine told Ember and the other to avoid the grabbing branches and keep on going.

When they safely got pass the plants, the branches began to grow out to wax or grab. Ember will make sure she use her shield to protect her friends and herself. She, Jasmine, Sweet Stuff and Buttons run along the ground and as the two pegasus fly pass the plant in full speed. Though Shooting Star is much faster, but Melody flew as fast as she can.

When the ponies manage to avoid the branches, the timberwovles were wax and grab instead. As they struggle by the sneers of the branches from the corrupting plants, the ponies get away in one peace.

They stop to catch their breath, when they're far away from the creepy plants and the timberwolves.

"Whew, thanks goodness we're safe." Sigh Buttons.

"That was a good idea of your Jasmine." Said Ember, "But how do you realized about the plants back there?"

"I didn't." said Jasmine. "Just thought they came in useful, even they're not one of my plants in my shop or in the green house."

Ember was please about her friend, she felt a bit glad that Jasmine and her other four friends came with her to help. But she still feels worried about them, even chase by the timberwovles and avoid the creepy plants.

The ponies continued on their task, as they march on through the woods. They still knew there will be mare dangers ahead, but they'll be fine if they stick together.

"How much further is it?" Buttons pleaded to Ember, "Are you going to use your seeking spell again?"

But Ember had a better idea. "We need to check if we're near." She said, "Shooting Star can you look from the air."

"Sure thing." Said Shooting Star. She flew up and look to see if she can see any tower. She also need to be careful, she knew that Terra is also the terror of the skies and she might strike down on her. As she looked by turning her head, then she spotted a high tower above the trees, with lightning strike down near to it.

"I see the tower just a few miles from here." She replied and fly down to Ember and the other ponies. "It will be much easier if we can fly there."

"No." Ember inquired, "Terra may see us coming from the air and we can't risk it. We have to get there by hoof."

"And we better get there." Added Jasmine. "Before…"

Just when Jasmine finish, they can hear a moan and growl that came from the shadows of the tree. Then the ponies could see some glowing eyes that twinkles to them.

"Oh no." Buttons tremble was fear. "Is that another timberwolf?"

"I don't think it is a timberwolf." Said Ember study the eyes and then in shock.

Coming out of the shadows and coming towards the ponies, was a big bear with angry eyes. He is so big with big claws and huge teeth.