After returning to Golden Oak Library, Twilight immediately discovered that Spike was completely exhausted.
He had been awake all night, and as a baby dragon, there was only so much he could take.
By the time they reached the library, Spike could barely keep his eyes open.
Twilight quickly settled him down so he could sleep.
Once Spike was tucked in, Twilight immediately began searching through Dusk Glow’s notes.
He had collected a surprisingly large amount of information about the Elements of Harmony, and the notes gave Twilight a major advantage.
They also confirmed something else.
Dusk Glow had known about Nightmare Moon for quite some time.
Not only that, he had apparently known Nightmare Moon herself.
That explained why he had been so certain that she would return.
Why didn’t he tell me?
Twilight frowned.
She decided that once they rescued Dusk Glow, she was going to have a very serious talk with him.
First, though, she had to find the Elements of Harmony.
“The Elements of Harmony…”
“I have to find them.”
Suddenly, a blue blur shot into the library.
Rainbow Dash stopped right in front of Twilight’s face.
“Then tell me what these Elements of Harmony are!”
She leaned even closer.
“And why does Dusk Glow know Nightmare Moon? How did you know she was coming? Are you two spies or something?!”
“Whoa there!”
Applejack hurried into the library.
“Give her some room, Rainbow. Twilight isn’t a spy.”
She looked toward Twilight.
“But she sure knows what’s going on.”
The rest of the group followed Applejack inside.
Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy gathered around Twilight as well.
Twilight took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
“Rainbow Dash, I’m not a spy.”
She levitated Dusk Glow’s notes in front of them.
“Dusk Glow collected a lot of information about the Elements of Harmony. I only just confirmed that he knew Nightmare Moon long before today.”
She looked at the others seriously.
“Nightmare Moon has returned, and the Elements of Harmony are the key to stopping her.”
Rainbow Dash’s suspicious expression softened slightly.
“All right, but what are you going to do? You think staring at his notes is actually going to help us find them?”
Twilight opened the notes with her magic.
“According to Dusk Glow’s research, five of the Elements are known.”
She read through the page.
“Kindness. Laughter. Generosity. Honesty. And Loyalty.”
She turned the page.
“The sixth Element is still unknown.”
Twilight’s expression became more serious.
“The notes say the five known Elements were last recorded in the ancient castle of the royal sisters.”
She looked up.
“And that castle is somewhere in…”
“THE EVERFREE FOREST!”
The entire group shouted together.
A short while later, the six ponies stood at the entrance to the Everfree Forest.
Night had completely fallen.
The trees stretched into the darkness like enormous twisted claws.
A cold breeze passed through the forest.
Even Rainbow Dash stopped joking for a moment.
The Everfree Forest at night was enough to make even the bravest pony feel uneasy.
Twilight looked down at Dusk Glow’s notes.
According to his research, the Everfree Forest was unlike anywhere else in Equestria.
Its plants grew without the help of ponies.
Its animals survived on their own.
Even the weather seemed to change without anypony controlling it.
To Twilight, those facts were completely unnatural.
Then she noticed a smaller note written underneath.
She read it aloud.
“Honestly, from a human’s perspective, these things would be completely normal.”
“If anything, pegasi controlling the weather and earth ponies using magic to grow crops are what I would consider bizarre.”
“I suppose that’s what makes an alternate world so interesting. It keeps finding new ways to challenge everything I think I know.”
Twilight puffed out her cheeks.
The human world sounds even stranger.
“Let’s go!” Pinkie Pie said eagerly.
She bounced toward the forest entrance.
“Wait!”
Twilight hurriedly stopped her.
“I appreciate that everypony wants to help, but I think I should go alone.”
She looked toward the forest.
“This is dangerous, and there’s no reason for all of you to get involved.”
“Absolutely not, sugarcube.”
Applejack stepped forward.
“We’re stickin’ with you.”
She smiled.
“Besides, Dusk Glow still owes me an apple feast.”
Rainbow Dash immediately flapped her wings.
“And we’re still supposed to have that flying race!”
Rarity flicked her mane confidently.
“He’s also a marvelous fashion model. I still have several outfits he needs to try.”
Fluttershy timidly raised a hoof.
“I… I’d also like to hear more about the animals in Canterlot.”
Pinkie Pie bounced so hard that she nearly left the ground.
“Yay! Everypony wants to rescue Dusk Glow!”
“When we save him, we’re having the biggest party ever!”
Twilight looked around at all of them.
There was no arguing with them.
She sighed.
“Fine. Let’s just hope everything goes smoothly.”
The group began walking into the Everfree Forest.
After a short while, Applejack glanced toward Rainbow Dash.
“Say, Rainbow…”
“Didn’t Dusk Glow used to have no wings?”
Rainbow Dash looked confused.
“What are you talking about? He’s a pegasus.”
Applejack shook her head.
“Are you sure? He was a unicorn when we met him at Sweet Apple Acres and at Town Hall.”
Rainbow Dash’s expression changed.
“Wait… you’re right.”
Rarity joined in.
“How odd. He was definitely a pegasus at Pinkie Pie’s party.”
Fluttershy thought about it.
“I… I remember seeing him as a pegasus too.”
Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped.
“Maybe he’s secretly three ponies!”
Twilight immediately shook her head.
“That’s not what happened.”
The others turned toward her.
Twilight realized everypony was staring at her.
Since Dusk Glow had never intended to keep his ability a secret from his friends, Twilight decided there was no reason to hide it.
“Dusk Glow has three different forms.”
She explained.
“He can change between a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony.”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened.
“Seriously?!”
“That’s awesome!”
Applejack scratched her head.
“So that’s why none of us could agree on what he was.”
Rarity smiled.
“How fascinating.”
Fluttershy blinked.
“That must be very unusual.”
Pinkie Pie’s eyes sparkled.
“Three forms!”
“That means three times as much Dusk Glow!”
Twilight stared at her.
“That’s not how it works.”
Pinkie Pie nodded seriously.
“Got it.”
“It totally works that way.”
Twilight could only sigh.
The six ponies continued deeper into the forest.
The Everfree Forest, Castle of the Two Sisters
Meanwhile, deep within the ruins of the ancient castle, Dusk Glow slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself lying inside an enormous stone chamber.
Darkness surrounded him.
He immediately noticed the magical cage around him.
He was trapped.
Again.
“Finally awake?”
Nightmare Moon’s voice echoed from above.
Dusk Glow raised his head.
Nightmare Moon stood on a raised platform above him.
Her dark figure slowly rose from her throne.
Her bat-like wings cast twisted shadows across the stone floor as she descended the steps.
The sound of her hooves echoed through the empty castle.
She stopped in front of the cage.
“How ironic.”
Her teal eyes glowed dangerously.
“You could have become my most trusted servant.”
“Instead, you chose to stand beside those ponies.”
Dusk Glow stared into her eyes.
For a moment, he saw the loneliness that had been buried there for a thousand years.
Then he sighed.
“You’re right.”
“There is something ironic about this.”
Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow.
Dusk Glow continued.
“But the irony isn’t in my choice.”
“It’s in you, Princess Luna.”
Nightmare Moon’s pupils immediately contracted.
“Do not call me that!”
Her voice echoed through the chamber.
Dusk Glow remained calm.
“A thousand years ago, you wanted to be understood.”
“You wanted ponies to recognize you and appreciate what you brought to Equestria.”
“But now you’re trying to force everypony to suffer the same loneliness you once endured.”
“Isn’t that exactly what you hated?”
“Enough!”
Nightmare Moon slammed a hoof against the cage.
The impact sent a jolt through Dusk Glow’s body.
“How dare you claim to understand me?!”
Dusk Glow steadied himself.
“Princess Luna…”
“You may hate Princess Celestia, but she never stopped caring about you.”
“She still believes there is goodness inside you.”
He lowered his head slightly.
“I understand loneliness too.”
“In my world, I was lonely for a long time.”
“But eventually, I learned how to live with myself.”
“I found peace.”
“I found a way to move forward.”
Dusk Glow looked directly into her eyes.
“You still have that chance.”
“You can still turn back…”
“Silence!”
Nightmare Moon’s voice exploded through the chamber.
Her wings suddenly unfurled, sending a powerful gust through the room.
“What could you possibly understand?!”
“A thousand years of exile!”
“A thousand years of loneliness!”
“You think a few comforting words are enough to shake me?”
Dusk Glow remained silent.
Nightmare Moon’s expression twisted with anger.
“When I met you on the moon, I thought that because you came from another world, you might understand me.”
“But it seems even you have been poisoned by that sun.”
She stared at him with disappointment.
Part of her had genuinely hoped Dusk Glow would return to her side.
His magical talent was remarkable.
Losing such a useful ally was frustrating.
But now he had made his choice.
A sudden breeze swept through the ruined castle.
Nightmare Moon’s ears twitched.
She turned toward the entrance.
A sly smile appeared on her face.
“It seems your friends have come looking for you.”
She glanced back at Dusk Glow.
“How convenient.”
“I’ll go play with them for a while.”
“We can settle our little disagreement afterward.”
With that, Nightmare Moon transformed into black mist and slipped out through a nearby window.
Dusk Glow watched her disappear.
Only after she was gone did he begin working on the cage.
He gathered magical energy in his horn.
A powerful beam struck the bars.
Nothing happened.
Dusk Glow frowned.
High magical resistance.
He fired again.
Still nothing.
“So magic isn’t going to work…”
He looked at the bars.
“What about brute force?”
His horn disappeared as his body changed.
His form shifted into an earth pony.
The moment the transformation finished, his strength increased dramatically.
Unlike his unicorn and pegasus forms, his earth pony form required almost no magic.
It was pure physical power.
Dusk Glow wrapped both forelegs around two of the bars.
He pulled.
Hard.
The metal groaned.
Then, with one powerful movement, the bars bent apart.
Dusk Glow stepped through the opening.
“Well, that was easier than expected.”
Nightmare Moon clearly hadn’t anticipated that possibility.
When she created the cage, she had focused almost entirely on strengthening its magical resistance.
Dusk Glow walked toward a massive window and looked outside.
The moon was bright overhead.
But even its silver light could barely penetrate the darkness of the Everfree Forest.
This must be the ancient castle of the royal sisters.
According to the books, the Elements of Harmony should be here.
Twilight must be on her way.
I have to find them before she arrives.
Without wasting another moment, Dusk Glow began exploring the castle.
The ruins were much larger than he had expected.
Collapsed walls and piles of rubble filled many of the halls.
Dust covered everything.
Strange creatures had made their homes among the ruins.
Star spiders crawled across broken stones.
Other creatures moved through the shadows.
The castle itself was also incredibly confusing.
Hallways twisted in every direction.
Staircases led to unexpected rooms.
Before long, Dusk Glow realized something.
I’m lost.
Great.
I should have brought a map.
Eventually, he discovered a large library.
He entered and looked across shelves covered in centuries of dust.
Dusk Glow randomly pulled out several books.
His eyes widened.
They were all works by the legendary mage Starswirl the Bearded.
He opened one.
Inside were detailed studies of spells, experiments, magical theory, and strange discoveries.
Dusk Glow could already imagine Twilight spending an entire day reading these books.
But he did not have time for that.
He quickly skimmed a few pages before placing the book on a nearby chair.
Then something unexpected happened.
Because of the way the book landed, its weight shifted the chair.
The chair tipped backward.
Something inside the mechanism clicked.
Dusk Glow froze.
“What was that?”
A series of heavy noises echoed through the library.
Two bookshelves in the center slowly moved apart.
Behind them was a hidden chamber.
Dusk Glow stared.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
He stepped inside.
The secret room contained another collection of books.
There was also a reclining chair and several pillows.
At the center stood a pedestal holding a single book.
Dusk Glow walked closer.
The title immediately caught his attention.
The Secret Diary of the Two Princesses
He blinked.
“The princesses’ diary?”
If this really belonged to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, it might contain information about the castle.
More importantly, it might reveal where the Elements of Harmony had been hidden.
Dusk Glow immediately began reading.
Five minutes later…
“Hah!”
“So Princess Celestia really did have a mischievous side.”
He flipped another page.
“And Princess Luna used to pull pranks on that poor Platinum princess?”
Another page.
“Wait, seriously?”
He stared at the entry in disbelief.
“Equestria’s air superiority over the griffons was settled with a few eclairs?”
Dusk Glow continued reading while occasionally commenting on what he found.
The diary contained stories from the early days of Equestria.
It described important events.
It also contained plenty of completely unnecessary personal details about the two princesses.
Fortunately, there was something much more useful.
The diary contained information about the castle’s hidden mechanisms.
Secret sliding doors.
The Hall of Hooves.
And an enchanted instrument called the Song of a Thousand Miles.
The instrument could activate many of the castle’s mechanisms.
Most of the castle’s hidden systems had apparently been designed according to Princess Luna’s preferences.
Using the information in the diary, Dusk Glow eventually found his way into a large hall.
At the center stood an enormous stone platform.
Five stone spheres rested on top.
Dusk Glow stared at them.
These must be the Elements of Harmony.
He was certain.
His horn appeared again as he switched back into his unicorn form.
Using magic, he carefully levitated all five spheres down from the platform.
He placed them together.
Then waited.
Nothing happened.
“Huh…”
Dusk Glow stared at the five spheres.
According to the books, there were six Elements of Harmony.
Once the five known Elements were gathered, some kind of spark should reveal the sixth.
But nothing happened.
Dusk Glow waited.
Still nothing.
He tried rearranging them.
Nothing.
He frowned.
Did the book get something wrong?
Or is there really no sixth Element?
After a while, Dusk Glow decided he should stop wasting time.
He could take the five Elements with him and let Twilight investigate them later.
Using his magic, he pulled down a large cloth covering and wrapped the five stone spheres inside it.
He secured the bundle to his back.
Then he turned toward the exit.
Suddenly…
A mass of black mist burst into the room.
Dusk Glow froze.
She came back already?!
Before he could react, the mist transformed into a powerful whirlwind.
The vortex wrapped around Dusk Glow and lifted him into the air.
“Whoa!”
In an instant, the world around him blurred.
The next thing he knew, he was back in the same chamber where Nightmare Moon had imprisoned him before.
The magical cage reappeared around him.
The black mist condensed into Nightmare Moon.
She stood outside the cage with an amused expression.
“Looks like my little prisoner has been getting into trouble.”
Dusk Glow stared at her.
Nightmare Moon smiled.
“So…”
“Did you really think you could escape?”