Episode Summary
As Nightmare Moon flees the scene, Twilight runs back to the library frantically searching for more information on The Elements of Harmony. She explains what she knows to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie and locates a book that says the elements are located in a castle in the spooky and mysterious Everfree Forest. Nightmare Moon, in the form of a cloud of purple smoke, overhears the conversation and gets a head start on them. Despite insisting on going alone, the rest of the group join her as they venture into the forest.
A collapsing cliff sends Twilight sliding down a slope and hanging over the edge of a long drop. Applejack grabs her but asks Twilight to trust her that if she lets go she will be safe. Initially thinking her crazy, Twilight trusts her and lets go and is caught by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
The group then come across an angry Manticore. After several attempts to beat back the monster, Fluttershy intervenes and approches him, discovering a thorn in its paw is the cause of its rage. She removes it and calms the beast, letting the ponies pass. Fluttershy explains to Twilight that "sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness".
After wandering into a darkened area of the forest, the group are frightened by trees carved with scary faces. However, Pinkie explains (in song, much to the confusement of the other ponies) that you can conquer your fears simply by laughing at them. The ponies do just that and continue onward.
Coming to a river, the group encounters a flamboyant sea serpent, deeply upset by having his moustache ruined as a "cloud of tacky, purple smoke" went by and cutting half of it off. Rarity, angered by this "crime against fabulousity" sympathises with him and cuts off her tail so that his moustache can be restored. The sea serpent then calms down, allowing the ponies to cross the river on his back.
The castle is now in sight, but a broken rope bridge blocks their path. Rainbow Dash flies over to tie the bridge but is confronted by a group of dark ponies who call themselves The Shadowbolts, claiming to be the Everfree Forest's equivalent of The Wonderbolts. They ask Dash to join them as their captain, telling her she has to choose them over her friends. Dash declines their offer and ties the bridge, letting the others cross.
They enter the castle and find the five Elements of Harmony, but the sixth and final element will only appear when a "spark" occurs. As Twilight tries to figure out what the spark is, the cloud of purple smoke appears and teleports them away, as well as Twilight. In a seperate section of the castle, Nightmare Moon reappears and, despite Twilight's best efforts, shatters the elements. As all hope seems lost, Twilight hears her friends voices as they come to her aid and she has a revalation.
She realizes that her new friends each represent the elements; Honesty (Applejack), Kindness (Fluttershy), Laughter (Pinkie Pie), Generosity (Rarity) and Loyalty (Rainbow Dash). Acknowledging them as her friends triggers the "spark" spoken of in the book, thus revealing the sixth element, Magic. The ponies use their newfound power to defeat Nightmare Moon.
As the ponies come to, they find the elements have bestowed them with necklaces (or in Twilights case, a crown) in the shape of their Cutie Marks. As the sun rises, Princess Celestia appears and explains that she knew Twilight had the power to defeat Nightmare Moon and this is why she told her she needed to make friends. The power of the elements return Princess Luna to her original form and she and her sister have a tearful reunion.
Pinkie organises another party and they all return to Ponyville. Seeing that Twilight is sad at the prospect of leaving her new friends and returning home, Celestia issues her with a new task, to study friendship and report her findings. Twilight is ecstatic, promising to study harder than she ever has before.