The Legend of Everfree

  Begin Reading

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  For all of Ms. Nunnery’s

  music students. Keep on singing

  about friendship!

  A Midnight Nightmare

  Twilight Sparkle tossed and turned in her bed. She was mumbling in her sleep. “No, it can’t be true. It isn’t true.”

  The sun was pouring into her room, but she was fast asleep. She was having a terrible nightmare. She couldn’t wake up from it. She didn’t hear her friends outside her door.

  “Twilight,” whispered the soft voice of Fluttershy. “Are you still asleep?”

  “If she is, that won’t wake her up!” Rainbow Dash pounded on the door. “Twilight,” she called. “The bus for Camp Everfree leaves in ten minutes!”

  Twilight’s brown-purple eyes fluttered open. “Oh no.” She gasped. She hadn’t even started packing yet. What a nightmare! She leaped out of bed. She threw open her bedroom door. All her friends were there—with their suitcases. “I can’t believe I overslept.” Spike, her pet dog, yawned.

  Sunset Shimmer was shaking her head in disbelief. “Me neither. That’s not like you.”

  “Don’t you have a super-annoying alarm clock that goes ehhh ehhh ehhh?” Pinkie Pie wondered, looking around.

  Twilight lifted her pillow. Smothered underneath it was her alarm clock—making an annoying ehhh ehhh ehhh sound.

  Sunset Shimmer clicked it off. “It’s gonna be fine,” she reassured her friend. “We’ll help you pack.”

  Rarity was rummaging through Twilight Sparkle’s closet. She took a gorgeous, shimmering dress off a hanger. She folded it carefully and put it in Twilight Sparkle’s suitcase.

  Applejack couldn’t believe it. “We’re going to be out in the woods. When is she going to need that?”

  Rarity tossed her mane of long, dark hair. “If we were going to the moon, I’d insist she pack an evening gown. One never knows, darling!”

  Each of the girls was rushing around helping Twilight Sparkle pack. Pinkie Pie found an uneaten cupcake and tucked it into a corner of the suitcase. Fluttershy made sure to throw in a few of Twilight Sparkle’s favorite stuffed animals. Rainbow Dash took a signed photo of herself playing soccer and placed it on top of the growing pile. Spike dropped in one of his chew toys.

  Applejack rolled her eyes. She picked out some pants, long-sleeve shirts, a bathing suit, and a flashlight. That was what was on the official list. That’s what you needed at camp.

  Twilight Sparkle felt overwhelmed. She still felt groggy and tired. She’d woken up from one nightmare into another. “Let me just get changed,” she told the others, grabbing an outfit.

  She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on her closet door. Something was glittering in her eye. Something dark and cold. Something frightening. What was it?

  Twilight Sparkle stared at her reflection. Her eyes were becoming darker. Her pink-streaked violet hair was growing wilder. It was almost as if it were highlighted with flames. She was changing. Dark-purple wings were sprouting from her back. In the mirror, Twilight Sparkle had become Midnight Sparkle.

  The Equestria Girls backed away from her in fear.

  This was the magical monster Twilight Sparkle had turned into at the end of the Friendship Games. She had opened a portal between the enchanted world of Equestria and Canterlot High—that had nearly destroyed them both.

  How could this be happening? “Sunset Shimmer helped me defeat you!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed in desperation.

  But Midnight Sparkle was taking over. She gestured toward the mirror. It revealed the terrible moment when Twilight Sparkle had turned into the evil Midnight Sparkle, towering over her classmates. Holes had ripped open in the sky. Jagged cracks had torn apart the front lawn of Canterlot High. Sunset Shimmer had appeared and blasted Midnight Sparkle with her magic. She had called Twilight Sparkle back. She had saved her from the worst part of herself.

  The reflection of Midnight Sparkle in the mirror cackled. “You and your friends can never truly defeat me. Midnight Sparkle’s a part of you.”

  The mirror cracked.

  Midnight Sparkle leaned out from the mirror toward a terrified Twilight. “I’ll always be there,” she hissed. “Waiting in the darkest shadows of your mind. I’ll be back, Twilight!”

  Midnight Sparkle waved her hands and blasted magic out of the unicorn horn on her head. It struck the floor of the room with a lightning bolt. The room began to dissolve. The portal was open again. Reality was disappearing!

  The girls screamed.

  Midnight Sparkle was triumphant. “And this time I won’t stop until I have all the magic!” She reached through the mirror and grabbed Twilight Sparkle’s hand. They began to merge with each other. Twilight was disappearing, too.

  What a nightmare!

  “Twilight! Twilight!” barked Spike.

  “No! Stop!” screamed Twilight.

  “Twilight, wake up!” Spike yelped.

  “Stop!”

  Twilight woke up with a start. She’d been asleep. The whole time. She wasn’t in her room at home. She wasn’t late for the bus to Camp Everfree. She was already on the bus—and her friends were all staring at her.

  Pinkie Pie giggled. “We can’t stop, silly! We’re not there yet.”

  Twilight Sparkle tried to catch her breath. She was shaking. What a terrible nightmare. It wasn’t true, was it? She wasn’t going to turn into Midnight Sparkle again. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t. Could she?

  Bus-ride Daydreams

  Sunset Shimmer was worried about her friend. “Hey, are you okay?” she whispered.

  Twilight forced a smile to her lips. “I’m fine,” she said.

  But Sunset Shimmer wasn’t so sure. Once, she had turned into a she-demon and tried to take over Canterlot High just like Twilight Sparkle. She had nightmares afterward, too. It took a long time for her to settle down after that. She was going to keep an eye on Twilight Sparkle.

  Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down in her seat. Her bubblegum-pink curls were bouncing, too. “We are going to have so much fun,” she squealed. “We’re gonna roast marshmallows and eat marshmallows and sleep on marshmallow pillows!”

  Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Probably not gonna do that.”

  “Maybe you’re not.” Pinkie Pie giggled. She pulled out a squishy marshmallow pillow from her backpack.

  At the front of the bus, Principal Celestia clapped her hands. “Attention, students! We’re almost there, but before we arrive, we just wanted to say how proud we are of you for raising enough money to go on this class field trip.”

  Vice Principal Luna was beaming happily beside her. “When we were your age, we made some of our favorite memories in these woods, and we’re sure you will, too.”

  “Now, who’s excited for Camp Everfree?” exclaimed Principal Celestia.

  All the students on the bus cheered. Except for Twilight Sparkle.

  Her dream was distracting her. She stared out the window as the bus rattled deeper and deeper into the woods. The trees were lush and green.

  Led by Principal Celestia, the students on the bus were singing.

  “Will you be lost by time or part of histo
ry?

  It’s up to you to make the person that you want to be.

  Come to a magical place that’s full of mystery,

  Where you can be part of the Legend of Everfree!”

  Each of the girls was daydreaming about her camping adventure. Fluttershy was hoping she would meet all kinds of woodland animals—squirrels and bunnies and owls. Applejack wanted to hike and explore the woods. She wanted to get off the trail and get lost and find her way back to camp all by herself. Pinkie Pie was thinking about marshmallows and how to toast them perfectly so every side was a golden brown and the insides were soft and gooey. Rarity was ready to decorate—her cabin, the trees, the docks. Just because you were out in the wild didn’t mean you had to give up your sense of style. She’d brought plenty of scarves just in case. Rainbow Dash imagined racing through the forest. She’d run to the top of the mountain and back again. Sunset Shimmer thought of all the stories they were going to tell and the songs they were going to sing around the campfire. What a wonderful trip it was going to be!

  But Twilight Sparkle was worried. The glare of the sun reflected her face back at her through the window. She wasn’t turning into Midnight Sparkle, right? She shivered. She couldn’t stop thinking about her nightmare.

  The other kids were singing again. “You’re more than what you think you are. A shining flame or a dark star.”

  Twilight Sparkle gulped. She never wanted to be a dark star again.

  The bus was driving deep into the woods. The trees were closer together. They were gnarled and creepy looking. Vines waved like tentacles. The students were excited and a little bit scared. They sang to keep their spirits up.

  “The storytellers change, but legends last eternally.

  So long as people tell tales of the extraordinary.

  And if you play your part, you’ll be more than a story,

  You will become the Legend of Everfree!”

  No one saw the glowing pair of eyes peering through the dark-green leaves. But the eyes saw them. They were ready.

  “Hooray!” shouted the campers. An enormous sign announced that they had reached their destination at last. They were at Camp Everfree!

  Sunny with Scattered Clouds

  The Canterlot High students poured off the bus. They unloaded all their bags and suitcases under the direction of Principal Celestia. The sun glimmered on the lake. Birds were singing. The woods didn’t feel scary anymore at all.

  Fluttershy felt like she was in heaven. “Isn’t Camp Everfree just beautiful?” she enthused. “I can’t wait until we have our first nature walk.”

  Spike wagged his tail. “I definitely wanna go on one of those.”

  “You want to see all the adorable woodland creatures, too?” she asked him sweetly.

  “Yes!” yipped Spike. “Specifically squirrels. More specifically, so I can chase them.”

  Applejack exhaled happily. “I’m just lookin’ forward to roughin’ it. I’m gonna make my own shelter, forage for food…”

  “You know they provide us with meals and tents, right?” Rainbow Dash laughed.

  “Yep,” Applejack answered. “Still gonna forage, though.”

  Rarity was looking forward to sunbathing. “I’m just after some R and R.” She sighed. “The past year has all been a little too much for my tastes.”

  “I’ll say,” Pinkie Pie agreed. “We fought three evil sirens who tried to hypnotize everybody with their singing, one ridiculously competitive rival school, and two demon fiends!”

  Oops! Pinkie Pie slapped her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that about Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle. “No offense,” she added.

  “None taken,” said Sunset Shimmer.

  But Twilight Sparkle looked upset.

  “You’ll get used to it,” Sunset Shimmer whispered to her.

  Applejack stepped in. “Canterlot High has become a regular magic magnet. Gonna be nice gettin’ to a place where we don’t have to worry about that kind of stuff.”

  “You said it!” Spike barked. “We definitely aren’t going to have to worry about anything strange happening here.”

  The Equestria Girls all looked at the dog. The talking dog.

  Spike shrugged. “I mean besides the whole I can talk even though I’m a dog thing.”

  The handsome Flash Sentry headed over to the cluster of girls, a backpack on each shoulder.

  “Here you go, Twilight,” he said shyly.

  Twilight smiled. “Thanks. It’s Flash, right?”

  Flash’s face fell. “Yup,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment. “That’s me. And you’re you. And we don’t know each other very well.” He stepped back, embarrassed. “Good story,” he muttered to himself.

  Twilight was confused. Why was he so upset? What had she done? “Right. I guess I’ll see you around.”

  Sunset Shimmer pulled her aside. “You know how there’s that girl who looks just like you when she’s here but lives in another dimension where she’s a pony princess?”

  Twilight nodded, listening.

  “Flash kind of had a thing for her,” Sunset Shimmer explained.

  “Oh!” Twilight’s eyes widened.

  The PA system was crackling. “Hey, everyone,” called out a soft, relaxed voice. “If you could start heading to the courtyard, that would be rad. It’s time to start the best week of camp ever!”

  Tents and the mess hall surrounded the main courtyard. There were picnic tables on the lawn, a gazebo, a sundial, and a totem pole. A bell rang and the campers headed over to the gazebo, where a young woman was standing on a platform.

  Gloriosa Daisy looked cheerful and down-to-earth. With a clipboard in her hands, she also looked very organized. “Hi, everyone!” she said. It was her voice that had come over the PA. “Welcome to Camp Everfree. I’m Gloriosa Daisy, your camp director. Think of me as your friendly camp and nature guide! And this is my brother, Timber Spruce!”

  A cute goofball of a teenage boy stepped up to join Gloriosa. He waved at the campers. “Think of me as that awesome guy who should always be invited to fun things.”

  Gloriosa smiled. “We aim to please, so before we hand out your tent assignments, we’d like to hear from all of you. You’re free to do whatever you like here—”

  “Except hike near the rock quarry,” interrupted Timber Spruce. “That’s off limits.”

  “Yes,” agreed Gloriosa, her smile a little less genuine. “But otherwise your options are wide open. So what activities will make this the very best week of your lives?”

  Rainbow Dash’s hand shot up. “Rock climbing,” she announced.

  “Done!” exclaimed Gloriosa.

  Rainbow Dash’s hand shot up again. She didn’t wait to be called on. “Archery!”

  Gloriosa nodded, her smile still on her face. “Of course.”

  “Tetherball!” added Rainbow Dash.

  “Naturally!” said Gloriosa, but the other girls could tell that she was a little bit irritated.

  When Rainbow Dash raised her hand again, Sunset Shimmer gently pulled it down. “I know you’re excited,” she whispered. “But maybe give somebody else a chance to make a suggestion.”

  Reluctantly, Rainbow Dash lowered her hand.

  Gloriosa called on Bulk Biceps. “Arts and crafts!” he said enthusiastically. “My mom needs some new pot holders.”

  “I’ll supply the looms,” Gloriosa promised. She pointed at Pinkie Pie.

  Pinkie Pie was jumping up and down. “Cookie decorating!”

  Gloriosa laughed. “I do make a mean sugar cookie.”

  Fluttershy was called on next. “Early-morning nature walks,” she suggested quietly.

  Gloriosa looked pleased. “With walking sticks for everyone.”

  “A fashion show where I design the most fabulous camp looks inspired by today’s hottest trends and have them modeled by my classmates in a gorgeous outdoor setting,” blurted out Rarity.

  Uh-oh, thought each of the girls. Was Rarity going t
o be disappointed?

  She wasn’t. Gloriosa was beaming. “A camp tradition,” she explained, to Rarity’s delight.

  Timber Spruce scratched his head, confused. “We have literally never done that.”

  “Best week of camp ever, remember?” hissed his sister under her breath. Her cheerful smile never left her face. She looked out over the campers. “I’ll be taking requests the rest of the time you’re here, so if there is anything you’d like to do, anything you need, just ask. I’ve got this!”

  Principal Celestia, who was standing at the back of the crowd of her students, raised her hand. “What about the camp gift? That was my favorite Camp Everfree tradition.”

  “The camp gift!” Gloriosa clapped her hands. “Of course!”

  Timber Spruce was even more confused. “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” whispered Gloriosa through clenched teeth.

  “I just thought—”

  Gloriosa glared at him, and he stopped midsentence. “Then you were wrong.”

  Sunset Shimmer had been noticing the brother and sister’s whispered exchanges. “Anyone else picking up on a little tension between Gloriosa and her brother?”

  The girls shrugged. Not really. They were too excited for all of the activities that were about to begin.

  Gloriosa was finishing up her introduction. “Here at Camp Everfree, our motto has always been ‘Leave the world a little better than you found it.’ Every year, campers work together to create something useful. A gift for future campers. Working toward this common goal is key to forming the strong bonds that will last well beyond your time here at camp.” She glared for a moment at her brother, Timber Spruce. “Which is why it is so important. This gazebo was a gift from last year’s group. And the totem pole and the sundial were also made by campers.”

  “The sundial was our year’s gift,” Principal Celestia explained to her students.

  “Even though some people thought it was a little impractical, since a sundial can’t be used at night,” added Vice Principal Luna, her lips pursed.