The light clip-clop of tiny hooves echoed through the dark night. A small yellow pony with a red mane (which had a nonsensically large, also red, bow in it) was running faster than one would expect at the time of night, especially given her current location. This filly was roaming about Everfree Forest, a place inhabited by dangerous creatures and who knows what else. The filly had a purpose though. Her friend is an alchemist, who happened to be in dire need of a very specific herb only found deep in the Everfree.
This pony's name was Applebloom. She was young, but very brave. Having seen most of what the Everfree had to offer, she wasn't as frightened as she used to be of it. This made the job much easier. As she was getting bored, she began to talk to herself.
"Ah sure hope Zecora can make somethin' interestin' with these things she having me look fer." Applebloom said. She lived in the more rural area of Ponyville, so she spoke with a southern accent.
"Now, where did she say these'd be?" She began walking, scanning the ground to try and find this special plant. Her eyes searched the forest floor until she finally found something. Being around twenty feet away from what she was looking for, Applebloom started to run.
"Finally! Ah've been out here fer-OOF!" A large collection of roots made Applebloom trip and tumble down a nearby slope. Dirt and sticks got tied up in her mane as she slipped down the seemingly endless hill. After what seemed like hours though, she came to a halt. Standing up, the filly tried to figure out where she was, but only got an eye-full of unfamiliar surroundings. A sad and lost Applebloom started to cry, but stopped shortly after due to another noise.
An eerie humming was coming from a location very close to her. Oddly enough, this cheered the previously sad pony up. She followed the noise, as would any curious filly, to find a large, blood-red, glowing door that lead into a cave. This door looked more like a portal though, as it was circular. Applebloom tried to walk through it, only to be flung back and land on her flank. She began to cry softly, and a voice came into her mind.
"Why do you cry little one?" It was a light and raspy voice, as if someone was whispering and shouting at the same time. It was comforting to Applebloom, knowing that she wasn't alone, no matter what it was that was with her.
"Wh-where are ya?" She asked timidly. The voice replied.
"I used to be everywhere, but now I am trapped in here." Confused, Applebloom walked up to the door and put her hoof near it.
"Ya mean here?" She asked.
"Yes. I've been here for two thousand years, with my only company being the one who put me here. I would be most grateful if freed me."
"How do y'all reckon I do that?" She asked the voice, feeling much calmer than she was just moments ago.
"Behind you there is a flower. Isn't it beautiful? Why don't you pick it up?" She turned around and looked for what the voice said. There sat a normal sized flower. It was same blood-red color of the door, and had thorns on it. Applebloom didn't seem to notice this as she reached for it with her hoof.
"OUCH!" She pulled back after touching it, her foreleg now with a small spot of blood on it.
"Perfect, now put your hoof on the door. And don't worry little one, it won't hurt you this time." Applebloom did as asked, and slowly walked to the door. She placed her hoof against the door, and a single drop of blood ran horizontally from her leg to the door. The filly was now scared again, but watched as a the droplet made its way up to the top of the door, then separated. It went left and right, tracing the outline of the door. The color of the portal began to fade, and Applebloom saw something large and black rush out. It stopped near the top of one of the trees and spoke with the same voice she had been hearing.
"Thank you." Applebloom just stared in awe at what looked like a dragon made of complete darkness. It flew away to an unknown location, and she turned her attention back to the cave, which she could now see in. A large stone altar sit inside, near the middle of the cave. There was something on it, but she couldn't tell what. Very slowly, Applebloom walked to stone structure to see what was on top of it. Laying on this altar, was a person.
Having never seen anything like this before, Applebloom started to get scared again. It had yellow skin and black markings on its face. She gently poked the creature with her hoof, the one with blood on it. Another drop of blood fell off of it and landed on its chest. This time though, it didn't move anywhere. The area around where it landed began to glow, and the creature opened it's eyes.
It revealed that it bad light blue eyes, which were now looking around to find what woke it up. Once its eyes got to Applebloom, it blinked. The poor pony couldn't even move she was so terrified of what would come next, but what came next was very unexpected.
"Could you help me up?" It said. It's voice was 'normal' and actually very soothing. Applebloom just gawked.
"Did you just talk?" She said, still not moving.
The creature replied. "I can see your scared, so I'll do it myself." His body, without moving an inch floated off of the altar and landed on the ground, feet first. It dusted off its pants, which was the only thing it had on at the time. Applebloom assumed he was a male and just stared as he started stretching. He bent backwards a little bit and Applebloom heard a rather painful sounding pop that made her cringe.
"Ack! A little too far I suppose. Sleeping on a hunk of rock for two thousand years will do that to you I guess." He said as he somehow bent itself back into place. He extended his arm and held out his hand.
"Nice to meet you." He said, but Applebloom was rather reluctant to touch this new thing. He got a look of disappointment on his face, but it quickly changed to a look of discovery. He put his arm behind his back and pulled it back out a split second later. Only this time though, on the end of his arm was a hoof, instead of what was there before. This only succeeded in scaring Applebloom more though.
He changed his new hoof back to what is was before and held it back out, a light smile on his face. She cautiously reached out and put her hoof in his hand.
"M-my name's Applebloom." She said as she lightly shook his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Vorrik." He released Applebloom's hoof and looked to the left of him, where the portal had previously been. His eyes went extremely wide and he walked outside. His skin was now a tan color. Vorrik turned around to ask Applebloom something and she got to see his face better. The black markings went along with his eyes, nose, and even his good amount of facial hair. It looked as though they had been put on somewhat recently.
"What happened here? How did this open?" He asked frantically. Applebloom was starting to get nervous again. She had a feeling that things wasn't supposed to be opened.
"Well...uhhh... Th-this thing told me to open it, that it was lonely, so Ah did." At this statement, Vorrik's face twisted into one of pure horror. He spoke again.
"We need to see Princess Celestia. Now."
Author's Note
If anyone's wondering how Vorrik already knows Celestia, all will be explained soon. No, it isn't an error or bad story writing. He already knows both princesses and is completely familiar with Equestria.
