Chapter 1: Unsettling Days and Nights
This is a story of what happens if Apple Bloom thought that she had escaped from Sunny Town
The third dream after the incident
The Sun is about to set, lighting the last few of its bright orange light onto everything it touches. The Sun's light glisten off the fresh bright green leaves of the Everfree forest. Sounds of galloping were masked by the thick forest trees, a filly Earth Pony barely escaped from the town which was once full of happy and uplifted souls was now covered in torn down buildings and somber surroundings. Apple Bloom small body managed to push the giant boulder that blocked her exit and barely escaped from a zompony grasp. She continued down the barely visible path that the Everfree forest block almost all the setting Sun's light.
Apple Bloom break into a full gallop, straining her body to push herself as it starts to get sore and wobbly. The closer she got to the town's entrance, more of the rotten quadrupedal equines started to rise. The two rotting reanimated corpse limped towards the panic stricken yellow Earth filly. "All we want is friendship. Don't leave. The others won't like it," the voice from one of the undead spoke to Apple Bloom, it was a voice similar to Roneo. Apple Bloom stood rooted on the spot with watery salted tears continued to pour before she blinked and turned around to leave. The two zomponies just stared with a stoic expression at Apple Bloom, knowing that she won't get away when a fellow zompony raised from the ground, blocking the exit for Apple Bloom as she got close. The filly started to sob more, knowing now that she couldn't escape. "Fools, even in death they do not understand." the zompony blocking the exit casually limped towards the frighten filly. "I should have protected her, but I made my choice. This is our everlasting punishment, what we deserve." Apple Bloom's overwhelming panic was slowly calming down but is still shaking, after realising that the zompony was trying to help her and the voice sounded like Mitta. "Now run, run for your life."
Apple Bloom's instincts instantly came back to her after Mitta made her last statement. She break into an instant gallop out of the town while trying to hold back her overwhelming tears. Her nightmares began to turn surreal as her surrounds got blood red out of nowhere. More zomponies started to dig its way out of the ground and then gave chase to Apple Bloom. She galloped as fast as she could with tears dropping everywhere on her yellow fur, the tress got darker and the blood red path have gotten pitch black, the Sun is almost setting. Apple Bloom couldn't see any more zomponies chasing her for now, but she found the path ahead had glowing red hoof marks. The Sun was setted. Now all the filly could see was the path that has glowing red hoof marks, she galloped along the hoofmarks. Her tears started to fade when she saw an actual pony in front of her, it was the Earth Pony that she followed deep into the forest. She stood there waiting there with anticipation.
Apple Bloom's slowed her galloping as she was happy and in tears to finally find help. She finally realised that she was not a regular pony, but she was a spector and Apple Bloom gulped. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to bring you into this. I was just curious." The spectre apologised.
"Don't be sad. I don't blame you." Apple Bloom tears faded and smiled but she had a lot of dark patches of yellow on her fur due to her tears. Zomponies started to rise out of the ground, surrounding the 2 mare and filly. "Your cutie mark, a magnifying glass?" She managed to let curiosity override part of her fears.
"It turns out that I'm really good at finding things. I finally understands what it means. And I will find you a way out of this!" Apple Bloom stopped tearing and and gave a small weary smile, after the spectre assured her safety. The zomponies moved closer to the two but they started to chuckle as a large grin appeared on their decaying bodies. A zompony tunnelled out of the ground below Apple Bloom and held both her hooves down. The spectre disappeared, the zomponies got Apple Bloom.
This day can't get any worst
"Gahh!" Apple Bloom thrust her upper body out of her bed. She was broke out in cold sweat and stared at the wall for a few seconds with a worried expression. She then hesitantly looked around her surroundings. She let out a heavy sigh of relief, realising that it was just the same dream again. Apple Bloom didn't had much sleep at all like the previous day and the day before ever since she barely escaped from the zomponies' grasp. She got out of bed lazily, trying to muster all the energy she had. She wearily walked to the cabinet and slowly stretched her hooves before she open the cabinet to grab her bow. After she wearing her puffy bow, she stood there for a moment for her brain to process what she needs to do that day.
"Wait... What day is today?" Apple Bloom questioned herself. She quickly spun her head to the window, she frowned. "Oh horseapple! Ah'm late! Again!" She had no time to comb her mane, so she hastily trotted out of her room and down the stairs. Ah' wonder why nopony wake me up for school? She thought to herself. After looking around, she concluded that her family must be either busy with the apple trees or out doing business in town, save for Granny Smith sleeping on her rocking chair. Brrrrhhh... Why do I feel this cold chill every time before I leave a building? Apple Bloom wondered while she galloped to Ponyville's local school.
Oh hayseed! Class's about to start! Come on Apple Bloom! You gotta hurry! Apple Bloom forced herself to quicken the pace of her weary body. Apple Bloom's eye's started to blur and her hearing became temporary impaired. "Phew! Ah' made it just in time. Hey girls," Apple Bloom greeted her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders member.
"What? Uh... Hello?" one of the supposed CMC stammered.
"What'cha want to do together after school?" Apple Bloom asked while they trotted into class.
"Huh? Why would we want to hang out with a blank flank?"
"Huh? Ah' thought we're goin' to crusade this afternoon?" Apple Bloom lift an eyebrow.
"Ha! This poor blank flank think's we're their crusaders!" Apple Bloom's ears started to straighten out, realising the voice doesn't sound like Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle.
Both of them went into class giggling away while tossing blank flank remarks to the dazed Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes. Huh? That voice... Oh great! That must be Diamond Tiara! Ah'm going to be teased for who knows how long... Apple Bloom was snapped out of her daze when Scootaloo tapped on her shoulder from behind.
"Are you okay Apple Bloom? Why were you talking to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?" Scootaloo tilted her head to the side.
"Yeah, Ah'm alright. Ah'... uh... Thought that they were you..." Apple Bloom blushed with embarrassment.
"What do you mean you thought they were us? And what happen to your mane?" Sweetie Belle perked an eyebrow while trotting behind Apple Bloom to class.
"Sorry girls. Ah'... Mah' eyes got foggy, and Ah' didn't had time to brush my mane because Ah'm running late."
"How come? Wait, I chance my mind. Try not to do it again Apple Bloom. Anyway, I've got an idea what we should do after school! I'll fill you in more after school," Scootaloo glee. "Class is about to start, I can't wait till school's over!"
"Oh well, from the looks you're givin'," Apple Bloom's vision got clearer, "it sounds like fun! Ah' think Ah' can safely say that Sweetie Belle is excited too!" After Scootaloo, followed by Sweetie Belle then Apple Bloom entered the school, she shivered again.
Worst day ever
Apple Bloom's head started to become woozy, sounds are starting to get muffled, the room felt like it is spinning and her eyes slowly dropped. It just after recess and Ah've just eaten! Why do Ah' feel so tired? Apple Bloom tried to question her brain. Slowly, her head started to lower its self to the desk and her eyelids felt like she was lifting a boulder. Her body forced her towards the table to relax more then she could sit up straight. Apple Bloom shivered, and finally softly laying her head on the desk, she was asleep.
A dream of the past
Apple Bloom woke up, feeling refreshed that she had enough sleep to help her carry out any activity during the day. She let out a yawn and stretched a bit and got down from her desk when her teacher dismissed the class. She scanned her immediate area. Wait, did Ah' just slept throughout Cheerilee's lesson? Ah'm not sure how Ah' should feel about this... Wait, why is everypony a blank flank?, Apple Bloom's mind was snapped when she realised that everypony started to gossip, trotting out to see what's happening.
She followed the crowd out of the school and soon found herself in a strangely familiar environment. What she saw was a large crowd, gathering along the pathways, staring at something or somepony. Apple Bloom curiously tried to take a peak at what was happening but all the mares and stallions were in the way. A desperate cry came from what the crowd was looking at. Apple Bloom jumped in shock and froze on the spot for a quick moment. What was that?! She hurriedly squeezed her way to the front of the gathered crowd to only find something all to suspiciously familiar. Apple Bloom first saw that the town hall was replaced with a log cabin with a well to its left and a couple of trees with overgrown vines. She looked to the crowd in front of her, she could see that they were too, blank flanks. She then turned her head to the left, the direction of the sound. Huh... That mare and those 3 stallions... They look familiar... Why are they dragging the mare?
"No! You got it all wrong! I'm not cursed!" The mare with alternation amber and vanila yellow straight mane and tail, silver coloured fur and probably the only pony who has a cutie mark, a magnifying glass, was crying and was tied by a rope around her four hooves and was being dragged by the four stallions.
"You know what happened to those who got the curse! It could be contagious and I don't want to wait to see if my town contract it too!" A stallion with blank unkempt mane and tail, grey fur and without a cutie mark despite being an adult, shouted and carried the mare on his shoulder.
"Grey Hoof's right! What will I do if my Starlet got the mark then?!" Another stallion with cobalt blue mane and tail, carrot orange fur and without a cutie mark, cast a worried face.
"What's more is that there is no cure! We don't want to suffer like those ponies during the Paleopony period! We're deeply sorry ruby, but there is no other choice..." A stallion behind the first two with a sandy brown mane and tail, chocolate coloured fur and without a cutie mark too, lowered his head down an sigh a deep regret.
All Apple Bloom could do is stare in shock when those names names were mentioned. What the hay is happening?! Argh! Why is this happening?! What do Ah' do?! How am Ah' goin' to save that Ruby?! Apple Bloom's mind was filled with with endless worries as she watched Ruby being carried to the house. Just before Ruby was dragged into the building, Apple Bloom tried stop the 3 stallions from continuing the ritual but she was held back by somepony beside her pulling her back into the crowd. It was the spectre.
"I'm sorry Apple Bloom, you can't do anything about this." The spectre closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is nothing but a recreated memory, a memory of what happen to me."
"Ruby..." Apple Bloom looked at the ghost of Ruby and started to tear up, knowing that it was hopeless trying to save the victim.
"Now, now. Please don't cry Apple Bloom, there is nothing you can do to save me from my fate. All we can do for now is watch. There is no way for me or anypony else can wake you up from this horrible dream." Apple Bloom cried onto the ghost of Ruby's coat.
" *Sniff*... Why... Why do Ah' have these dreams?" Apple Bloom managed to tame her crying to mild tearing.
"I've been keeping an eye over you everyday after you escaped from them. I've always checked on you to see if you were traumatised, especially when you dream. I'm really sorry little 'Bloom, I really don't know what is happening. You got to try and keep yourself strong little 'Bloom, have at least hope that there is an answer for this out there." The ghost of Ruby comforted Apple Bloom.
"Ah'... *sniff*... Ah' will." Apple Bloom cleared her tears from escaping her eyes. "Thank you, Ruby." Apple Bloom tears got her eyes red but nevertheless, she gave a hopeful smile to the ghost of Ruby.
"Their about to drag me into my house, the one where you found my remains..." Ruby sighed. "I know you can't really bare to watch me burn to dust. But, do you want to?" Ruby's ghost had bad mixed reactions about letting Apple Bloom watch her demised.
"..." Apple Bloom thought for a moment, wondering whether to witness her downfall. "You promise to protect me if they turn to me again like my other dreams? I feel safer around you." Apple Bloom tried to give her best smile she possibly could.
"Hehe, I promise I will guard you from those baddies little 'Bloom" Ruby's ghost gave a warm smile and blush a little at Apple Bloom's last remark.
The crowd slowly dispersed, knowing what will happen to the poor soul. Both Ruby and Apple Bloom began making their way to the window of the house, the house where Ruby was burned. Ruby lifted Apple Bloom to her back so she could see what was happening. Apple Bloom watched with grimace. They tossed the tied up Ruby down on the ground of her house. Both Ruby and Apple Bloom couldn't hear what they were saying since the windows were sealed shut. Gray Hoof and Roneo went to the kitchen while Gladstone look at the tied up Ruby and say a few words before sighing and piling the wood in the fireplace. Apple Bloom tried to prepare herself for the worst when both Gray Hoof with the matches and Reneo with some oil. After Gladstone finished piling the wood, the tree stallions carried Ruby over the the fireplace and laid her on the chunks of wood. Gladstone couldn't bare to watch his friend get burn to death so he turned to face the wall. He tried his best to keep himself from crying while Gray Hoof commanded Roneo to oil all over Ruby and the wood to make sure she dies fast. Roneo turned to his back on Ruby, he couldn't bare to watch her burn. Gray Hoof began lighting the all the matches at once and began to chuckle with the matches held by his teeth. Apple Bloom managed to figured out what Ruby mouthed before Gray Hoof toss all the matches into the fireplace.
"Ah' hope you die in hell." Apple Bloom whispered what Ruby mouthed. Ruby shrieked in pain as the heat was too much, Gladstone and Roneo sigh with deep regret on the other hand (or hoof), Gray Hoof began laughing menacingly over at the Ruby. Apple Bloom closed her eyes and slowly started to cry, seeing how helpless she is to save her, Ruby's ghost managed to comfort Apple Bloom once more. Apple Bloom heard that the scream was slowly silenced, she then turned to face the Ruby in the fireplace and saw that her fur have gotten covered in black sooth all over. Apple Bloom became traumatised and she sobbed, she was too young to witness such things.
"I knew I shouldn't have shown what happened to me before I became a wondering spectre... Ruby cursed herself under her breath. "Now, now Apple Bloom. Please calm down, there is nothing we can do about past me. But hey, I'll still here!" Ruby attempted to carry Apple Bloom down from her back to pat her but she was interrupted when...
The door suddenly burst opened and it slammed onto the wall. Apple Bloom screamed in fright, in that instant, everypony in the room turned to where Apple Bloom and Ruby were watching, they return to their zompony state and one of them immediately jumped into view in front Apple Bloom. "Gah!"
Back to reality
"Gah!" Apple Bloom jumped out of her seat and landed flat on the ground when her teacher slammed her desk. She heard everypony in the area laughing and giggling about. She slowly opened her eyes to see that she was in class and Miss Cheerilee was standing in front of her.
"Young miss, I've been watching you from the start, care to explain why you slept in throughout my class?" Cheerilee looked down on Apple Bloom and questioned with annoyance.
Apple Bloom took a quick glance out of the window and the area around her. Then a similar thought occurred to her again, did I just slept throughout the whole class lesson? School must have been over not long ago... "Ah'... Ah' was sleepy?" Apple Bloom gave a weak smile and blushed red from embarrassment.
"Since you can't explain it, give me a hundred lines why you slept in throughout class by tomorrow!" Cheerilee punished Apple Bloom and she then walked out of class.
"Great... Ah' can't get a good night's sleep, Ah' got to do lines because Ah' slept in class and everypony will probably tease me about it tomorrow..." Apple Bloom sigh as she got to her hooves. "Well, at least Ah'm not tried anymore, Ah' should probably go crusading to help clear my mind off these dreams..." Cheerilee was waiting patiently for Apple Bloom to leave school before closing down for the day.
"Remember to finish those lines by tomorrow Apple Bloom, otherwise I will increase it" Cheerilee reminded Apple Bloom one last time when she left the school compound. Apple Bloom felt the familar cold went down her spine upon leaving.
"Yes miss Cheerilee," the Earth filly replied. Afterwards, Apple Bloom looked around to find her fellow crusaders, but they wasn't there. Hm... Maybe their waitin' for me in the clubhouse. Apple Bloom's eyes were still sore and red since after her dream in class, but she was happy that she could spend time with her friends nevertheless. On the way back, she bought something to eat for lunch. Soon after she anticipatingly gobble up her lunch, she trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres where their clubhouse resides near the Everfree Forest. What she didn't know what that she was being watched all the way from the Everfree forest...
Chapter 2: We will protect you...
Crusaders will crusade
The skies are clear, the Sun just passed noon, just about to reach its 1 o'clock shift, it is shining its brilliant light across Equestria. Ponies of different types are working to sell their inventory or harvest their crops as fast as possible while some others relax in the park and enjoy the autumn breeze as it will arrive in a few weeks time. Apple Bloom was happily trotting by the orange and red leave piles as the cold wind blew gently against her soft yellow fur and red mane and tail. Apple Bloom made it to the crusaders clubhouse built in the Sweet Apple Acres, away from the apple trees. Inside the clubhouse, a unicorn and pegasus filly were entertaining themselves while they waited for Apple Bloom to arrive.
"Hi girls!" Apple Bloom greeted Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
"Hi!" Sweetie Belle and scootaloo greeted back.
"So, what was the sleeping in class all about Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo tried to hold her giggles.
"Ha ha ha, very funny." Apple Bloom replied, clearly not amused. "Anyway, what are we doing today, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked her while walking towards the desk at the side of the clubhouse.
"Well, today we're going to be, Cutie Mark Crusaders Treasure Hunters!" Scootaloo .
"Treasure Hunters?" Apple Bloom questioned. "What are we looking fer'? Or yet, where are we searching at?" Apple Bloom took out a piece of paper and a quill from a drawer.
"I've got that covered!" Scootaloo proclaimed and grinned. "Hm... How should I tell you two about it..." Scootaloo placed on her thinking cap, Sweetie Belle repositioned herself in front of Scootaloo and sat down while Apple Bloom grabbed the quill, ink and paper and sat it in front of Scootaloo and began writing her lines.
"Did Cheerilee gave you lines?" Sweetie Belle whispered.
"Well... Yeah. But don't worry Ah'll get this done fast." Apple Bloom began writing.
"Okay, I'm going tell you the story what Twilight told me," Scootaloo sat in front of them. "In the land before Equestria has it's first alicorn ruler, there live 3 pony factions. The Earth ponies, governed by Chancellor Puddinghead," Sweetie Belle Snickered. "The Pegasus ponies, lead by Commander Hurricane. The Unicorn ponies, ruled by Princess Platinum. After the three leaders finally learn to appreciate each other's differences, they made peace and dubbed the new land to be Equestria."
"Yeah, yeah, we already knew that. Could you get to the point?" Sweetie Belle complained. Apple Bloom is still concentrating on her lines.
"I was getting to the point..." Scootaloo sighed. "Anyway, the 3 leaders made peace and everything afterwards was fine and dandy, except for the Chancellor. The Chancellor had almost everything she needed and wanted, but there is one problem she had. She was not able to have a foal." Scootaloo was interrupted by Sweetie Belle.
"The Chancellor can't have a foal? Why?" Sweetie Belle perked her eyebrow.
"I don't know! Twilight said that she was diagnosed infertile." Scootaloo frowned in annoyance.
"Infertile? What does infertile has to do anything with ponies? Doesn't hospital get infertile and not make foals?"
Scootaloo was about to explain until the thought struck her. "... Could we please just get back to why are we crusading?" Scootaloo didn't want to delve deep into such sensitive topic of how foals get made.
"But I want to know what infertility has to anything with having a foal," Sweetie Belle continued to push the topic. Apple Bloom was at a 1/4 mark of writing her 100 lines by this time.
"Could we please get back on topic? If you wanna know badly, ask Twilight about it!" Scootaloo was getting annoyed at Sweeite Belle's consistent out of topic questions but her real reason was that she couldn't ruin their friends' fillyhood unlike what Twilight did. Especially when Twilight went way too detailed about it. (http://markmak.deviantart.com/art/Goodbye-fillyhood-367572945)
"Fine..."
"Anyway, where was I? Oh right! Since the Chancellor did not have any sibling and was not able to have a foal at all to carry on the family's prized heirloom, the Chancellor's hat, Chancellor Puddinghead decided to hide their heirloom where it will remain safe from everypony. Now before you ask 'what's so special about the hat', anypony who studied about the Chancellor's heirloom will know that there is something odd hidden inside that pudding hat. Nopony has been able to find it to examine the hat though, this created a lot of rumours about the hat's contents."
"And what did others say about the object inside?" Sweetie Belle questioned.
"One of the popular rumour was, in that hat, it was a map to find the Chancellor's family wealth. Anyway, the Chancellor hid the family's heirloom in the center of the Everfree Forest where few to none dare to go. Twilight also said that the price of the Chancellor's heirloom is huge and it will continue to grow as the time passes until its found."
"So what did Twilight told you about the price of the useless hat?" Sweetie Belle expected it to be dirt cheap.
"You can't really can't really call it useless if it was tagged with, I dunno, a few million bits?" Scootaloo smirked at the sight of her two friend's reaction. Sweetie Belle stared at Scootaloo with disbelieve and Apple Bloom perked her head up and dropped the quill from her mouth.
"A... Few million... bits... What?!" Apple Bloom tried to shake the fact that an old clown like hat could be tagged this much. "How is this possiple?!"
"The fact that the hat was once an heirloom is enough to lift the price to such height, its the only hat that was ever produce which receives a title of a rarity, probably the only hat that survived a millennia or even more and the fact that there is something definitely precious in the hat. That's how." Scootaloo smiled in amusement at their expressions.
"So yer' sayin' that we should search the Everfree fer' that hat is because of its bounty?" Apple Bloom managed to gather herself from being surprised.
"Yeah. But there is another reason why we should search for it. Us and Zecora probably know more of the Everfree Forest better then anypony in Equestria. I mean, we've been crusading in it all the time, right? It's like we have mapped all danger and safe parts of the Everfree into the back of our mind! Am I right to say that we might be the only ones who are able to cruise through untouched?"
"Ah' suppose... But are yer' sure that there is such treasure?" Apple Bloom turned her head to Sweetie Belle to see if she agrees. Sweetie Belle nodded.
"If its fake, why would the Canterlot Museum, in fact all of Equestria Museums, place a price on an imaginary item?" Scootaloo turned to face her back at them and lift her chin up. "Imagine what we could use the bits for when we get our hooves on it..." Scootaloo began daydreaming.
Both Earth and Unicorn fillies began spacing out, processing what Scootaloo just said. After much thought, Apple Bloom came to a decision. "Well... Alright, Ah' guess there is no harm in doing this, beside the fact we're goin' ta' the Everfree... What'cha say Sweetie Belle?"
"I think Scoot's right, we are probably the only ones brave enough to enter the forest. So yeah, I think we can do this..." Sweetie Belle spoke with uncertainty.
"Phew! I somehow managed to persuade them!" Scootaloo mumbled and patted her back before turning back to face them. "So, are we gonna do this?" Scootaloo stick her hoof out, followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders Treasure Hunters. Yay!" The three fillies chorused together and lifted their hooves into the air.
"Before we go, I've got a question." Sweetie Belle turned to Scootaloo. "How are we going to dig it up? In fact, is it even buried?"
"I've heard rumours that stated the hat was buried," Scootaloo turned her head to Apple Bloom. "Do you think that your farm has any digging tools?"
"Ah' dunno. Ah' think we have a shed that nopony uses in a long time. Ah'll go see if Ah' have anythin' useful."
"Alright. Sweetie Belle told me that Rarity has been working on some scarves for us during the winter. Met you at Sweetie's place later." Scootaloo announced.
With that said and done, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo made it out first followed by Apple Bloom, placing her lines in a saddlebag that she picked up from the side of the tree house and mount it. Apple Bloom felt a familiar chill again, she then trot pass by the family's orchard then to the side of the barn.
Apple Bloom is lost in thoughts about how those bits could help her family and probably the rest of the huge Apple family while trotting by the barn towards the large shed which stands lonely in large field, opposite of the orchard. The wooden shed had some holes from top to bottom, the roof was made from mainly straws of hay and was dark in colour showing that it has gone through years of rain and sunshine, the horizontal rectangle frame showing that it was once occupied by 2 large doors, wooden doors that were laying flat on the ground. But the structure was sturdier then any wood, it has been held up since a few months after the Apple family managed to make Ponyville possible. Apple Bloom's family has been thinking of patching up the run down shed for a long time now, but they never got the chance to get to it due to the constant apple bucking and selling. "Heh... Ah' wonder what all these trees are fer'..." Apple Bloom thought. The trees that are all over the large field are very spaced between each other, their much taller then regular apple trees and they produce acorns, namely oak trees.
After coming to a halt in front of the doorway, Apple Bloom began examining the interior of the large shed from the outside. On the left of the shed, there laid a very long piece of machinery with a large saw blade in the attached vertically in the center of the machine. To the back of the machine, there is a bicycle fixed to the ground and wheels are replaced with a large gear and some bicycle chain leading into the machine, the saw is most likely to be operated by the bicycle. Beside it, there are a bundle of long, uneven wood laying neatly in one corner and it looks like one of the oak trees just outside the shed. To the right of the impossibly long shed, there are a variety of tools made from either wood, iron or both. The shed is filled with cobwebs, dust bunnies and wood particles.
"Woah nelly! This shed looks like it ain't been used in a centuries!" Apple Bloom spoke to nopony in particular. "So Ah' guess this is where we got all the wood from ta' build the barn. Ah' wonder why ain't this shed been touched fer' a long time... Ah' like this shed, its full of tools Ah' need! Maybe Ah' should do my family a huge favour if Ah' fix this shed." Apple Bloom soon grinned and came up with another idea, "maybe we could be cutie mark builders! This will definitely be our next crusade!"
Apple Bloom trotted towards the silent eerily dark shed and over all the wood particles to the bench to see if there are any useful tools for their crusade. The tool rack carries all sort of dangerous, rusted tools, some with a pointy tip, some with sharp edges and some are blunt like a hammer. A number of iron tools are littered on the bench, covered in dust and rust, most likely they fell from the rack. A bundle of rusted iron oil (kerosene) lamp surrounded by a couple of small glass oil bottles wrapped in cloths and about 5-6 match boxes laying about are covered in dust. Below the bench, there idling were 2 large rusted iron tool box, red and blue, and a few other tools that are extremely dangerous and could even be labelled as weapons like axe in the far end of below the bench, are covered in rust. To the left of the bench, fixed to the ground by ridiculously huge rivets, a slim and tall grey hoof-cranked tool sharpener and wheel-less wheelbarrow beside it were build from iron and its covered in rust, dust bunnies, cobwebs and iron filings around its approximate area. To the right of the bench, a multitude of cylindrical wooden pole with different type of iron, wooden and straw heads, and lengths are standing with the help of the shed's wall and, of course, covered in rust and cobwebs too.
"Gosh, this tools must've been 'ere fer' over a millennia by the looks of their condition!" Gasped Apple Bloom. "Lets see 'ere, somethin' useful fer' digging... Ah' guess this short spades will do. But how do Ah' carry three at once? Mah' saddlebag ain't big..." Taking a better look at the dark gloomy area, Apple Bloom's eyes caught something under the bench. Three empty bags of different types are laying about without a care. The three them were a large quiver a duffel bag and satchel bag. The satchel bag is too small, the duffel bag seems a little bit large, the quiver the quite long. Thinking for a moment, Apple Bloom pulled out the quiver and began stuffing the 3 spades with their iron heads sticking out. A sudden thought came flying into Apple Bloom's mind, "if we're goin' the be deep into that light forsaken forest, we might need some light." Apple Bloom grabbed two oil bottles with her mouth, lethal poisoning prevented by a cloth layer, and began to slowly put them in her saddlebag. Apple Bloom slung the suspiciously not so light quiver, minus the spades, over her back and grabbed one of the oil lamp by her mouth and began her trot to Carousel Boutique. "Walking from 'ere ta' the door feels like minutes..." Apple Bloom complained about the length of the shed to nopony.
So far, the day turning okay for Ponyville's residence, the cooling breeze brushing against their mane and furry coat, orange and red leaves littered every square inch of the streets, the crunching of leaves under one's hooves, the warming smile from the residence enjoying the autumn season and, fillies and colts wearing all sorts of warming gear from scarf to jackets playing around in the leaves, anticipating for the upcoming Nightmare Night on the next day. Apple Bloom passed by the business part of Ponyville towards Sweetie Belle's place but was called over by Applejack while passing by, selling apples all day, to inquire about the item Apple Bloom was carring.
"Sweet apples! Where'd ya get that?" Applejack pointed to basically everything Apple Bloom was carrying.
Apple Bloom put her oil lamp down. "You do remember our old shed, do ya? Ah' found this in there."
"Right... So what are yer' doin' with those?"
"Its for the crusade! But Ah' c'ant tell yer' what we're crusading! It's our crusader's rules! Don't worry sis, we're not doing anything dangerous." Apple Bloom attempted to convince Applejack.
"Uh-Huh... Just don't go around diggin' somepony's grave, ya' hear?" Applejack joked and Apple Bloom nodded and grinned. "So, why did ya' bring that oil lamp? It's the middle of the day ya' know."
"Ah' already say that Ah' can't tell ya'! It's a secret! Like Ah' said, don't worry, we will not do anything dangerous!" Apple Bloom gave an annoyed frown.
Applejack took a close look at all the items before sighing. "Ah' was worried about that... Alright, be sure ta' be back for dinner," Applejack smiled and rubbed Apple Bloom's mane.
"Okay sis!" Apple Bloom picked up her oil lamp and continued her trot to Carousel Boutique, leaving Applejack to finish selling the apple wares. Residence of Ponyville turned to face Apple Bloom with a curiosity, when she came to sight, about the item that she was carrying but soon decide to just ignore, knowing its just their usual shenanigans. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are admiring each other's scarf laid on the ground, made by Rarity while waiting for Apple Bloom. There was a knock on Sweetie Belle's room, assuming it to be Apple Bloom since Rarity hardly is able to enter Sweetie Belle's room with all the orders to fill out.
"I'll get it!" Sweetie Belle wrapped her matching purple and pink striped scarf, with their crusader's emblem on one end, around her neck and trotted towards door. "Wow! Apple Bloom! You... Wow!" Sweetie Belle was surprised to see that Apple Bloom was carrying a oil lamp and a quiver that carried the spades. "Where did you get this?"
Scootaloo look towards the doorway with curiosity, but the view is obstructed by Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo wrapped her sky blue and rainbow stripe, with a crusader emblem on one side too, scarf around her neck and trotted to Sweetie Belle's side.
"Wow! Where did you get all this Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo wore the same expression Sweetie Belle had. "Did you robbed a store?" Scootaloo teased.
Apple Bloom placed the oil lamp down at the doorway. "Ha ha, very funny. Ah' found all these in the super long shed! Ah' wonder how nopony noticed it... Anyway, it's very old, nopony has touched it like in a millennia and there're tons of tools and some Ah' never seen before! Ah' wan'ta show ya'll around it some other time." Apple Bloom trotted into Sweetie Belle's room and set down the quiver and saddlebag while continuing to blabber away about the shed. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo rose and eyebrow and began examining the quiver when it was set down. Apple Bloom walked back to the doorway to pick up her oil lamp. Scootaloo pulled out one of the spades and set it on her hooves, getting a feel handling an actual spade. Sweetie Belle opened the pouches and slowly took out one of the oil bottle to take a closer look. Sweetie Belle have never seen an oil bottle before, it was wrapped in a cloth with black splotches of oil. Sweetie Belle managed to open the cap and examine the bottle's contents. Apple Bloom picked up her oil lamp and turned around, but only to drop it.
"Sweetie! What're yer' thinkin'?!" Apple Bloom managed to stop Sweetie Belle and snatched it before she started to test taste the black liquid. Scootaloo looked up to see Apple Bloom holding a bottle in her hoof and glaring at Sweetie Belle. "Yer' lucky Ah' managed to stop ya' in time. This 'ere is used for fuel for the lamp! Not fer' drinkin'! This stuff is poisonous!"
"Eeep!" Sweetie Belle flinched when Apple Bloom stated that it was poisonous. "Sorry Apple Bloom. I guess curiosity kills the cat?" Sweetie Belle gave a nervous smile, Scootaloo giggled.
Apple Bloom sigh and began to cap the oil bottle before putting it down. "Just control yer' curiosity, ya' could've asked me what it is. Anyway, where do ya' keep a quill and ink 'round 'ere?" Sweetie Belle pointed to her desk and afterwards, Apple Bloom took out her lines from the pouch and carried together with the lamp towards Sweetie Belle's desk. "So, where's my scarf? Yer's look nice by the way Sweetie. Scootaloo, you look like Rainbow Dash!"
"Why thanks Apple Bloom, Rarity is almost done with yours! She will be here soon!" Sweetie Belle grinned. Scootaloo was sniffing the inside the quiver after taking out the spades when she smelled something odd coming from it.
Scootaloo coughed and quickly pulled her head out. "Why is your *cough* quiver so dusty?" Scootaloo coughed again, sending some black particles flying through the air before they disappear.
"The quiver hasn't been touched in a long time." Apple Bloom trotted to her oil lamp then back to the desk. "My family has decided ta' rebuild the shed but ain't nopony has time ta'. So Ah' was thinkin'-"
"You want us to rebuild the shed for our next crusade?" Sweetie Belle interjected.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun!" Scootaloo joined.
"Yer' just read mah mind there Sweetie. Yeah, we're goin' ta' rebuild the shed after this crusade. Anyway, Ah' got some lines ta' finish." Apple Bloom picked up the quill and dipped it in ink and began writing.
Waiting for half an hour, Apple Bloom, while finishing up her lines with her quill-in-mouth, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were arguing about what was the fastest and safest route they will take in the center of the Everfree Forest. Sweetie Belle went over to the door. Sweetie Belle jumped to give Rarity a hug when the door flew open. Rarity giggled and brushed Sweetie Belle's mane with her hoof. Levitating the green checkered scarf with their crusader emblem on one end, over to Sweetie Belle's back. Sweetie Belle is young and was not able to lift up many things with her magic just yet. After taking a short glance, Rarity stood there, staring at the items lying in the middle of her sister's room with an eyebrow perked up. But she soon dismiss that as part of their crusading shenanigans. Rarity made her way back to finish her other clients' orders.
Apple Bloom was too busy with her last few lines. Scootaloo glanced back and forth at Sweetie Belle and Rarity for a moment before drifting off in her thoughts. Sweetie Belle made her way to Apple Bloom but instead of passing the scarf straight away, she attempted to levitate the scarf to her. Sweetie Belle's horn glowed a dim white light surrounding her horn and the scarf. After a brief second, Apple Bloom did a bit of stretching after finishing her lines. She felt something soft in the supposed air on her right hoof while stretching and looked down to see that Sweetie Belle levitating a scarf with her eyes closed, eyebrows furrowed inwards and crouching.
"Wow, Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle loss concentration and simply loss its magical grip of Apple Bloom's scarf. Scootaloo was snap her train of thoughts after Apple Bloom yelled. "Yer' magic is sure improvin' Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle open her eyes and to see that Apple Bloom's scarf on her bag was on Apple Bloom's hoof. Sweetie Belle grinned with joy.
Sweetie Belle got out of her crouching position and asked, "are you done with the lines?" Apple Bloom nodded while wrapping the warm, silky and smooth scarf around her neck. "Yay! I cannot wait any longer! Lets get our treasure hunting cutie mark!"
Scootaloo stood up. "Come on guys! The clock is ticking!" Scootaloo stocked the shovels back into the quiver and weakly tossed it to Apple Bloom due to the weight. Apple Bloom snatched it out of the air and slung over her back and got down from the chair with the lamp in her mouth and grinned at Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle trotted to Apple Bloom's saddlebag to stuff the oil bottles and matches in and strapped it on.
"Cutie Mark Treasure Hunters! Yay!" The three fillies shout in joy (minus Apple Bloom carrying the lamp with her mouth) and high-hoofed.
"Are we there yet?" the white unicorn filly, with a light green helmet strapped on her head and matching colour and mane style scarf around her neck, 'complained' in a high pitched tone.
The orange pegasus filly stop flapping her wings and the ride, consisting of a scooter and Apple Bloom's wagon, slowed down. She clocked her head to face the filly that has been 'complaining' while the ride continued to pace at trotting speed. Strapped on her head was a lavender helmet with 2 fat stripes down the middle, her fuchsia mane and tail, the custom made sky blue scarf with rainbow stripes around her neck, stopped waving about in the air rapidly and the lighted oil lamp rattle about in the pegasus's mouth as she turned to face her passengers. "For the hundredth time, no Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo's statement was unclear from the rocking lamp, hanging by her gritted teeth.
"Is the center of the Everfree Forest really that deep?"
Scootaloo let out a sigh of annoyance. "Yes Sweetie. They don't call this a forest for nothing if its very small. We would be there in no time if you didn't distract me all the time!" Scootaloo turned back to face the path in front of her and instantly flapped her underdeveloped wings, returning their ride to train-like speeds.
"Anyway, where'd ya' think we're at now? Ah' Don't think we've been this far in. How long have we been 'ere?" The yawning yellow coated filly, with a sea blue helmet strapped on and a green checkered scarf wrapped around her neck, asked her driver.
Some time ago, the three fillies ventured into the Everfree Forest through Sweet Apple Acres around the late afternoon, presumably around four, if Apple Bloom remembered correctly before drifting of to nap. The thick forest grew darker after a few mere minutes of travelling at, pony powered, train-like speeds, and the only light was emitting from the (kerosene) lamp. They have been in the forest for Celestia knows how long as Apple Bloom's body clock was trying to tell her its almost bed time.
"Oh! I think we've been here for about an hour or two!" Sweetie Belle chirped.
Apple Bloom sighed. They have only a few hours of daylight left before they have to retreat home. "Ah' think we should just high tail out'ta 'ere and postpone today's crusade. It took us an hour ta' get in and it'll probably take us another ta' get out. Applejack told me ta' be back by dinner time."
Scootaloo turned to face her passengers again and let out a sigh, "fine..."
But sudden reality had gripped onto Scootaloo, they didn't enter the forest in a straight path, they had zipped left and right without turning back to their main route. Scootaloo slowly began to panicked but calm down after she saw their ride's wheel trail. Just as Scootaloo snapped her head back to the path in front of her, a dark object came out of nowhere and stood its ground, obstructing their path.
Scootaloo grew a shock expression on her face before closing her eyes and attempted to drift to either the left or right. Skidding along the leaf covered grass path, the two crusader passengers hugged tightly one another while screaming their lungs out, not knowing what and why they made a sudden left turn. Their shrieks grew, causing Scootaloo to join in, as they were flung off-road and into the air when a sudden steep slope appeared.
After tumbling down the slope for a short moment before landing face first onto the ground, Scootaloo recovered first, followed by Apple Bloom then Sweetie Belle. Their ride totalled, but still intact. Scootaloo's scooter laid flat on its side, the wagon flipped upside down, its wheels still moving, not too far from the scooter. The wagon's handle was no longer hitched to the back of the scooter. They were in a pathway clearing but no lights from the sun could mean that its already night time or the towering crowded trees still blocks the sunlight.
Amongst their ride were shovels, quiver, a saddlebag with black liquid leaking out of it, matchboxes with it's contents laying about and an oil lamp, the oil inside has spilled out in a black puddle on the grass-less soil with the fire still burning. Looking at the slope to Apple Bloom's right, they clearly have felled from a high point, just a level high. The slope is incredibly steep, so, climbing back up is no use.
Scootaloo rushed towards her friends after surveying the surroundings. "Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! You guys alright?"
"Urgh... What in tarnation just happened?" Apple Bloom slowly got to her hooves and rubbed her muzzle.
"Ow... Why did you make us... fly for?" Sweetie Belle glanced at the slope they fell from.
"Sorry guys. Its just that something tall and black came out of nowhere." Scootaloo's ear dropped.
Looking back at the slope again, Apple Bloom let out a sigh. "Ah' don't think we'd be able ta' get up there again. So how'd we suppose ta' get back home now?"
Scootaloo looked at the slope to her left. Even though seeing that it is impossible to get back up again, she tried to keep her cool, which worked like a charm. Scanning her surroundings some more, there was a notably dark outline of a building not too far from their location. "I don't know... But maybe we could ask the pony living there," Scootaloo pointed to the silhouette of a building with some dim red light emerging from the windows.
"Strange... A house in a middle of the Everfree Forest..." Apple Bloom mumbled. "Ah' don't think anypony is livin' there."
"If nopony is living there, then could you explain why is there lights coming from it?" Scootaloo remarked.
"Lights? What... Oh. That light..." Apple Bloom squinted her eyes.
"How about we go and see if there is anypony in there?" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Alright"
"If ya' say so... Lets grab everythin' first," Apple Bloom waved over all their items laying on the soil.
"Ah' have a bad feeling about this..." Apple Bloom mumbled
The dark corners of the building was lighted up, revealing a number of vines and mushroom that grew around the building. The walls were charred and dusty. Part of the roof looks missing and charred like the walls too. The crusaders slowly begin to doubt that there was anypony living in this house that was built in the middle of the Everfree Forest as they trot towards the door. Apple Bloom slowly grew in fear but shook it, just thinking it was just a coincidence, when a suspiciously familiar looking well stood grimly beside the house.
Scootaloo was pulling the wagon with her scooter. Sitting about in the wagon laid their spades, quiver, oil lamp and soaked saddlebag. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom trotted beside their scooting friend. They slowly made their way to the creepy household.
Sweetie Belle trotted up to the door, knocking it impatiently, wanting to get out of this creepy forest. No reply. "Anypony home?" Sweetie Belle shouted. Again, no reply or sound.
The door stood tall, towering the tiny fillies. The door knob is too high but Sweetie Belle slowly opened the door with her magic. The door creaked open.
In the house, there was no furniture, no light, save for the fireplace that was emitting a dim red light, no signs of life. There was nothing at all. But there was a red silhouette of a desk or table, standing stationary to the left of the building. The red dim light was not able to light the whole room, the house was barely visible and dead silent. Even there was no sound from any woodland creatures making a cricket or wind blowing against the leaves. It was way to silent for comfort. The dead silent could make one lose their sanity in less then an hour or even a minute if left in the room.
Apple Bloom stood in the center of the room, starting to panic and hyperventilating, tried to convinced her mind that the red light and table are just a coincidence. Her shaking and heavy fast breathing didn't go unnoticed by her friends.
"What's wrong, Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo hastily, bringing their ride to the table, got down from her scooter and trotted to Apple Bloom's side.
Sweetie Belle clocked her head to see Apple Bloom in a state of panic too and quickly trotted over to Apple Bloom to pat her back, "now, now, Apple Bloom. Calm down now."
Apple Bloom slowly relaxed, but she was still tensed about being here again. "We... We shouldn't be 'ere... Let's leave this 'ere house and make a run fer' it!"
"And where to, exactly?" A raspy stallion voice dropped in.
The door went shut, the three fillies turned to the doorway, screaming and hugging for dear life as the red silhouette of a pony and glowing red iris slowly marched towards the frighten fillies. The fillies scamper fearfully backwards beside the fireplace. The stallion slowly got into view. The pegasus and unicorn shrieked in horror while Apple Bloom stared in horror, mouth open in shock.
"No... It can't be..."
"Oh yes, it can be, dear Apple Bloom." The zompony stallion, dragging a shackle and chains, drew his head closer to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom continued to stare in shock while the other two fillies shrieked even louder. "Remember me? Roneo? I should probably thank you again for helping me boost my relationship with Starlet. Thank you, Apple Bloom, for finding my gem."
Apple Bloom continued to stare at the stallion while her mind went wild. She was back here. In all of the worst places, it had to be here. "What... What'd you... want ta' do ta' me... us?" Apple Bloom stammered. The other two fillies' shrieking was replaced with whimpering.
"Why, nothing my dears. Nothing... yet." The zompony stallion, namely 'Roneo', pulled his head away from the crusaders. "I can't do anything to you... Grey Hoof wants to personally talk to you personally. Don't worry, he has his hoof tied up with more important matters now."
Roneo dragged the shackle and hooked it to the metal bars that blocked any firewood from escaping. The 2 fillies shut their eyes and hugged intensely while Apple Bloom remained petrified. Roneo chained the fillies around their stomach area and neck tightly in order to prevent them from escaping. "Its nice seeing you again Apple Bloom. But I have business to attend to. Hope you'll enjoy your company." Roneo trotted, although he should be limping since he was zomponified, out of the house and locked the door.
There was a sound of a metal cranking and a sound of something touching a water, making a faint splash sound outside. Due to the deathly silence of the house, they could clearly hear everything outside like there wasn't any wall between them. The fillies heard Roneo speaking to somepony and the sound of 'yes sir's were heard.
A few seconds after the sound outside dissipate, another one was heard. But it was inside the building. Apple Bloom was awaken from her paralysing state when Scootaloo poked her. Apple Bloom turned to face Scootaloo to ask her what she wanted. But the orange filly shakily pointed her hoof to the pair of unnatural glowing red eyes that emerged from behind the table.
"Apple Bloom?" The figure rasped.
Author's Note
Some people says that it's spelled Apple Bloom while others say its spelled Applebloom.
