The Art of Organised Cheating Part 1

You search everywhere high and low, and in every nook and cranny. Night falls, and you’re starting to lose hope of finding Spike. You tell yourself multiple times that you’ll find him. This is only to calm you, though. Realistically, he could really be gone.

You find yourself trotting to the only place you haven’t looked. The Everfree forest. You find it highly unlikely that Spike would wander into the forest for no reason, but you decide to search there anyway.

Along the way, you visit Fluttershy, and ask her if she’s seen Spike. Of course, she replies with a no. However, she asks if it’d be okay for her to assist you.

You certainly don’t refuse the offer. Fluttershy could calm down nearly any savage creature you may encounter. You trust your life with her talents, and head into the infinitely dark forest.

The first thing you notice upon entering the forest is how dark it is. Of course it’s dark, though.

“It’s…dark.” Fluttershy whispers, almost as if she’s waiting for you to do something about it.

You face-hoof yourself before you light the cave with your horn. With the cave lit, you can actually see fresh hoofprints in the soil. They lead off the trail, deep into the forest. Suddenly, it begins to rain.

The rain is a powerful, hard-hitting rain. It came so suddenly, so fast, it catches you off guard. Fluttershy pulls a massive leaf over her head. You try to search for one, but Fluttershy covers your head with her wing instead.

You look up at the treetops, and you can’t understand where the rain is coming from.

You return your gaze at the ground, and notice that the hoofprints at slowly disappearing. Those hoofprints could be washed away in a matter of minutes.

“What should we do, Twilight?” Fluttershy has to yell over the roaring downpour.

FOLLOW THE HOOFPRINTS

SEARCH ALONG THE PATH