Dear Celestia,
My Citizens have had no occurrence of what you referred to as "Unfathomable Nightmares" when you wrote to me yesterday. I wish to say, however, that there have been reports of burrows around the outside walls of the kingdom. And there were not just a few burrows, there were many! We sent a search party to investigate them, and they counted nearly 500 burrows! One burrow in question was found just outside the city walls, so I ordered them to search through there.
Only one came back, uttering the same uttering only this phrase, "Holes! So many Holes! Why did they have HOLES!" I don't think under the circumstances of the symptoms each incidents have caused would lead to say that they are related, but they certainly have been causing problems for both of us. There is only one thing I believe now, is that something evil rests under the Crystal Kingdom. I only hope that your kingdom gets better my friend, and I hope for your well-being as well.
Your Friend,

Sombra

Turquoise went deeper into the Everfree Forest, avoiding all the thorns and branches that were obstructing his path. Almost every couple seconds, he would step on a brier, causing extreme pain to his hoof. Or even worse, branch that he had somehow missed would get caught on the canteen he had around his back, making him have to sway a bit to get free, but brushing up against the thorns in the process. But he endured a little longer as he approached his objective. "Damn that crazy old bag." he swore under his breath as he stepped on another brier. "I just hope that she was correct about this 'Abandoned Mine' that supposedly was left out here."
He consulted the historian who worked in the mayors office. She was an extremely old mare, with arthritis in her hind legs. She had shakily described to him an old mine that Hollow Shades used to own, but abandoned due to the constant problems with the outgrowth of the plants.She just pointed him in the right direction of the mine, saying it was straight down an old dusty pathway.
His hoofsteps were growing a little painful from the abuse, so when he broke into the next clearing, he had to lay down and rest. He grabbed his canteen and poured a little on his hooves where the cuts were more sever, then drank a little more. I wonder how far I have to go... As he was thinking, his mind was suddenly filled with past events that just had shaken him down worse for wear. The death of mom, dad abandoning them for a wild life of Canterlot. Heck, even the mayor dying had screwed with his mind a little, he was their godfather after all, he named his little brother after all.
He heard a rustling through the brush across the clearing, and he scrambled for cover under the bush behind him. Dammit, it's probably just a bunny or something, and i'm freaking ou- His thoughts were stopped as he saw something black clear the brush. Two green eyes poked out of the brush, it's eyes darting back and forth as if they were trying to scan the perimeter. Then they looked straight towards the spot that Turquoise was laying in, causing his heart to beat erratically, as if it was a prisoner banging his cup against the bars.
Then as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared into the dark trees and brush behind. Turquoise breathed a sigh of relief as he climbed out of the bush. After checking his coat for any twigs or leaves, he went forward. Whatever that was, it probably was just scouting for predators. It looked to worried to be anything dangerous. He assured himself as he went in the direction of the brush where the eyes were once protruding.
He walked further into the darkness, and soon found it hard to see where he was going. As his face hit another thorn, he thought to himself, "Next time, i'm bringing a machete." His inner complains were halted when a smell hit his nose, causing his face to scrunch up a little. "Oh god that's vile..." He thought as it caused him to lose his footing and he tumbled through the rest of the brush. He thorns wrapped around his body, digging deep into his fur, scratching some parts along his flank and haunch.
He felt the ground beneath him grow hard and he fell face first with a *smack*. He looked up to see a huge cave in front of him, with a worn down piece of wood hanging from the top of the entrance. He smiled a little as he knew where he was at, but groaned a little at the smell. It smelled like rotten eggs, which wouldn't be too strange. Probably from an old miner's egg sandwich, but he didn't want to think about that because it just filled him with bile just imagining it. He just realized he forgot to bring a shovel, so he search the perimeter for any old ones.
When he finally found one, he approached the cave, shaking any ominous feelings he had before. Riches laid in this cave, and he hoped to gather enough to support his jewelry store for a long time.

Author's Note

This chapter was a little boring to write. >.< But if I didn't, I would not be able to proceed to the next chapter, which is much better and exciting.