Crab Apple did not fear the Everfree Forest.
He would tell that to anypony who would listen, of course. It was just a forest, he would say. There was no sense in fearing a forest. Forests were harmless.
The rust-brown earth pony looked over the shadowy orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. Then he turned and looked at the great forest just a quarter-mile away. His expression remained neutral.
The Apple family had a strict perimeter between the farm and the forest. Crab Apple's mother, Smith, insisted that he run a patrol along the perimeter every morning and every evening. Just in case. One could never be sure what would come out of the forest, but it was never anything good.
This was by far his least favorite chore.
The young stallion proceeded, walking along the bare posts that would soon be a new fence. To his quiet relief, he was now nearing the end of the walk. It was the point of the farm nearest the Everfree Forest, but it also marked a conclusion to another dangerous day.
He sighed to himself. “Well, that's that.”
A voice came from above. “What's what?”
Crab Apple blinked, then looked up.
A silver pegasus with a pale yellow mane was hovering—somewhat clumsily—by the branches of the tree right above Crab Apple. Her eyes were askew, giving her the look of being perpetually concussed.
She gave a sheepish grin. “Uh, salutations to you, Crab.”
Crab Apple frowned, eyes darting back toward the forest. “Dizzy Hooves, what've I told you 'bout venturin' out after dark?”
Dizzy rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, Crab. Wasn't dark when I started out." She landed on one of the larger branches. "Must've gotten misleaded. Er, misdirected. To an incorrect venue.”
"Well, see it doesn't happen this close to the forest. You realize we're on the new border, right?"
"We are?" One of Dizzy's eyes rolled downward, and she let out a mock gasp. "Oh, no! We're all deceased for sure! We've only something around eight miles 'tween us an' a forest!"
"A quarter-mile," Crab corrected automatically. He rolled his eyes and gestured to the posts. "This ain't an officially claimed part of the orchard, Dizzy. Fence ain't up yet, see? If you've gotta get lost, get lost somewhere there ain't monsters."
"Yeah?" Dizzy giggled, crouching in preparation to leap back into the air. "Is the Headless Horse gonna—whoops!" Her hoof slipped. She fell off the branch.
Crab watched, not blinking. Dizzy managed to wrap her legs around the branch from below. She hung upside down for a moment, then started crawling back up.
Dizzy's heart was in the right place, Crab Apple knew, but she had a tendency to complicate simple duties. Her special talent was dropping things, and she wasn't very good at controlling it. He was fairly certain Smith only allowed Dizzy to work at the farm because the troublesome pegasus would be jobless otherwise.
He only nodded again. “Well, I'm finished here. Started the patrol a bit later than I ought've, but it looks to've done no damage. Nothing from the Everfree's about.”
“Excellent!” Dizzy said, now on the upper side of the branch. She took off again, this time without incident. “So we'll just be—” She started flying down to Crab Apple and stopped. She tilted her head, frantically beating her wings to hover in place beside a hornet nest. “What about the nest here? Normal hornets, right?”
“Right.” Crab had an ominous feeling. “Uh, Dizzy, maybe y'oughtn't fly so near to the—”
Dizzy's wing hit the nest and sent it tumbling to the ground. Immediately, an angry buzzing filled the air. “Oops."
Crab Apple's eyes widened. His eyes darted to the right—the farmhouse was quite a ways away. He looked to the left, toward the Everfree Forest. There was a pond there, but Crab wasn't going anywhere near—
“There! A pool!” Dizzy Hooves took off toward the pond, pursued by hundreds of angry hornets.
“Dizzy! Don't—gyah!” The rest of the nest had turned to the only other available target: Crab Apple. Cursing, he bolted after the errant pegasus. Away from the orchard, over the hilly grassland, and towards the Everfree Forest.
Dizzy dove into the pond in a tremendous splash. A few seconds later, Crab Apple followed suit. The hornet swarm paused over the water, appeared to form a '?!' sign, and flew off back to the nest.
The two ponies surfaced and swam to the pond's edge. Crab Apple got out, dripping wet, eyes narrowed to slits. “Dizzy.”
Dizzy shook herself, drenching Crab Apple even more. “Hehehe. Uh, sorry?”
“Come on.” Crab Apple took off his hat and started wringing it out. “We gotta get back to the farmhouse.”
The forest was right behind him. Crab hadn't been this close since the business with the cockatrice hatchlings, and already the pain from the stings was being overcome by his fear.
He determinedly looked away from the woods, instead focusing on Dizzy. The pegasus had somehow already dried out, feathers fluffed up for warmth. “Smith's on holiday," he said, giving his coat a brisk shake. "She won't be able to help us if somethin' from the forest comes out now.”
Dizzy grinned. “Come on, Crab Apple. Of all the nights something could emerge, what're the odds it would manifest the one night we're in a proximity?"
Crab grimaced. "Don't jinx it."
He wasn't superstitious, but Dizzy had a habit of making unlikely things come true.
Dizzy let out a little giggle, her eyes rolling of their own accord. Then, she stiffened. Her eyes came to focus on something behind Crab.
“Oh, ha." Crab coughed. Something smelled awful. "Very funny. You should give up bein' a farmhoof to serve as a comedian. I suppose you expect me to turn around now an' act all scared so you can laugh."
"Uh, Crab..."
"Oh, fine." Crab turned. "I'll humor y—"
His dark green eyes met eleven pairs of glowing yellow ones.
The creatures reminded Crab of wolves, but made from twisted branches instead of flesh and fur. They moved somewhat jerkily, like puppets, and their growls were like the creakings of an old tree in a storm. Each wolf was easily twice his size.
Timber wolves. Some of the most enigmatic and dangerous of Everfree beasts the Apple family had yet encountered.
Crab Apple stood stock still, hoping Dizzy was doing the same. “Dizzy,” he muttered, “get back to the farmhouse. Get the pans.”
“I'm not leaving you, Crab.”
“There's too many of 'em, Dizzy. Get to the farmhouse or we're both goners.”
“But--”
“Dizzy Hooves. You work for me. If y'wanna keep your job, you're headed to the farmhouse already.”
“I—yes, sir.”
“Go now.” Crab Apple slowly placed his drenched fedora back on his head.
Then he heard Dizzy take off, and chaos ensued.
The biggest wolf leaped, aiming over Crab's head—targeting Dizzy. Meanwhile, the others ran to surround the earth pony.
Crab crouched, then kicked straight up with his hind legs. He felt a satisfying crunch as his kick went straight through the beast's wooden ribcage.
Then he had the less satisfying realization that his legs were now stuck in the creature.
The wolf landed behind Crab, who fell flat. With difficulty, he wrested his legs from the recovering creature of the Everfree and turned to face his foe.
The timber wolves hissed. Then, as one, they lifted their heads and let out a terrifying howl.
Crab Apple knew he didn't stand a chance. There were eleven of them, and just one would probably best him. He'd landed a solid blow—the wolf he'd hit was clearly having trouble moving—but that had only been thanks to Dizzy's distraction.
He was one pony surrounded by superior foes. Such a fight could only end one way.
But as things looked bleakest, a deafening crash sounded from a short ways off. Somewhere, Dizzy had pulled through.
Crab smiled. “Sorry, fellas. Nopony's getting' eaten tonight.”
Timber wolves feared loud noises, Smith had taught him. They tended to venture out of the woods as Zap Apple Season approached, and Crab had always helped his aging mother scare them off. It wasn't anywhere near Zap Apple Season now, but the fear was still there. Any timber wolf could easily be put to flight by a simple pair of metal pans.
Whatever Dizzy had used, it was a lot bigger than a pair of metal pans.
Crab waited for the wolves to turn and flee.
Instead, the lead wolf swatted at Crab Apple with one massive thorny paw, and Crab went flying.
The earth pony struggled to his feet. Nothing seemed to be broken, though landing face-first in the dirt had hurt considerably, as had getting hit. He turned—the blow had sent him clear of the pack. Perhaps he could try to run. The wolves were assembling, and the leader was poised to spring--
And then there came a shout from the north. “ALL YE FOOLISH CANINES, LOOK UPON THE GREATNESS OF THE MIGHTY AND FEARSOME SMOKY MIRROR, AND BURN!”
There was a flash. Crab blinked: a storm cloud the size of a house had appeared overhead. Then from it came a powerful bolt of lightning.
Crab Apple's eyes widened. The bolt snaked down towards the wolves, then veered violently off course and struck a nearby tree.
“THAT IS...um. Um!” The voice sounded nervous. “Blasted Everfree Effect...hang on!”
The cloud changed into a rain cloud, and moved to put out the potential forest fire.
So much for that rescue. Exasperated, Crab Apple turned back to the wolves—but they were fleeing back into the woods. Apparently, their strange courage did not extend to fire.
Crab Apple blinked, then looked around. “Who--”
“Fear not!” The speaker was a blue unicorn mare, with a pale silver mane and a black cape. Behind her was a humble-looking wagon. She reared up on her hind legs. “THE MIGHTY AND FEARSOME SMOKY MIRROR has rescued you!”
Crab Apple blinked.
There was a pause.
Smoky Mirror sat down awkwardly. “Um...” she coughed. “I'm Smoky Mirror. Is there a problem, sir?”
Crab Apple recovered. “Not anymore. Thanks for the rescue.”
“Not at all!” The unicorn grinned. “The Mighty and Fearsome Smoky Mirror was in the area and was HAPPY to help.”
Why was this strange mare speaking in the third pony? “Well, I'm 'fraid we've likely not--”
“Crab!” came Dizzy's voice. “Crab, did it work?”
Crab Apple and Smoky Mirror turned.
Dizzy was flying over, followed by a somewhat familiar-looking earth pony. The earth pony had a gray coat, and a straight gray mane topped by a pilgrim hat.
Dizzy landed beside Crab Apple. “Well?”
“Oh. Hey, Dizzy. No, it didn't. Who's this?”
“Wait, what? This? Oh! This is Basalteus--”
“Basalteus Aloysius Pie.” The gray earth pony approached Crab Apple and extended a hoof.
Crab Apple shook the hoof, remembering. “The rock farmer, right?”
He knew a little about Mr. Pie. The earth pony had a reputation for being very serious and stern. He'd inherited the farm from his father before him. The Pie Family Rock Farm had been around even longer than Ponyville, according to Smith.
“Correct.” Basalteus's expression was dour. “I am here because Ms. Hooves here claims you instructed her to knock over my rock pile.”
Crab noticed that Basalteus's cutie mark was a pyramid of rocks. “Sorry 'bout that. We were attacked by some timber wolves, and I told 'er to make some noise.”
“It didn't work?” Dizzy asked.
“No.” Crab Apple coughed. “Perhaps we'd best 'ead over to Basalteus's farm. We'll help 'im fix his rock pile, an' we can talk about the problem we've got.” He turned to Smoky Mirror. “Smoky, y'mind coming with us? You're free to just go to the town, though it's dark now...”
Smoky Mirror hesitated. She looked a bit nervous.
Then she laughed. “The Mighty and Fearsome Smoky Mirror will do her BEST to offer assistance in this MINOR issue.”
Crab turned to Basalteus. “Mr. Pie, y'mind?”
Basalteus frowned. “I suppose not. Timber wolves are a danger to all and should not be overlooked.”
The four ponies departed to the Pie Family Rock Farm. They had a crisis on their hooves.
Basalteous's farm was a humble place, to put things mildly. The depressed gray building he lived in stood in the middle of a depressed gray landscape. There was no grass. There were no animals. There were only rocks.
Rocks which Smoky, Basalteous and Crab Apple were now stacking. The pyramid had been enormous, before Dizzy had showed up, and completely rebuilding it would take all night.
“Look, timber wolves bein' unafraid of noise ain't normal. I'm thinkin' this is a strain from a deeper part o' the Everfree.” Crab Apple picked up a rock and added it to the pile. "Things get weirder the deeper y'go. Might be these're just timber wolves with weaker hearing, or else they're just used to noise where they're from."
“We sure they're timber wolves?” Dizzy asked, sitting a short ways from the others. Crab Apple had pointed out the foolishness in her participating in the restacking, and she'd agreed to keep her distance. “I mean, hating noise is kinda their thing. Seems these things could be something less evident.”
"That would be concerning," Smoky Mirror said, frowning. She lifted a pile of stones with her magic and carefully set them on the pile.
“Nah.” Crab Apple stacked another rock. “They're weird timber wolves, but they're timber wolves. I never forget the howl. 'sides, what else could they be? Shapechangin' ain't exactly a common talent.”
"So we're dealing with a bunch of timber wolves who aren't afraid of noise anymore," Dizzy said. She looked nervous. "If noise won't work, how are we supposed to deal with them? Even Smith could only handle one or two of those things!"
“We must simply find a way to REKINDLE THEIR FEAR!” Smoky said, trotting over and picking up a few more rocks.
“Or perhaps simply destroy them. As I understand it, they are malicious beasts and not deserving of mercy.” Basalteus was stacking the rocks three at a time—rock stacking was, in fact, his special talent.
“Destroy 'em?” Crab Apple considered it. “Yeah, maybe. They're tough critters, though. I gave their leader a solid buck and it scarcely slowed 'im down.”
“We could consider acquiring the services of citizens of your village, perhaps. With numbers on our side...”
Crab Apple immediately shook his head. “Those in Ponyville ain't eager to go near the forest. Some might turn up, but I don't see it's likely. 'sides, in an all-out fight, I doubt all of Ponyville could stand a chance 'gainst those monsters.”
“They do appear to be rather limited in their movement, though.” Basalteous gestured to Dizzy. “And we have a pegasus.”
“A pega--” Dizzy leaped to her feet and bounced over to the others. “Yes! My special talent is dropping things! I can drop rocks on the wolves! Big ones! I can carry a big sack of them and drop them on the wolves!”
“Unlikely to work.” Smoky Mirror turned to the others, a manic grin on her face. “At least not alone! But the Mighty and Fearsome Smoky Mirror will ASSIST! She can PROPEL stones from inside the building. Where it's safe.
“Say, that ain't a terrible idea...” Crab Apple murmured. “We three get up there an' throw rocks too. Wolves won't be able to reach us. But don't think it'll do...they'll realize what's happenin' an' beat it, an' return once we're on the ground again.”
“Oh! Ooh, wait!” Dizzy was bouncing like she was standing on an anthill. “The rocks! I can knock over the pyramid! The pyramid's really big, I bet if it toppled, the wolves'd get crushed!”
“This plan seems sensible to me.” Though the others had stopped, Basalteus kept stacking rocks. “Dizzy lures the wolves this way, remaining outside their reach. Once they are beside the building, she knocks over the pile, and any survivors should be easy to dispatch.”
“Great!” Dizzy grabbed a nearby sack and began stuffing rocks in.
“What're you doin, Dizzy?” Crab Apple asked.
“Well, we gotta get going before day, Crab.” Dizzy grinned. “Those wolves don't like light, right?”
“I know that.” Crab Apple pointed to the sack. “So why're you grabbing rocks? You gotta get movin'. We'll gather the ammo on our own.”
“Oh, this isn't for you.” Dizzy tied the sack carefully to her saddle. “I'm gonna need ballistics as well, if I'm gonna help out.”
Crab Apple scowled. “Y'don't need to throw rocks, Dizzy, you've already got the plan laid out an' nowhere's it call for you throwin' rocks.”
“Yeah.” Dizzy grinned. “I can handle it. Get busy!”
She leaped into the air and flew off, ignoring Crab Apple's protests. Time was of the essence.
Dizzy neared the forest, feeling confident. She'd lost a bit of altitude to the heavy bag, but she was certain she was out of reach--not even one of those beasts could jump twelve full feet, surely.
The pegasus eyed the Everfree Forest with little fear. She'd always seen Crab Apple's dread as irrational. Sure, the forest had plenty of monsters within, but Crab didn't know a thing about what else was in there.
Nor did Dizzy.
“Nothing's nothing to get intimidated of,” Dizzy said to herself. She slowed her wing flaps, and lowered herself to the ground by the pool. She paused. “By.”
She liked to use large words. A lot of ponies thought she was stupid, though they were always too nice to say so. Large words showed she wasn't stupid, and she liked that. But when she used the words wrong, it ruined everything. She sighed. “Good thing I caught—oh, there they are.”
She hadn't had long to wait.
The timber wolves emerged from the woods, eyes bright with hate. They approached Dizzy, who laughed loudly. She leaped into the air, flapped her wings, and was off. “Tough luck, dogs! Here's one clever pegasus you won't be devouring tonight!”
But immediately, she knew the rocks were too heavy. She flapped frantically, to no avail. She was simply rising too slowly. She heard the clatter of a wolf jumping--
--and she swung the sack of rocks. A smashing sound was heard, and something hit the ground. “Haha! One down, ten to go! Catch me if you can, bunch of shoddy shrubberies!”
She was high above the wolves now. At least thirteen feet, and definitely beyond their reach. And there was the rock farm just ahead. Dizzy reached in her bag for a rock. Thank Celestia. I've done it.
But the ponies had underestimated how high the wolves could jump. She heard the clattering of another jumping wolf beneath her, and made no effort to dodge, thinking herself safe.
Then she felt a blazing pain in her left wing. She was falling...
Desperately, she swung the bag at the wolf that had grabbed her. It collided, and the bag burst. Rocks fell everywhere, and the timber wolf let go with a yelp.
But she was still falling. She glanced at her wing and blanched—it looked pretty mangled.
And then she hit the ground.
Though in a great deal of pain, the pegasus got up as quickly as she could manage. Groaning, she looked about.
Ten timber wolves were eying her. No, eleven. Guess I didn't hit that one as hard as I thought.
Dizzy Hooves turned and ran. She knew she'd not make it far.
There was a pause after Dizzy hit the ground. The plan had gone so wrong so quickly--the three ponies in the building could only stare in shock.
Then Crab Apple sprang into action. He leaped off the roof of the building and landed with a thump. The fall hurt, but now was no time to worry about it.
Dizzy was here because of him. She was his employee—well, Smith's, but Crab was in charge while Smith was gone. Besides which, Dizzy was his friend. He couldn't allow her to get killed on his account. He ran toward the injured pegasus.
Basalteus was moments behind him, only pausing to grab a bag of rocks. The pony's normally solemn expression had changed to one of horror. “Smoky!” he shouted. “Get down here and help us!”
The two earth ponies ran past Dizzy, intercepting the pursuit. Crab spun on his front legs and gave a solid kick to the wolf at the front, sending it flying. Basalteus knocked another away with his bag.
The two farmers slowed and ended their charge, backing away to stand resolutely between the beasts of the Everfree and Dizzy.
Dizzy glanced back at the building, through the open window where Smoky Mirror stood.
The unicorn was eying the wolves with fear. Even Dizzy, with the distance and her scattered vision, could see that Smoky was hesitating.
Then the magician leaped down as well. The impact with the ground slowed her more than the others, but she staggered to her feet and charged...
...for her wagon.
“You noxious coward!” Dizzy shouted. But she had no time to waste on the deserter. Trembling, she turned away.
Her wing was injured, but she knew it was the least of their problems now. She moved slowly to stand beside Basalteous and Crab. “Sorry, guys. I should've flown higher.”
“It no longer matters,” Basalteus said grimly. The gray earth pony swung his bag menacingly. “You should head for the house, Ms. Hooves. Apple and I may be able to buy you enough time to get inside.”
“No. You're here on my account.” Dizzy grabbed a rock from nearby. “Only fair I stick around for the engagement.”
Basalteous only nodded. Crab Apple looked like he wanted to argue with Dizzy further, but he was too intently focused on the timber wolves.
The eleven wolves assembled to surround the band, moving with smug slowness. They knew they'd won. The leader raised its head and howled. It crouched...and sprung...
...and was intercepted by a magically propelled wagon.
The wagon took the timber wolf soaring, landing with a crash several yards away from what was about to be the battle site.
The wolf slowly got to its feet. It was battered, but still standing. With a whimper, it began to limp away from the wreckage.
And then the wreckage exploded.
Pots, pans, splinters and flame flew everywhere. Wolves shrieked and ran about, completely panicked. Some were on fire, some had iron skillets embedded in their ribcages. Nothing remained of the leader but a smoldering mess of tinder.
The chaos lasted for a full half-minute before the wolves finally recovered enough to flee. Three were permanently destroyed (including the leader) and none had escaped unscathed.
But Crab Apple, Basalteus and Dizzy were all completely untouched--the blast had deliberately avoided them.
Crab Apple blinked. “That was...what?”
Smoky Mirror stepped out of the smoke--smoke which had not originated from the explosion, and which Crab Apple suspected had been added artificially. “The Mighty and...are you all alright?” The unicorn looked sheepish, an odd but pleasant look on her. “I tried to shield you, but show powder's a bit unpredictable...”
“You cast your magics effectively,” Basalteus said. “Thank you.”
Dizzy coughed, looking guilty. “It looked like you'd--”
“I know how it looked.” Smoky Mirror shrugged. “I...thought about leaving. I nearly did. But I knew I had the means to stop the wolves.”
“I'll say you did!” Crab Apple grinned. “Those wolves'll head right back where they came from after the hay you've put 'em through!” His smile faded. “But, uh--” He gestured to the remains of the wagon. “Looks like it damaged your home.”
Smoky waved a hoof dismissively. “Only a wagon. Only some supplies. My act pales in importance to the lives of good ponies. Even to the lives of less-than-good ponies, really. I was taught such by my mother, and so I shall teach my own offspring. Should they...occur.”
“Well, thanks.” Dizzy stepped forward and put a hoof on Smoky Mirror's shoulder. Then she swayed. “Um...”
The other three ponies caught her as she collapsed. “We'd best get her patched up,” Basalteus said. “This wound looks far worse than it actually is, if I know anything about such matters, but we mustn't take chances.”
“Thanks...” Dizzy murmured, “...friends...”
Crab Apple smiled. “Couldn't've done it without you, Dizzy.”
Basalteus nodded. “I suspect each of us served some part. I loaned my rock pile, Ms. Mirror loaned her wagon, Mr. Apple loaned his strength and Ms. Hooves loaned her...wing. You all acted tonight with impressive valor. I would be honored to call you my friends, if that is indeed what we are.”
“Be not so standoffish, Mr. Pie!” Smoky had her showmare grin on again. “We are INDEED friends, and the Mighty and Fearsome Smoky Mirror is PROUD to count you all as such!”
“Smoky?” Dizzy murmured.
“Yes?” the Mighty and Fearsome Smoky Mirror asked.
“Can you stop...talkin' all, uh, third-pony? Kinda hit m'head when I hit ground, an' i's kinda confus'n'...”
Smoky Mirror blinked. “Eh?”
Amid friendly laughter, the ponies carried their friend back to Sweet Apple Acres. The interlopers were bested, and Ponyville was safe once more. Now was a time for a barrel of cider, good food and good cheer. The first two could be provided by Crab Apple, but the latter would only be brought by all four ponies, together in a new friendship.
