Prologue
The midnight air was cool and refreshing as Chelsentine stood in her mother's garden. Her parents were asleep by that time, but the filly was waiting for somepony. Adorned with many flowers of all types, the garden was a sight for sore eyes. Red, blue, white and purple. Any color that you can think of, the garden had at least one flower of that color. Her mother was a florist, and her father was an archaeologist. That was how she got her name, anyways. Chelsentine, the rare sixteen-petaled, multicolored bloom that only flowers once every eighteen years. The first part Chelsea's name came from that flower. (Having the second part of her name being Rune because of her father, Ancient Rune, and his studies.) But alas, we must not stand here and talk about her name and whatnot all night. What matters now is why she came to stand in this beautiful garden in the first place.
Chelsea had been called to the garden for a meeting by her best friend Roxie earlier that day. A mission, she had said. She had also told Chelsea to be in her mother's garden by midnight, so they wouldn't be seen. The events of the day had all passed, and now here she stood. Waiting. Watching. Listening. Chelsentine sighed. Already midnight and Roxie still wasn't here! She started to wonder if Roxie was really coming, or if it was all just a prank. At about twelve twenty three a.m., Chelsea heard soft wingbeats coming from above. She looked up and saw the faint outline of Roxie gliding gently towards her, likely with the details of her newest quest. Roxie landed with four soft clops, and stepped forward.
"Hey, Chelsea," the white alicorn whispered, clearly excited about this meeting.
Chelsea immediately perked up. "What's up? What're we gonna talk about?" The peach filly was anxious to know what she was going to be doing.
"We're going to to the Everfree Forest," Chelsentine's smile faded once Roxie said 'Everfree Forest.' "When we get there, we have to find eight pieces of paper. They'll be hidden in places around the forest, such as on trees and rocks."
Chelsea shifted her hooves nervously."That sounds fun and all, but why Everfree?" The filly was curious to know why she would be sent off to such a dangerous place.
"I chose Everfree because of what happened two nights ago," The alicorn began. "I was walking through the woods when I saw a piece of paper on a tree. I stared at it for a minute, and then I walked on. As I was walking, I saw seven more pages, all in different places! But when I went back the next night, all the pages were gone. Then I decided that we should go and look for them!"
Chelsea stood for a minute, trying to process this. A wide grin spread across her face.
"Sounds fun! I'll inform the gang, and we'll be ready to go by tomorrow night."
"Great! Be back here in this very garden before nine o'clock p.m.. Don't forget, Chelss!
Chapter One: Into the Forest
The Ponyville School's bell let out a shrill ring, and all the foals rushed out the door so they could go home and play. All of them except for Chelsentine Rune, Michael Sketch, and Andreas Klutzker. The three foals trotted out the door, excitedly chattering in low, nearly inaudible voices. They were, of course, talking about their latest quest from the one and only Roxie.
"Since we're going into the Everfree Forest, we should collect the supplies we need for the journey," Michael said.
"I agree. If we're going to be going into a dark, creepy forest at NIGHT, we should bring a few things, so we don't get ourselves slaughtered by the dangerous creatures that dwell within," Andre stated as they walked along the path leading to Chelsea's house.
"Good plan, guys," Chelsea said. "We'll gather the supplies at my house. At eight thirty, start coming to my mom's garden so Roxie can meet up with us. Then we'll go into the forest! Remember that!"
"Yes sir, ma'am sir!" The two colts yelled in unison.
The rest of the walk was filled with small talk, such as what a pain in the flank Diamond Tiara was for picking on all the blank flanks in the school. Soon enough, they arrived at the quaint little house on the border between forest and village. Chelsea opened the door, and the trio went inside to collect the objects of their desire. Then they went upstairs to Chelsea's room and proceeded to make a list.
Supply List
Flashlights, alfalfa, saddlebag, batteries, water bottles, cookies, Roxie brings the rest.
After the list was created, Chelsea began to speak.
"Alright, everypony. Once you've got your assigned tools, come to the living room to meet up."
"Right," the two colts answered. Then they were off.
They ran all around the house looking for the desired items, leaving destruction in their wake. The three foals scattered across the house. Chelsea ran downstairs into the bathroom, tipping over a side table with a vase on it and sending the poor flowers flying across the hall. She rummaged around under the sink and in the medicine cabinet until she found what she was looking for.
"Found the batteries," the peach filly yelled across the house as she ran to another location.
Andre dashed into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge, tossing lettuce, carrots, an entire carton of milk and other refrigerated goods behind him. He did not stop until he found a gallon-sized bag full of alfalfa and three bottles of water. The dark chocolate colt then proceeded to go over to the pantry and search through it, knocking aside an entire row of groceries to get to the chocolate chip cookies.
"I got the snacks, guys!"
While the other two found their supplies, Michael raced to get his share of the needed items. He ran across the foyer, throwing aside the round blue rug Chelsentine's mother had placed. He opened up the closet and threw everything within his peripheral vision over his shoulders, making a complete mess out of the room. He soon found the object of his desire: A box full of flashlights. He grabbed four of them and ran to the living room to meet up with the gang.
"I have the lights, ponies!"
After all three of the foals had gathered in the living room, they sat down and had a meeting.
"Okay guys, remember what we're going to do tonight," Chelsentine inquired, ready to test their loyalty to their club. She was secretly hoping that the two boys would chicken out, so she didn't have to go into the Everfree Forest. They wouldn't let their leader go in alone, would they?
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Alright! Any last minute chickens?"
Silence.
"Anypony?" The peach unicorn's brow was beginning to get sweaty. Her heart was now a bucket of nervous energy.
More awkward silence. Nopony was giving in, so Chelsea decided to give in.
"Alright! It's settled. We're ALL going into the Everfree Forest. At night. In the dark. With all the scary monsters. No adults. Alone in the cold. All by oursel-"
"OKAY, Chelsea," Andre interrupted. "We get it. Let's just go home and get ourselves mentally prepared for what could potentially happen to us." And with that, The pegasus and the earth pony trotted off, leaving Chelsea to prepare.
"Nine o'clock!" She yelled after them making sure they knew what time to come.
That's when it dawned on Chelsea. She looked around and cringed at what she saw. Tablecloths and rugs were thrown astray, a broken vase lay in the hall, and there was a lot of stuff piling up on the ground. The worst part was that her parents would come home soon, and they would NOT be pleased to see such a mess in their home.
Chelsea began to panic. She desperately tried to use her magic to put everything back, but her magic wasn't all that good. Instead of cleaning up the mess, she just conjured a bunch of chickens from Celestia knows where. among those chickens that had teleported into her home was Scootlaoo. Scootaloo looked around.
"Where the hay am I?" Scootaloo scratched her head in confusion. She spun around and saw Chelsea.
"Did you do this? How did I get here? Whoa, this place is a mess!"
Chelsea turned tomato red, and her horn lit up.
"Sorry, Scoots! I've gotta clean up this mess. BYE!"
Her horn flashed and Scootaloo (along with the rest of the chickens) teleported back to where they came from. The mess, on the other hoof, was still there. Chelsea's eyes darted all over the room, looking for a solution. It was almost time. Her parents would be home any minute now. At that very moment, her mother was at the door. It was now or never! She held her breath, and her horn flashed. The room was enveloped in a daffodil colored light, and it was over.
"Chelsentine? Chelsea, honey, are you okay? Can you open your eyes?"
Chelsea heard her mother's sweet voice, and twitched an ear in responce. Her voice was like sweet, sweet nectar for the ears, and it was hard to resist listening to what she had to say. Chelsea slowly opened her eyes, and let out a sigh of relief. The room was clean, which meant the spell worked!
"Oh, hi mom!"
.....
Time passed by as quick as a whip, and soon it was nine p.m.. Chelsea and the gang gathered up in the the garden and waited for Roxie. As usual, the alicorn took her time getting to the garden, and arrived fashionably late.
"What took you so long, Roxie," Chelsea lectured. "It's nine fifteen!"
"Oops, my bad. Anyways, did you bring 'the stuff?'" She asked.
The three foals showed her the inside of their saddlebags, and Roxie raised her eyebrow.
"Oh, you won't be needing THOSE" Roxie's horn began to glow a bright fuchsia, and she lifted the items out of the saddlebags. She then made the saddlebags disappear in a flash of light. The foals gasped, and Roxie chuckled.
"Don't worry. I have a safe place for all of our stuff."
A portal-like hole opened up in the air, and Roxie put all of the items in except for the flashlights, which she checked to make sure they had batteries before giving them to the foals.
"Are we all set? The alicorn asked. The foals nodded, and Roxie smiled.
"Okay, let's go into the woods!"
Thus began the epic journey of the quartet as they walked into the dark, merciless hold of the Everfree Forest.
