*SHRIEK* The little filly's heart pounded in her chest, as she ran for her life, through the trees of Sweet Apple Acres. She had promised not to go out into the field on her own, for fear of getting hurt. While her parents, Sweet and HoneyCrisp Apple were out in town gathering supplies for the Ponyville carnival, celebrating the summer sun celebration however, she did just that and disobeyed them.
"Now, don't y'all be going in to those fields now, ya' hear?" HoneyCrisp had said. "Stay home and be safe mah precious little apple" Sweet had confirmed what her husband had just said to their daughter.
"OH WHY IN THE NAME OF EVERYTHING APPLE DIDN' AH LISTEN!" shouted the frightened young AppleJack. As the terrified filly continued to run, what she believed to be her final thoughts started rushing through her head, and every few seconds she would hear it again, that Celestia awful *SHRIEK*. "Ah'll never even make it to marehood, and ah'll never know so many of the joy's in life, all because ah was too stubborn 'n' hard-headed ta' follow a few simple rules..." She sobbed.
AppleJack had to think fast, if she were to make it out of this alive. She turned around to finally get a good look at what was making such a horrible ruckus. She had accidentally awoken a swarm of fruit bats, but these weren't just your everyday run o' the mill fruit bat's, these were vampire fruit bats and even though they are only small and vegetarian they are still quite dangerous in large swarms, especially when they feel that they are under threat.
AppleJack was nearing the entrance to the west Orchid, but that didn't really help her considering the bats were not bound to the West orchid alone.
she let out a scream of terror "AHHHHHHH!" and reached for a nearby rope that was hanging from the gate.
Turning around, she managed to dodge the first wave of fruit bats that swooped at her, with their talons outstretched, They clipped her neck as she rolled off to the side at the last second, kicking up dirt and dust, as it stained her once beautiful gamboge coloured coat.
"AAARRRGH!.. hnnng" she screamed in pain, as talons tore into her haunches, blood dripping down her mane and tail. She had a tear, that ran from top of her left hock to the top of her left hoof and her fur was bloody and patched all up her flank. She was in agony, but even with the rope hanging from her gritted teeth, and as out of breath as she was, she still stood strong and fought.
She managed to gain the upper hoof on some of the critters, but there were still far too many for her to handle on her own and was soon overcome by the terrors until she was covered. As she lay there struggling to stay awake, a final thought entered her mind.
'May as well make mah last words worth somthin' she thought. and with one last shaky breath she said "Goodbye Ma, Goodbye Pa. Ah love ya'll... so much
As Applejack lay motionless by the path, only the sound of wind whispering through the trees could be heard. The silence of the Orchid could be broken now and then by some nearby birds, but otherwise all was quiet.
Time slowly went by and still there was no sign of life.
As the evening sun began to set it's warm ember glow upon the land, two small ears perked up at the sound of heavy breathing. A small figure began to slowly make it's way over to the seemingly motionless filly.
Though a little sceptical at first, the figure soon realized that the young AppleJack was not a threat, and proceeded to move on, and with a guilty glance back at the injured filly, let out a sigh and leaped off leaving the filly to her fate.
Seconds passed and then minutes, still with no movement. Feeling a lick on her cheek, Applejack finally began to stir. She groggily opened her eyes and staring back at her own, with an apple in her mouth was a brown and white Border Collie.
As she stared, she noticed that the creature was scruffy with knotted fur, that and she had no collar 'Poor thing, it must have been abandoned or it's parents must be-' She cut herself off in her thoughts, only to break down at the horrible idea. "Ah hope ah'll never know what it's like to not have a family, ah couldn't bear it if Ma or Pa had to go" she said solemnly.
AppleJack's stomach then let out a long growl, she was starving and it's any wonder that she would be. The poor filly had been running for hours, through the Orchid during her great escape. As hungry as she was, she was also physically and mentally drained. When Applejack tried to reach for the apple, blood still pouring from her wounds, she collapsed in a fit of exhaustion, and with one final glance around, fell into a long slumber.
