Forest of Lost Foals

by Dusk-Spark

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Scootaloo, Pipsqueak, Tragedy
Length: 24524

Pipsqueak, Scootaloo and a new classmate named Saphira join the other foals on a test of courage into the Everfree Forest. But will any of them make it out alive?

The grown up ponies always said, "Don't go into the Everfree" for a lot of good reasons. The most notable being, "There are monsters in there."
....
So being the young fillies and colts they are, they decided to ignore those warnings and go in anyways to prove that they were brave ponies. Besides, hasn't doing scary things been part of Nightmare Night traditions for generations? Tests of courage and such?
Pipsqueak, son of a writer, lover of scary stories jumped at the chance to prove his bravery. Just like the heroes from his favorite books. Together with Scootaloo, and the new filly in school; "Saphira." The three young ponies journey into the Everfree Forest. But things are quickly taking a turn for the worse; something is hunting them down one by one, will the young foals make it out of the forest? Or will the monster of the Everfree turn them into pony snacks?

Published 2013-11-02 01:30:03 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-02 01:30:03 UTC

Ch. 1: "Scaredy Ponies."

“Aaaahhh! Hahaha!” Pipsqueak screamed at the sudden twist at the end, but then burst out laughing. He was a horror junkie, through and through despite being so young, even so that was just such a ridiculous twist ending. His critical eye for bad writing might’ve had something to do with his dad. The old stallion spent most of his days writing all kinds of stories (horror mostly), naturally Pipsqueak learned to love that world. Plus, he was friends with Pinkie Pie. Giggle at the ghosties and such.

“It’s not supposed to be funny! That was supposed to make you wet yourself!” Scootaloo insisted, slamming her hooves on the hardwood flooring of the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.

“Sorry Scoots, it’s just…Hahanaha! A flute playing unicorn ghost, that‘s just silly!” Pipsqueak mimed a ghost wiggle with his forelegs, “Oooh, look out! I’m gonna play off-key music at you~” Pipsqueak stifled another laugh.

Scootaloo puffed out her cheeks in indignation, “Why can’t I tell it as good as Rainbow Dash.” She muttered under her breath, huffing and puffing to turn away from Pipsqueak (the jerk) and towards the unicorn filly on her left, “Saphira, back me up here! You thought it was scary right?”

The green maned, pale unicorn wasn’t listening to their conversation. She was too busy staring out at the landscape with that haunting gaze of hers.

Pipsqueak followed her gaze, “ ’At way is the Everfree forest?”

“Yeah.” Scootaloo answered hastily, "I've been there tons of times, went to go see Zecora last week." She then got up on her hooves and stared at the two ponies. “We should probably start heading out soon. If we don't show up, we'll never hear the end of it.”

“It’s a right shame, Applebloom an’ Sweetie Belle couldn’t be ‘ere.” Pipsqueak said while stretching out his legs.

“Yeah, but what’re ya gonna do? Applebloom’s visiting family in Appleoosa and Sweetie Belle went with Rarity to that three week fashion show.” Scootaloo flapped her tiny wings and leaned coolly against the wall in a very Rainbow Dash esque manner, “So I thought; Hey you know, I should spend more time with my good friend Pipsqueak and maybe befriend the new pony in school, Saphira.” Scootaloo was trying so hard to emulate Rainbow Dash, even adopting her speech patterns and mannerisms.

Pipsqueak stifled a laugh. He figured Scootaloo would probably bop him on the head or something if he dared to laugh at her when she was pretending to be Rainbow Dash, “So I guess we’re really going?” Pipsqueak sounded hesitant.

“Never go into the Everfree forest.”

Was the very first thing he heard when he came to Ponyville last year, and now they were doing the exact opposite. Foals will be foals. Plus, the chance to show everyone that he wasn't just a short pony, that he WAS the brave adventuring super hero he envisioned himself to be (even though he was still a blank flank).

“O-Of course we are!” Scootaloo’s wavering voice displayed her fear as plain as day. She could try to act like Rainbow Dash all she wanted, but she wasn’t Rainbow Dash, “What, are you a scaredy pony?” Scootaloo teased the brown patched earth pony.

Pipsqueak faced her suddenly, “N-No, of course I ain’t scared! I‘m Pipsqueak the hero!” He beat his chest triumphantly with his hoof, ‘Ow.’

“Oh really? Well, I bet you run out before I do!”

“Oh yeah?!”

“Yeah!” They were practically touching foreheads. It was very evident how much smaller Pipsqueak was compared to Scootaloo, "I'M JUST A LATE BLOOMER!" He would tell everyone who pointed out his short stature.

“….”

“Pft.” The two ponies broke out into a chorus of laughter. Of course Scootaloo and Pipsqueak would never fight, they had so much in common and were really good friends. Heck, Scootaloo was the one who showed Pipsqueak where everything in Ponyville was (even introduced him to Zecora out on the edge of the Everfree forest). While the two silly ponies laughed and rough housed like ponies did, there was one pony who still wasn’t laughing.
Ever since she got to town, Saphira was…quiet. That was really the only way anyone could ever describe her. She almost never spoke (not even to Cheerilee). She was always alone, constantly staring into the Everfree Forest, she was a blank flank but didn’t seem at all bothered by her lack of a cutie mark (not even the teasing of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon could get under her skin). She never even spoke about how she got that scar over her left eye. There were so many mysteries around her, it was almost unbearable. Why had she agreed to go with Scootaloo and Pipsqueak to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse? Why was she spending time with them? Were they really friends or…

While holding Pipsqueak in a headlock and giving him a noogie, Scootaloo addressed her; “Hey, Saphira.” Scootaloo dropped Pipsqueak (ignoring the oof from Pipsqueak), then approached the unicorn, “If you don’t wanna go then we don‘t have to. I mean, I don‘t want to be known as a scaredy pony but, I don‘t wanna force you to do it if you really don‘t-”

“No.” Saphira suddenly spoke. The room was dead silent. Saphira had spoken. SAPHIRA had spoken. That was such a rare occurrence it was like seeing a mythical beast before your very eyes... “I want to go.”

“O…kay.” Scootaloo squeaked out, in a tone barely over a whisper. Saphira’s sudden forceful tone even caught Pipsqueak off his guard.

He smacked his shivering hind leg, ‘Guess I’m more afraid then I thought…’ Over the horizon, Pipsqueak could see the sun setting. It was nearly time to meet up with the other ponies from school. “Let's do one more check.”

“Y-Yeah! Of course. Okay then,” Scootaloo read the checklist nailed to the nearby wall out loud, “Sleeping bags?”

“Yep.” Pipsqueak had it rolled up and attached to one of the straps.

“Snacks?”

Pipsqueak took a bite of one of the carrots in his saddle bag, “Yep.” He said as he chewed the carrot.

“Lanterns? Rope? First-aid? Map of the Everfree?”

Pipsqueak knocked his lantern, watching as it lit up the dim room. “Yep. For all of them.” Pipsqueak pointed his tail to the stuff on the table.

“Weapons?” Scootaloo didn’t put that on the checklist. What the hay?

Pipsqueak pulled out his wooden sword from the saddlebag. He nodded a ’Yep.’

Scootaloo just sighed and rolled her eyes, "Okay. I think that's everything then." She started putting the things in her saddlebag, dividing up the stuff with Pipsqueak's bag.

“You missed something.” Saphira used her unicorn magic to levitate three objects from the table and dropped them in front of each pony.

“Oh right, the Rune Stones.”

“Runes Stones?” This was the first Pipsqueak was hearing about any Runes.

“Yeah. They’re supposed to allow you to leave messages.” Scootaloo explained while wrapping the string holding the stone around her neck, “You just touch your hoof to the stone, concentrate…” Scootaloo’s hoof started to glow, “Then put it down somewhere and, write the message.” As Scootaloo’s hoof made motions that vaguely resembled letters, words started to appear over the clubhouse floor.
“Just like this.” The message then turned to vapor and disappeared as if it were never there.

“Only ponies with another Rune Stone like these can find the messages.” Scootaloo stretched. “Anyways…last thing is the costumes. It is Nightmare Night, after all.”

Pipsqueak pouted, he was still not happy about missing valuable candy time.

“Oh don’t look like that, watch. We’ll just do the challenge, prove we’re not scaredy foals, head back into town, gather as much candy as we can and then come back here to trade.”

Pipsqueak nodded, “I ‘ope no one runs outta Luna Bars.”

Ch. 2: "Eighteen."

It took about an hour for everyone to arrive by the entrance to the Everfree. Scootaloo, Pipsqueak, and Saphira had no trouble getting there. To ward off any suspicion, he'd told his dad, uncle Heavyweight and his aunt Nova that he'd be Nightmare Nighting with Scootaloo and that he was probably gonna sleep over at Applebloom's house (good thing none of them knew that Applebloom was out of town). Everyone else probably had a much more difficult time getting out of their homes. Scootaloo and Saphira had no problems whatsoever, Pipsqueak would've asked how they managed it, but they were surprisingly evasive. Whatever.
There were six groups of three gathered in front of the Everfree Forest. There were supposed to be more ponies, but it looked as though they decided to chicken out at the last minute.

Group 1:
Scootaloo - Wonderbolt (but with a Rainbow Dash cutie mark painted on the flank and some red streaks because why not?)
Pipsqueak - The red scarfed monster slayer from the League of Monster Slayers comic (he‘d grown out his tail JUST so he could pull off the look…despite his dad and uncle telling him that he was gonna start looking like a filly soon)
Saphira - Just wearing a simple brown hood and cloak (Practical, except there was a purple clasp to pull the outfit together).

Group 2:
Diamond Tiara - Expensive Princess outfit (fitted with, what Pipsqueak assumed were REAL diamonds. Knowing Diamond Tiara, of course they were)
Silver Spoon - A slightly less expensive princess outfit (Her parents weren't as rich as Diamond Tiara's, so her outfit looked of considerably lower quality)
Twist (poor Twist) - A cupcake (even had little foam sprinkles).

Group 3:
Featherweight - Ace Detective outfit (Pipsqueak preferred adventure and horror to an extent, Featherweight was really into the mystery genre)
Dinky - Mail Pony (probably in honor of her mom)
Noi - Actual Wonderbolt costume (No one could ever beat Scootaloo as a Rainbow Dash fan).

Group 4:
Snips - A zombie (All he did was rip up some clothe and smother white paint on his face)
Snails - Also a zombie (Almost exactly the same, but with considerably less effort put into it)
Rumble - A worn out dragon (kind of looked like the one Spike had last year, he may have actually borrowed it from Spike, seemed a bit loose on him though)

Group 5:
Coronet - Dressed as one of Luna’s royal guards (just without the Nightkin features. She had the foam wings though).
Archer - Wooden ranger barding (because of course she would).
Firelocks - A Jack-O-Lantern (Her costume was such a stark contrast to theres. Leave it to Firelocks to just do her own thing).

Group 6:
Green Daze - vampire
Lemon Daze - werewolf
Shady Daze - A mummy (or just a pony wrapped up in toilet paper)

“’Ello Featherweight.” Pipsqueak greeted his taller, lankier cousin.

“Hey Pipsqueak.” He pulled Pipsqueak into a headlock and ruffled his mane playfully. Why did EVERYPONY keep doing that?

"Jus' ya wait until I get big!" The two cousins shared a laugh and then bumped hoofs, secret hoofshake and such. Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon had the sugar-lump rump, CMC had whatever they did, Pipsqueak and Featherweight had the hoof bump.

"Looks like some ponies didn't come." Featherweight observed.

"Yeah...can't be as brave as me!"

"Didn't you spend last year's Nightmare Night running and screaming from Princess Luna?"

"That was for fun!"

"Ssssure it was."

“Ahem!” Diamond Tiara called out over the crowd, standing on a big rock to look down over the ponies. That smug grin of hers really rubbed Pipsqueak the wrong way. She just held that position for several seconds, even after everyone had quieted down. She was enjoying being at the top way too much.

"So..." Rumble started to speak from the front of the crowd.

“Guys, Diamond Tiara is trying to speak, so could you all, like, be quiet for a minute?” Silver Spoon urged, once again kissing up to Diamond Tiara. It was just really sad to see it.

“I’m glad you all decided to show up. Guess you AREN‘T scaredy ponies after all.”

“Then we can go back to town?” Lemon Daze raised her hoof, “Cause I heard Rainbow Dash had something special planned for-”

Diamond Tiara slammed her hooves down on the rock; “No! You can’t go back yet!” She shouted quite loudly. Lemon Daze shrank behind her brothers, apparently not liking loud noises.
“All you’ve done is pass the initiation. Now comes the true test.” She digs into her princess costume's pockets and pulled out the Rune Stone. “I assume at least one pony from every group has their runes? Good. Now, here are the rules. You‘re going to follow the path into the Everfree forest. Everyone is going to take different roads and find…” Diamond Tiara's voice trailed off, she put a hoof to her chin quizzically. Already the plan was falling apart. She must’ve lost her train of thought.
“Silver Spoon!” She barked at the gray filly by the side of the big rock.

Silver Spoon perked up, “Yes, Diamond?!” So eager to please.

“How dare you forget what we were supposed to do!”

“I-I’m sorry, Diamond.” Silver Spoon’s eyes darted around, as if the answer to the problem was hidden somewhere amongst the trees. Silver Spoon dug into her saddlebag, pulling out a box and laying it before the gathered ponies.

“You’re forgiven. You‘re lucky I‘m nice!” The acidic tone in her voice made Silver Spoon cower from Diamond Tiara, “As I was saying," She shot another glare in Silver Spoon's directions (this was making Pipsqueak very uncomfortable). "I've been told there's a big haunted house deep in the Everfree, in the box are maps of the Everfree, marked to show you which path you're supposed to take in order to get there. Use your Runes to mark it so we know you made it and didn‘t turn tail and run. Anyone who runs away will be labeled a chicken until the end of time!”

“Can we call ourselves the League of Monster Slayers?” Pipsqueak suddenly spoke up.
. . . .
Most eyes were on the small earth pony now. Some confused, others stifling a laughter, Diamond Tiara looking annoyed. What? It was a cool name and he was dressed like the main character anyways. Even had the cool scarf to match. He shuddered at all the chores he had to do just to pay for it!

Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes, “Fine, whatever. Now come on let‘s go.”

Author's Note

I realized a lot later that some of these names might seem like OC ponies.
Well they aren't. So here's a helpful list of background ponies to identify who's who and...in case anyone wondered what the names of certain ponies were.
http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_ponies/Foals

Ch. 4: "Green Light."

A couple of the paths converged on the cabin, but it wasn’t the destination they were looking for. For starters, there was no statue behind the building, Secondly, the cabin had clearly been abandoned for ages, thankfully the locks on the doors and windows still worked. No worry about a smart monster figuring out how to open the door...of course they would probably just break open the door-
'No! Don't think about it!'

“Okay, I’m gonna check around for a bit. Make sure the doors are locked, don‘t want anything sneaking up on us after all. Hey Pip, can I borrow your sword?” Scootaloo held out her good wing, expectantly.

“O’ course.” He said, pulling the sword’s hilt with his tail and passing it to Scootaloo as she took it in her wing.

“Thanks.” She trotted over to the hallway. Truthfully, that sword probably wouldn't help anyone at all. Mainly because it was made of wood and a toy (like anyone would let him carry a real sword), “I’ll be back in a Dash.” Ha, a Rainbow Dash pun (which fit because she WAS wearing a Wonderbolt uniform). She took her lantern in her teeth and disappeared down the hallway.

“…” There was an awkward silence between Saphira and Pipsqueak. The warmth of the lanterns did nothing to fix the icy air between them. Pipsqueak shivered, it was actually strangely cold in the cabin. Maybe colder inside than outside.
Pipsqueak couldn’t help but notice Saphira’s darting eye, like…she was concerned about something that only she knew about. That was just like her, never talking to anyone. Always keeping things inside, well not this time. They're stuck together, so Pipsqueak may as well try talking, “Ummm…” Pipsqueak started to speak, trying to break the icy silence between them, “So, I’m from Trottin’am.” He accidentally allowed the accent to seep through. Living in Ponyville has more or less weakened his original accent, but every once in a while he’d slip into it when he wasn't paying attention. “Wha’ ‘bout you?”

“…” Saphira just completely ignored Pipsqueak.

He refused to be ignored, “I really like Ponyville, I mean…I liked Trottin’am too, I was born there, but somethin’ about Ponyville makes it feel like a second ’ome for me, ya know? Trottin‘am is mostly bricks and mortar while Ponyville is-”

“Can you be quiet, please.” Saphira cut him off sharply, the please at the end did nothing to make that sentence friendlier.

“R-Right…sorry.” Pipsqueak mumbled in a defeated tone. He really didn’t like Saphira too much. Nopony did. Why did he even form a group with her? Why did Scootaloo even invite her to the club house?

“…” Saphira stood up and started pacing around the room. She guided her Rune Stone around the cabin’s walls. The glow of the Rune becoming brighter in certain directions. Suddenly there was a sharp crackle, and words sprung up from one of the walls. “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were here. So were the Daze triplets.” She explained calmly, her gaze shifting to the ground. “See, look. You can make out the indents of their hoof prints in the dust but-” Suddenly she stopped, something was wrong. Pipsqueak saw it on her face.

“What?” Pipsqueak inquired.

“Nothing." Obviously a lie, her ears had perked up as if she was hearing something that Pipsqueak couldn't, "Just, I’m a little tired is all.” She said while staring out the glass pane window.

He strained his ears to try and hear while forcing small talk, “You don’t get out much?” Whatever, it was probably nothing.

“…No.” A quick answer.

“Why don’t you talk more often?”

“…” Guess that was all the conversation she was going to allow.

Pipsqueak yawned, he was getting bored of sitting here, “Scootaloo’s takin’ ‘er time, ain’t she?” He dug into his saddlebag, then pulled out an apple-flavored candy bar. He took a bite of it, catching the falling piece just before it hit the ground. Heh, he wasn’t thinking clearly. He continued chewing on the sweet candy, his sight drifted to Saphira (who had busied herself inspecting every corner of the cabin). He held out the rest of the candy bar with his hooves, “Do you want the rest?”

“…” She looked over to him out of the corner of her eyes with that same, deadpan expression she always wore, “No. Thank you.”

Pipsqueak sighed, shrugged and continued eating. It was then that he noticed a strange faint green glow coming from outside. “Hey, I think someone’s comin’.” He trotted towards the window to see who was outside. Were the lanterns supposed to turn green though? The lanterns of Pipsqueak's group didn't-

CRASH

A sudden crash from where they had set their lanterns. He had only trotted for two seconds before he was violently tackled to the ground, Saphira wrapped her hooves around him as she scooted against the wall while still holding Pipsqueak. He really hated being this small, he struggled (and even tried to bite her), but all that earned him was a telekinetic thwack to the head (cheating unicorns).

“Shh!” She implored while pressing her body as close to the wall as possible.

All Pipsqueak could do was watch the cabin‘s interior with an annoyed glare. The light became brighter, at one point even enveloping the whole cabin except for the one spot where Pipsqueak and Saphira hid; the one spot in the shadows where the sickly green light couldn‘t reach them. He soon came to realize, that was NOT the light of a lantern. They didn't glow that bright.
He heard the door handle rattle, something was trying to get in. Suddenly he saw nothing but brown fabric. Saphira had thrown her cloak over the two of them, the soft blue glow of her horn doing some kind of magic spell. Pipsqueak could just barely see out of the cloak; and he really wished he hadn't seen it.
What he saw next, chilled him to the bone. There was a shadow, along the ground. A boney, wretched claw covered in…something, touched the window pane. He heard the horrid sound of the claws cutting into the glass, it physically hurt his ears. And then…

THE SCREECH!!!

The ear splitting screech whatever that thing produced, like 100,000 needles to the ears! He felt it right down to his core. He felt cold and helpless, his shivering wouldn’t stop, and he just wanted to go home, hide under his sheets, and never ever talk about this again. Then suddenly he felt Saphira’s hoof gently stroking his mane. “…”
After several seconds, the lights died down.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sounds got further away along with the light. Even after Saphira breathed a sigh of relief and went to go check on the lanterns to see if they were still usable, Pipsqueak remained sitting where Saphira had previously held him. Just silently wondering; ‘WHAT THE HAY WAS THAT?!’ Yes it was the Everfree Forest, and it had its share of monsters, but seriously, WHAT WAS THAT?!

One of the lanterns turned on, it flickered for a few seconds but was still usable. “Sorry. One of them won’t turn on anymore.” She slid it over to the corner while putting the working one right-side up. She gazed over at Pipsqueak and sighed, “Are you scared?”

“Was he scared?” YES! YES HE WAS SCARED! OBVIOUSLY HE WAS SCARED! He was a pony, just a colt! Not a REAL monster slayer, despite what his costume was supposed to be. No, he just wanted to go home, forget this ever happened, and maybe read a nice safe, filly book or something! To heck with all this stuff! “…” He wanted to say a lot of things, but right now he was way too paralyzed with fear to even move from that spot.

Saphira slowly trotted towards him and gently touched her muzzle to his forehead, a gentle warmth flowed through Pipsqueak’s body, “You’re alright…Pipsqueak. Everything‘s going to be fine.”

There was really no reason he should believe her, but part of him wanted to believe her. Had to believe her, otherwise he’d go crazy in this cabin, he took a deep breath and smacked his hind legs, “I‘m okay.” He just needed to think of it like one of his dad’s stories and he’ll be fine. “Forget the challenge, we need to get everyone an’ then go back ‘ome!”

Something about her gaze made it seem like she was…disappointed? Maybe Pipsqueak just imagined it?
For nearly a minute she'd paced around, looking around the cabin before stopping in the center. “Very well.” She muttered in a somber tone, looking to the hallway Scootaloo had disappeared down. “She hasn‘t returned yet.”

Pipsqueak knew what she wanted to say, but there was no way he was gonna let her say it. “She’s fine. Scootaloo was trained by Rainbow Dash, she’s definitely fine. An’ besides, anythin’ happens an’ she’ll just fly right out.” Who was he trying to convince exactly? Saphira? Or himself, truth be told…he knew Scootaloo had trouble with flight. "...." Oh wait...Scootaloo's injured wing...

Before they could discuss it further, there was a sudden knock at the door. The two immediately hid, but relaxed a bit when they heard the slow drawling voice of Snails; “Hello? Anyone there?”

Pipsqueak opened the door to Snails, whose costume seemed to have SOMEHOW gotten dirtier? Maybe he was just imagining it. Did it always look like it got into a fight with a lawnmower and lost?
“ ’Ello Snails.” Pipsqueak looked past him but no sign of Snips or Rumble. Odd, yes Rumble was a bit of a cool loner type always trying to prove himself (a bit like the pegasus version of Pipsqueak) but, when was the last time Snips and Snails had EVER been separated? Pipsqueak had thought they were brothers at one point. That’s how often they were together, so it was really unnatural to see one without the other. “Where’re the guys?”

Snails looked at him, a dazed expression plastered onto his face. He turned his head and sure enough noticed that his team was no longer with him, “They must’ve gotten lost.” He said with little to no hint of concern (or at least Pipsqueak couldn’t pick up on it).

“Snails! A hero doesn‘t leave his team behind, where did you last see them?” He was halfway out the door when Saphira appeared from around the corner of the cabin? Pipsqueak turned around, sure enough she wasn’t there. When did she-

“Scootaloo’s gone too.” She motioned to the door to the side of the cabin, “All I found was her lantern.” She showed the lantern hanging on her tail that was unmistakably Scootaloos. She tried activating her Rune stone, but they all knew how that song and dance went, “She must be out of range.”

Of course she was. “Okay.” Pipsqueak felt his resolve sinking faster and faster, ‘Stay calm.’ Pipsqueak knew what he had to do. Because it was what a hero would do. Before he could speak, Saphira spoke first:

“We should follow the path that Snails took. We might find a trace of Snips and Rumble, maybe they got separated in the fog and got lost somewhere. If they still have their lanterns, they shouldn‘t be too hard to find. Snails, Pipsqueak. Keep trying your Runes to-”

“I lost mine.” Snails interrupted.

“….” Stunned silence filled the air. Snails just stood there with a dazed expression, Saphira's good eye twitched. Pipsqueak could guess what she wanted to do to Snails who didn't seem at all to care that his team had gone missing, how was he even still alive?! How did he even find them?!

“Pipsqueak, keep trying to get in contact with them using your Rune. Snails, hold the lantern.” Saphira telekinetically passed the lantern over to Snails. “Pipsqueak, leave your lantern by the door so Scootaloo can find it again, then use the Rune Stone to leave a message on the door telling everyone to go back home or to wait here and don‘t open the door for anyone other than us.”

“On it.” Pipsqueak saluted and diligently did as he was instructed. He was actually a little impressed seeing Saphira take charge like that, plus she helped him get over his fears and remember that he was supposed to be a hero. It was almost like she trained for this, but that would be impossible. Must be all those books she reads, made her smart. She’s probably a great strategist because of that. By contrast, Pipsqueak was tiny, he had a good heart and was brave (but not all THAT brave it seemed). “All done.” Pipsqueak placed the lantern on the steps to the cabin and trotted back to Snails and Saphira.

Saphira nodded and her horn glowed a soft blue light, “Let’s go then.”

Ch. 5: "Loss."

Was it Pipsqueak’s imagination, or were things getting foggier by the minute? He could barely see his own hooves now. If it weren’t for the lantern Snails was carrying, they’d have a much lower field of vision. Saphira lead the three ponies, using some kind of spell to inspect the ground. Pipsqueak wished he knew more about what she was doing, but he wasn't a unicorn. The concept of magic was such an alien thing for him to even begin to understand. Pipsqueak continued, in vain, to try and contact the others using his Rune Stone. No luck, he didn’t understand it. The Runes were supposed to work, they HAD been working. Why weren’t they working now? He sighed, Everfree Forest, this place defied the normal rules ponies were used to. Could be any number of reasons-
Hey was it getting dimmer? Again…he sighed, “Snails, you‘re fallin' behind.”

“Sorry.” Is what he expected to hear for the seventh or eighth time, this time; all he heard was the sound of the wind rustling against the trees. It was getting much darker now, Pipsqueak couldn’t even see the path anymore.

“Snails?” He and Saphira stopped dead in their tracks to turn around.

But Snails was gone, so was their best source of light. Pipsqueak felt that panic welling up inside him again.

Saphira wrapped her tail around his, “Don’t be scared.” Is what she said to him, even though Pipsqueak could feel her shaking as well, “I‘ve been marking our trail, we just need to find it and follow it back.” Her horn glowed brighter as she examined the foggy ground.

All around him, Pipsqueak became aware of the tiniest noise. The howling of the Timber Wolves from far away, the wind rustling the trees creating a low growl, the chirp of the crickets. So many sounds, but the one he was most concerned about was that screech. It wasn’t that long since he last heard it; but just the memory of it made him shake.
‘Be brave, Pipsqueak. Be brave.’
Where was his dad when he needed him? He wanted to go home. Pipsqueak’s hoof grazed something hard. That wasn’t a rock. It was squishy, like flesh and…he felt something liquid. He also felt the soft brush of a mane. He really hoped it wasn’t what he thought it was.
....
And then he realized; his tail was holding nothing. “Saphira?!” Pipsqueak called, but she was gone. Where had she gone? Where was the path? Why did everything look so unfamiliar?! “Oh no, no, no.” He must’ve wandered off, why hadn't he paid attention? "It's all over Pipsqueak." He was just looking away for a SECOND, and now he was all alone. He didn’t even want to look at what was there. He backed into a tree, every little sound made him jumpy, he couldn’t stop shaking. “No, no, no.” He could no longer stand and just covered his head with his forelegs. Hoping that maybe this was all a bad dream, maybe he’ll wake up real soon and be in his bed. Safe and sound. He felt a something touch his shoulder! “AGGGHHH!” He bellowed as he thrashed wildly against the tingly sensation around his body.

“Pipsqueak, it’s me, it’s me!” Saphira proclaimed, struggling to hold Pipsqueak’s thrashing limbs with her telekinetic grip. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay.” Saphira stood next to Pipsqueak, gently nuzzling his mane, “Everything’s alright. Hush now, quiet now…” She soothed, in order to stop Pipsqueak’s sobs.

Pipsqueak sniffled and wiped the snot from his nostrils. “I-I’m a’right.” Pipsqueak steadied his breathing, then pointed a shaking hoof over to the thing he touched earlier. “T-There. Something.” Pipsqueak choked out through sniffles.

Saphira trotted towards the thing in the fog, using her horn’s glow to get a better view. “…” For several seconds she was dead silent, frozen stiff. She turned slowly to Pipsqueak and said, “It’s a Cockatrice.” She looked back to it over her shoulder and grimaced, “Or at least…it was. It‘s dead.”

“Dead? What killed it?” Pipsqueak galloped closer to Saphira, becoming much more cautious of his surroundings.

Saphira touched it with her hoof, “Hm, I can‘t say for sure. But I don‘t think this was done by a predator. See, when a predator kills something, I expect that it would show traces of being eaten. Like, bite marks and such, maybe some saliva or crumbs of meat. But here, it doesn‘t look like that. It looks more like this Cockatrice was killed for sport, or…in defense.” She trotted past it, illuminating the ground. “There are small hoof prints here. Kind of like one of our classmates?”

“So they killed it?”

“…I don’t know. But it is likely," She pointed to little red splotches on some of the hoof prints, Pipsqueak also noticed something blue mixed in with the red. "The tracks lead towards the Cockatrice, but the body‘s so mangled and beaten that I can‘t tell if they killed it or examined it like us. Hm...there's two sets of hoofprints.”

"Could it be Snails and Rumble?" Pipsqueak said hopefully.

"...Maybe." Her tone didn't match her words at all, "This one goes off the beaten path, deeper into the forest." The hoofprints ended at the side of the dirt road, leading into the dark, dangerous forest. Who would be crazy enough to go that way? "And this set of prints, lead along the path. This is getting messed up. We’re supposed to be in groups of three but it looks like we’re all getting separated. Singled out and lost.” Saphira explained while following the tracks deeper along the path (apparently judging that one to be the safest), Pipsqueak following after her.

“Heh, y-you’re really brave Saphira.” Pipsqueak tried to make small talk. It was really the only thing he could do to keep himself from becoming a nervous wreck again.

“Am I?” Saphira pondered, not paying all that much attention to Pipsqueak.

“Yeah. It’s really scary out here, but you don’t seem to be showing any fear. You‘re more of a hero than I am!”

“…” Saphira sighed, “I’m not that brave. Actually, I am very scared. I‘m just…really good at shutting it out.”

Pipsqueak could believe that. The hiding the emotions part, not the being scared part, “Why do you hide yourself?” Was this a good time to ask? Saphira had brushed him off before.

“…I used to live in Hollow Shades. It was a place surrounded by trees, we rarely saw sunlight.” Which might explain why her coat was so pale, “It was kind of like the Everfree Forest. As fillies and colts, we learn very quickly about all the things that are out to get us. We learn how to suppress our fear, survival skills, even how to use the environment to our advantage.” She pointed her muzzle to the sky above, “See that one star, up above? The one that shines really bright? It‘s right there in the constellation. That star will always point North, so we used that to guide our path at night.”

“ ‘Ow do you suppress your fear?” That was what Pipsqueak was most interested in.

“A few ways. Some ponies like to sing a song to themselves, some ponies like to see things rationally with a keen logical eye, others like to twist and turn that fear into another emotion. Anger was a popular motivator-Huh?" Saphira stopped explaining to focus on something in the fog (which Pipsqueak couldn't see) "What's this? Is this another-” she suddenly disappeared below the fog.

“Saphira?!” Pipsqueak bellowed!

“DON’T MOVE!” She shouted back from…below? Pipsqueak looked down to see the glow of Saphira’s horn. “I think we’re in front of a cliff. I can barely see down here. I can‘t make it back up either.” Was that, fear in her voice?

“H-’old on, I’ll find some’in to ‘elp!” Pipsqueak’s accent was slipping through again. ’Come on ’en Pipsqueak, use that bright noggin’ o’ yours.’ His father’s words rang in his ears. “Bright noggin.” The deep red of his scarf caught his eyes. “ ’Ang on, I ’ave an idea!” Pipsqueak struggled out of his scarf, lowering the end down to Saphira. Good thing it was a really long scarf.

“Pipsqueak, you can’t pull me up. I’m bigger than you. Try to find something to tie the other end to.” Saphira said, her tone becoming just a bit more urgent.

Right, right, of course! Pipsqueak frantically eyed his surroundings, his leg brushed against something near a large, dark tree (the tree kind of looked like it had a scary face, which he ignored). It felt rough, made of wood but not the same kind of wood. What the heck was this? He tried to pull it closer with his hoof but it didn‘t budge. Whatever it was, must‘ve been sturdy. He tied the end of the scarf to the thing, then tugged it to see if it would hold. It would be really bad if Saphira ended up falling while she was climbing. Good, it would hold (he REALLY hoped it would hold, at least). “Right then, I tied the end to a tree or some‘in. Climb on up.” Pipsqueak could see the scarf swaying as Saphira climbed up. He constantly checked the knot he tied, hoping it wouldn’t come loose. He could see Saphira’s light coming closer. He helped her up to the ledge with his hooves and breathed a sigh of relief when she stood next to him.

“Th-Thank you.” She looked visibly shaken from the experience. “Can I have a minute?” She shut her eyes, took several deep breaths. When she reopened her eye, Pipsqueak could see that her calm and cool composure had returned. “I’m alright now.” She moved past Pipsqueak to untie the scarf to whatever it was he had tied it to.

Pipsqueak meanwhile looked down into the foggy bottom, the fog was really getting bad. The hoof print trail had led them here...so that must've meant. "Oh no..." Pipsqueak was able to put two-and-two together. He had no idea who it was but…

“Pipsqueak.” Saphira’s low, quavering voice brought him out of his thoughts. “I think you should look at what you tied the scarf to.”

“Hm?” It was just an uprooted tree trunk or something, right? He followed the glow of Saphira’s horn to see that it wasn’t an uprooted trunk. It was a pony who had been tangled in the web of branches. He had tied it to their hind leg covered in the wooden barding of their Ranger costume. The bow and arrow cutie mark illuminated by Saphira’s horn made it very clear who this was. “Archer…” Pipsqueak murmured. He prodded her flank with his hoof, but she made no movements. “Sh-She’s just sleeping. She must be sleeping. Archer was always a heavy sleeper.” Please let that be the case, Pipsqueak pleaded with whatever gods were out there.

“Pipsqueak…”

“Come on, Archer, wake up. This isn’t funny. It's me, Pippo, Pipsi, Pips, Piptastic, Piporama, short n' round?” Pipsqueak chuckled half-heartedly.

“Pipsqueak.”

“If you don’t wake up then I-I-I’ll tell Ms. Cheerilee on you! So come on!” He nudged her harder. “Come on!”

“Pipsqueak!” Saphira barked. Pipsqueak knew what Saphira was going to say, somewhere inside he knew. But he didn’t want to acknowledge what that little pony in his mind was telling him, Saphira must be mistaken. She has to be! “Archer’s dead.”

Pipsqueak felt the air around him get just a little heavier, it didn’t help that the cawing of the crows sounded nearby.

“We can‘t do anything for her now.” Saphira telekinetically wrapped her own Rune in her magic, the soft crackling sound resounded through the air as Saphira wrote a message. “I’ve marked this area. Once we get out of here, we‘ll bring the big ponies and…we‘ll bring her back. Okay?” Saphira calmly explained while tugging on Archer's hindleg.

"What are you doing?!" To Pipsqueak, it looked like Saphira was about to eat Archer's body. He pushed her aside, standing between Saphira and Archer.

Saphira frowned, "Pipsqueak, I need to see how she died."

"But, she-"

"She's dead. Pipsqueak."

"Stop saying that!"

"It's true, Pipsqueak. Please move."

"No."

"Pipsqueak."

"NO!" He saw the flash from Saphira's horn and suddenly Pipsqueak felt the telekinetic tug on his limbs, but he fought it. With all his strength, he wasn't a unicorn but earth ponies still had their own innate magic. He felt his limbs move inch by inch.

"Pipsqueak, you're being difficult!"

"Good!" He continued to struggle with all his might, until the two ponies eventually collapsed into short breaths.

"Pipsqueak...listen. Archer's dead, nothing we do is gonna change that. Please Pipsqueak, I need to know how she died."

"Why does it even matter?"

"...I have my reasons."

"Always with the secrets." Pipsqueak was too tired to fight her anymore.

Saphira stood up, stepped past him and continued dragging Archer's body out of the tree. Using her telekinetic magic to help with the untangling. With Archer laid out before her, Saphira went to work on examining the body. Hollow Shades ponies were so different from Ponyville ponies, then again Pipsqueak was from Trottingham but still...

He didn't want to look at Archer's body, "Look at her. LOOK AT HER!" Pipsqueak sighed and turned to see. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach. A look of pure terror and pain was frozen in time on Archer's face, her eyes rolled up into her head as she bled from her mouth, nose, ears, even eyeballs. Pipsqueak gulped down his snack from earlier. He couldn't stand to look anymore so he walked towards the bushes on the other side of the tree.

"Do you want to know what I've found?" Saphira asked him.

"...I don't care." He lied.

"...She didn't go quietly. Her blood's dry as well, I think she's been dead for a while now." Saphira said while kneeling down to do something that Pipsqueak couldn't see.

"How long ago?"

"...Probably not long after you last spoke."

That only made him feel even worse. "Go. I don't want to jus' leave 'er out like this..." He said with a bundle of bushes in his mouth and on his back.

Saphira quietly nodded then trotted back to the path, examining the hoofprints leading deeper into the fog.

Pipsqueak spat out the foliage and started covering Archer's body with it, despite the blood...it almost looked as though she was still sleeping. Like she'd just wake up, tell him it was all a joke, make up some new nickname for him and they'd just start arguing about who was the best hero, "Archer..." He quietly said, shutting her eyes with his shaking hoof, it was a gesture he'd seen many times in comics, but he never really thought that he'd ever have to do it. Especially not for Archer. 'Don't cry, Pipsqueak. Don't cry...a hero doesn't cry...'

Saphira's voice cut through Pipsqueak's sniffles, “She wasn’t the one who made these tracks.” She marked that location as well. “I found something.” She levitated a brown, checker patterned detective’s cap towards Pipsqueak. The look on her face knew what it was, but she held her tongue, in case Pipsqueak was going to have another outburst.

“…Featherweight…” Pipsqueak mumbled in a slow, monotone voice. Fate may as well just put a vice grip on his heart, he eyed the cliff. "Jump..." the little voice in his head urged him to jump, trying to tell him that he could play with his friends on the other side if he just jumped.

“Snips. Snails. Rumble. Archer. Featherweight. Scootaloo.” Six ponies were lost to the Everfree now. And it would be much more if they didn‘t hurry up and find everyone.

"Jump." The voice insisted, more urgently this time. He could hear the promises of the voice, the cliff beckoned him to just take the plunge.

“Let‘s go back to the cabin. Maybe Scootaloo came back?”

"It's a lie. They're all dead, soon you will be too...so why wait? Go on your own terms." He bit his lower lip then smacked his hind legs. 'Don't give up now, Pipsqueak. There are still ponies to rescue. You're a hero, right?' Pipsqueak silently nodded as he held the cap in his hooves. What was he gonna tell Dad and uncle Heavyweight? “Featherweight…” He choked back the tears as he tucked the hat into his saddlebag...

Ch. 6: "The ideal you strive to be."

They arrived back at the cabin with no difficulties. Every time Pipsqueak tried to use the Rune Stone, it was always the same result. At this point, he’d given up on it ever working properly. Pipsqueak had been quiet throughout the trek back, just trying to make sense of everything. If he were a unicorn, maybe he’d understand better. He sighed and bumped into Saphira. “What?”

“We’re here.” Sure enough, the cabin was where it had always been. Their lantern had gone missing, someone must’ve come by and taken it.

Pipsqueak used his Rune to see if they left any messages, but there was nothing except the one that Pipsqueak had laid out before they went to go search for the others. "Archer and Featherweight are dead. The others are too. Soon, you will be too." No, no, don’t think about it. Push it to the back of your mind, Pipsqueak. He was just about two inches from the door when something came barreling out like a bat out of Tartarus. He screamed, he heard another scream to match his own. He thrashed his limbs in all directions but all he felt was a pair of hooves beating on him.

“BREAK IT UP!” Saphira bellowed.

Pipsqueak felt the telekinetic grip pull him away from whatever was attacking him. His breathing still erratic, he looked on to see the identity of his attacker. “Scootaloo?!”

“Pipsqueak?!” Scootaloo seemed just as surprised to see the two of them. Her Wonderbolt costume now bore tears along the fabric and dirt markings. She was visibly shaken up. Even after Saphira released the two of them. “Where were you two?!” She demanded with a cracking voice.

“We could ask you the same question…” Saphira responded as she stepped past Scootaloo into the cabin. “You, probably shouldn’t stay out there…” As if on cue, the howling of the Timber Wolves were all the motivation Scootaloo and Pipsqueak needed to dash into the room, shutting the door behind them.

“Why did you three ditch me?! I came back and all I found was your lantern, I thought you took off and left me out here!” Scootaloo scolded them, her voice cracking every so often. Pipsqueak noticed her hooves were shaking.

“Snails lost his team. We followed him back along the path he took. Then we lost Snails, we followed hoof tracks deeper into the forest and we found…” Saphira trailed off, her gaze turning towards Pipsqueak with a quizzical glance.

“Found what?” Impatiently, Scootaloo pressed the issue.

“…Archer’s dead.” Saphira pulled out the fake gem stone she picked off of Archer’s costume and set it down between the three ponies. Pipsqueak didn't even notice her take it before, why did she take it? Well why was Pipsqueak still carrying Featherweight's hat?

Scootaloo stared at it hauntingly, her mouth just hung agape. “Dead?” She uttered in a tone so small, Pipsqueak barely heard her.

“There’s more…” Pipsqueak said in a somber tone as he brought out Featherweight’s detective hat.

“Even Featherweight?”

“…” Pipsqueak nodded sadly. He pulled his hood over his head to hide his face, it was so unheroic for Pipsqueak to show tears, let alone cry.

“Oh Pip…” Scootaloo galloped over to him and pulled the patchy pony into a tight embrace, “I’m so sorry.”

“…” What was he supposed to say to that? A hug wasn’t gonna make this sinking feeling in his stomach go away, it wouldn’t make the air feel any less heavier. It wasn't gonna bring anyone back to life. "I hate this..." But he wasn’t gonna say any of that, instead he just accepted the hug for what it was: Scootaloo’s attempt to console her aching friend: Pipsqueak.

“Scootaloo, where’s the lantern?” Saphira interrupted.

“Lantern?”

“The lantern that was on the doorstep.”

“I don’t know, maybe somepony else took it.”

Saphira sighed, she wordlessly paced around the room trying to find where she left the broken lantern from before, “Maybe I can fix the one we left here…”

“Scootaloo, what happened to your costume?” It was time for Pipsqueak to address the elephant in the room, so he started with the basics. He could detect the scent of dirt and grass on her and...something else he couldn't quite pin down. It smelled a bit like a bathroom.

“Oh, well…I…thought I saw Rainbow Dash out here, so I chased after her. Ended up tripping and w-well that’s how my costume got dirty.”

Pipsqueak didn’t buy a word of that. Even if he wasn’t the son of a horror writer (who would routinely describe his job as; “being paid to lie”), he could tell Scootaloo just came up with that on the spot. The real question was, would he believe her or press the issue? Knowing Scootaloo, she probably got scared of the green light and hid somewhere. Then a sudden realization hit him, that green light. What the hay was that anyways? If there were a time to remember any of your dad’s works, it would be right now!

Suddenly his rune started to spark to life, the unmistakably pompous voice that came through could only belong to one very irritated little pony:

“Is anyone even listening to me?! Like, hello!” Diamond Tiara sounded agitated.

“ ’Ello?” Pipsqueak answered immediately.

Diamond Tiara groaned, “Tch, Pipsqueak. Where the hay have all of you stupid ponies been?!”

“The Runes haven’t been working!” Pipsqueak retorted, “I think we should all go home now.”

“Are you chickening out already? Silver Spoon, check it out, Pip‘s chickening out”

“N-N-No!” A bold faced lie, Pipsqueak has been scared well beyond his limits. He was so scared, he could fill up a whole building full of Pipsqueaks, “But ponies are…” He felt the word stuck in his throat, he tried to say it but just couldn’t. “Gone.”

“Gone? You mean they chickened out and ran away?”

“No, I mean-”

“They’re dead, Diamond Tiara.” Saphira suddenly spoke up from across the room.

“What’d that little scar-eyed blank flank say? That somepony died? Tch, what a load of horse apples!” She spat back, “Look, either get over here RIGHT NOW, or go back home and be a Scootaloo!”

“Why you!” Scootaloo suddenly flared up, her wings flapping to reflect the indignation she must’ve felt for being likened to a chicken. And then she twitched and collapsed in a heap, groaning in agony while she clutched her right wing. Scootaloo was really bad at watching her emotions. Maybe they should try to put her wing in some kind of sling to keep it from moving. Maybe they should just tie both wings to her body?

Suddenly there was a loud crash, a shout, some yelling, and then the Rune fizzled and died. “Diamond Tiara? ‘Ello! ‘Ello!” He shook it, as if that would get it working. No luck. Diamond Tiara’s group was long gone.
Pipsqueak exchanged looks with Scootaloo, he could tell that she was feeling the same way; They wanted to go home, take their punishment for disobeying the big ponies and then forget this whole thing ever happened. But they couldn’t. Pipsqueak always went through life trying to be a hero, he tried to emulate their behavior and he took their messages of: “Help your fellow ponies” and “Look fear in the eye and laugh” to heart. If he turned back, he’d lose a very big part of himself. It would be like going against his whole existence.

Likewise, Scootaloo idolized Rainbow Dash, nearly every choice she made came with the question: “What would Rainbow Dash do?” And Rainbow Dash would NEVER leave a pony behind, even if that Pony was Diamond Tiara. She may as well quit the Rainbow Dash fan club if she turned back now, heck she may as well quit being the "sister" of Rainbow Dash while she was at it.

The two ponies sighed in unison, realizing what they had to do. And they didn’t like it one bit, even moreso because it was Diamond Tiara the school bully.

“I see you’ve made up your minds.” Saphira’s horn sparked as the remaining lantern illuminated the room.

Ch. 7: "Memories."

Saphira led the way, oddly enough. Illuminating the path ahead with the lantern and then checking the map of the Everfree every so often. It’s a bit funny, how this whole ordeal was forcing Saphira to talk. Normally, she’d only give Yes or No answers.
Pipsqueak‘s opinion about her seemed to change overnight. Before this whole thing, he just thought of her as a quiet loner, maybe a bookworm. Originally, he thought they could bond over a love of stories, but the subject matter of their favorite stories were so wildly different: Pipsqueak preferring stories of adventure and horror. Saphira preferred technical books rather than stories, though Pipsqueak did see her read the occasional mystery book. Maybe that’s why she was so smart? Her smarts had helped him out when he would’ve otherwise panicked and ran away, but there was something in the back of his mind. Something that bothered him that he couldn’t quite figure out. He really knew he should’ve paid more attention to his dad’s plot structure rants. ‘Featherweight would probably have figured it out. He always did like the mystery books.’ His heart sank when he thought about his cousin. “Featherweight…” He muttered under his breath. His gaze drifted to Scootaloo, trudging along beside him.

The orange filly always had a little pep to her step. She had a positive outlook, and was a ton of fun to hang out with. A bit of a tomboy, even in how she dressed.
"I'd never be caught in a fru-fru glittery lacey dress or something wimpy like that!"
Was what she told him during a costume party last year. Some might consider Scootaloo's quirks as annoying or wishes she was a boy but Pipsqueak could never imagine Scootaloo without her little quirks.
First to cheer up a friend in need, didn't matter what their problems were; Scootaloo would be there to try and make it better. Her loyalty was one of the qualities Pispqueak really liked about her. It must've had something to do with how she was always trying to be just like her hero: Rainbow Dash.
The way her wings fluttered up when she got mad (if she got really mad, she'd lift off the ground), the way she took charge when there was something she was really interested in and nopony could stop her once she set her mind to something.
But now look at her. Her head hung low, she stared at the foggy ground and said nothing. It was like all the life had been drained out of her, she even started to look pale. That could've just been the fog though. The only times when she would break the routine of her sad little walk cycle was when she would routinely brush one of her forelegs against her other leg or on her torso, Scootaloo must've hated getting her red-streaked, Rainbow Dash cutie marked, Wonderbolt Costume dirty. Considering how much she idolized Rainbow Dash, getting it dirty must've been akin to sacrilege.

"Hey." Saphira cut through the silence with her voice, "I've...been meaning to say, thanks for inviting me to play with you guys. I can be a bit...difficult at times." That was putting it mildly. Saphira was either completely quiet or insulting your intelligence, not like Diamond Tiara though. Diamond Tiara would insult you outright, Saphira would say something that you wouldn't understand until much later. Such a strange pony, "But, I've...really appreciated the time we spent together. And, when this is over, I...hope you'll still invite me to come play."

"...." The two ponies were silent. Not because they didn't want her to come play, it's just...there was a lot on their minds. Obviously. "Sure." Scootaloo said halfheartedly.

"You asked me before, why I was so quiet, Pipsqueak?"

He did? Well he asked something like that a while ago.

"In Hollow Shades, I...was a bit of an outcast." No. Really? They never would've guessed...
"It's not that I was disliked it's just, I saw things a bit differently so ponies had a hard time approaching me." What, was she much quieter and darker?
"I was, a bit too happy." ...Seriously? If SAPHIRA was the happy one; Hollow Shades must've been like the anti-Ponyville or something. No, that was probably the Changeling Nomads.
"There was one time, when we were learning Telekinesis, that I accidentally lifted the teacher and some of my classmates when I was supposed to just lift a chair. I'm really good at Telekinesis but, mediocre in everything else. Tracking comes naturally, I DID live in Hollow Shades after all. Every other spell, well I'm terrible at finding anything other than trails. I can't make fire. My barrier skills are okay, but not that great...though sometimes I did get random surges for a short time. I definitely can't move through walls or control elements. But there was one time I managed to teleport myself and the teacher out of a room, I really didn't like teleportation spells. If I make one mistake, someone's foreleg could...end up in a tree or something." She then began listing off all the things she could and couldn't do.
Why was she talking so much? Oh. She was trying to pick up the two pony's moods, in the only way she knew how. "I did make some friends sometime later, we had this clubhouse in the woods where we liked to hang out and discuss things like, escape routes, monster weaknesses, best flying maneuvers-Oh. Most of the ponies in Hollow Shades were Nightkin, bat ponies...the sub-species of Pegasi that Princess Luna's royal guards hail from."

Scootaloo sighed, “…Bet you never experienced anything quite like this.” It was supposed to be an offhand comment, just something to change the subject.

But Pipsqueak saw it. Saphira stopped, stiff in her tracks, her ears had twitched during Scootaloo’s sentence. “?” He watched what she did now, very carefully. ‘There’s that feeling again.’ If only he knew what that was…

“I’ve read books with similar plots.” Was the monotone response she gave, "Scootaloo. What are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, exactly?"

Here it comes, Scootaloo never missed a chance to talk about the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She had talked Pipsqueak's ear off about it the first time they hung out together practically pelting him with invites until he was finally accepted into the CMC as an initiate (now that he thought of it, he still hasn't been made into a full member yet). "It's..." And here's comes the speech; "A club devoted to help ponies find their cutie marks..." She said in a low tone, with absolutely NONE of her usual energy. What HAPPENED to her out there?

"Oh. Is that all? What do you normally do?" Saphira really wasn't gonna let this go, was she?

"Stuff." She gave a one word answer, dismissing the question. This was so unlike her. What would Rainbow Dash say?

"...Are you open to any new members?" She said, putting on a smile? Oh Celestia, she was trying to smile, and it came out looking very...unnatural and forced. Pipsqueak just wanted her to stop smiling, like...right now. It was so weird!

"...You want to join?" This seemed to put some life back in her, she tried to get a good look at Saphira's flank but the cloak was in the way.

Saphira took the cue and brushed the cloak on her left side over to her right, sure enough she was in fact a blank flank. Actually, hadn't Diamond Tiara said that earlier? But there was something off about her flank. If he looked closely, and in the light of the lantern he could just barely make out something that kind of looked like...a faded image of a...compass? Was that a compass? It was so worn and faded it could've been a watch or a globe, compass was just the first thing that came to mind.

"What's that on your flank?" Pipsqueak asked, referring to the faded image.

"Oh. Well. That was my cutie mark." The forest grew silent at the sudden revelation.

"...Was?" Scootaloo asked, life was returning to her voice.

"Yeah..." She said in a low tone, she took a long low sigh, "I mentioned to Pipsqueak about how things worked in Hollow Shades. A map of the area around our town is drilled into our heads from a young age, we're told very clearly what parts of the forest are safe. Low risk. Medium risk. High risk. And in a few places there were big red X's on the map. These were areas we were forbidden to go anywhere near; of all the laws in Hollow Shades. The most important was to never. Ever. Go to any of those places on the map." Saphira let that sink in. Didn't take a genius to figure out that Saphira didn't listen to those rules, "I met one of those monsters and..." She trailed off, "It took my cutie mark."

The explanation seemed so, illogical. It defied everything they knew about Cutie Marks, namely being that they were a special type of magic that was independent from other known forms of magic. Nopony, not even the Princesses or Discord could affect a pony's cutie mark. So what could possibly STEAL a cutie mark? "And then what happened?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, I was a blank flank again. That's pretty much it. So, can I join your club?"

Oh right, the two ponies had completely forgotten how this whole trip down memory lane even started.

"Um...sure? As soon as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle get back, I'll talk to them." She turned her head downwards again and sighed, "I really miss them."

"You'll see them again." Saphira slowed her pace and nuzzled Scootaloo's mane with the side of her head.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo perked up, her cheeks going beet red.

"...What? Everyone in Hollow Shades does this. It's what we do to cheer up ponies or try and take away their fear. Is this...wrong in Ponyville?"

"Well it's not...wrong it's just...something that you usually do with a...special somepony."

"But...you are a special somepony? You're my friend."

"That's not really what I meant..."

Saphira tilted her head in confusion. Regardless she tried to put on that fake smile again, "How about a song? 99 buckets of Oates on the wall, 99 buckets of Oates, take one down pass it around-" She stopped singing as they came to a fork in the road (thank Celestia for that. Saphira was smart and brave...but a good singer, she was not!). The path splits into multiple routes. "Uh..." Saphira took a look at the map. "This wasn't on the map?"

"Diamond Tiara must've thought we wouldn't get this far!" Scootaloo flared up in indignation, the life seemingly returned to her. They stared down the paths and tried to rationally think about this. "Well one of these has to lead to the place. So let's just pick one and go."

"....." Nopony picked a path. While Scootaloo and Saphira tried to figure out which path to take. They mentioned something about Zecora's hut being in the South, and the path ahead was going North so, they should keep going north? Pipsqueak had long since lost interested in the conversation, letting his eyes wander. "?" Something caught his eye in one of the bushes. He carefully trotted towards it, "Is that?" He bit down on the strap and pulled but something pulled back. "Hm?" He pulled harder and so did whatever was in the bush, okay no more playing around. He reared back as he pulled the bag out with all his might. The struggle roused some animal or something out of its hiding place and it sped off into the woods. Pipsqueak fell flat on his back with his hooves in the air, paralyzed by the sudden reveal. He shook it off and took a look at...Dinky's mailbag, it had been part of her costume.

"What've you got there Pipsqueak?" Scootaloo asked, trotting along behind him with Saphira in tow.

"Looks like Dinky's mailbag." Pipsqueak unzipped it and opened it up, empty. Whatever was in the bush must've eaten the contents. He still saw the muffin crumbs. He could really go for some of Derpy's muffins...

Pipsqueak pulled out his rune stone and scanned it. "Hm?" A reaction, it was glowing brightly. There was a light coming from beneath the bush. Pipsqueak crawled under the bush, dragging the glowing object into view. "This is..." He started while looking at the object between the three ponies.

"Dinky's Rune Stone." There were little bite marks on the strap holding the rune stone (probably from the animal earlier), but it looked as though whoever had tried to turn the runestone into a snack had quickly given up and instead ate a hole in the mailbag.

"Did it fall off her?" Scootaloo asked.

"No. She must've left it here. See, the straps still in tact. The only logical explanation is that she took it off."

"Why?" Pipsqueak asked.

"I don't know...maybe she left a message on it." Saphira telekinetically activated the rune stone. It glowed brightly as a moving picture started to appear before the three foals. It showed a sobbing, battered Dinky trudging through the Everfree.

"Mommy?" She called out, and was met with the howling of Timber Wolves off in the distance. Terror plastered on her hooves, she broke into a run. Hiding in a hollowed out tree, still crying and panting. She looked past the three ponies (well, she wasn't really looking past them, just in their direction). "I...I don't wanna play anymore. I wanna go home. Where am I? Mommy? Please help me. Please come get me..." She laid down on the ground, violently coughing. "Please come soon..." And then she was silent. The image faded away, back into the rune stone.

Pipsqueak didn't even know the runes could do that. Then it hit him, "Tree. Tree!" Pipsqueak checked the tree nearby, hoping Dinky would be in there. "Saphira, light!" The light from the lantern illuminated the inside of a tree and he saw...nothing. There was nothing there.

"Look in the corner. You see the disturbance of the dirt, and the hoof prints? Dinky was here but..." The trail leads deeper into the forest where it completely disappears amongst the trees. "She's gone now."

"Dinky..."

For a while, no one said anything. After some deliberation, they found hoofprints on one of the paths and followed that one, hoping it led to the right place.

The three ponies continued on the path, not saying a word about Dinky's probable fate (or even why they didn't bother to go after her). Pipsqueak was very tired, Scootaloo was looking pretty tired too, she looked even more pale than before, “We should hurry up." Said Saphira, who didn't look all that tired. Hollow Shades ponies really were different, weren't they? "I think it might start raining soon, we don't wanna be out here in the cold rain.” At first the ponies thought it was weird that it looked like rain was coming, but then remembered that the Everfree clouds were totally wild compared to the Ponyville clouds. Her light trot started to turn into a gallop.

Pipsqueak exchanged glances with Scootaloo, who leaned in close and said; “She’s been acting strange hasn’t she?”

“Jus’ a bit. Think she’s jus’ scared is all, might be ‘er way o’ dealing wit‘ it.” He shook his head, the accents been slipping out quite a bit tonight. Strange. Was it really that strange though? He was from Trottingham, the accent was how he normally spoke. Why had he tried to emulate Ponyville speech patterns though? Maybe a way to fit in. Who knows. "What do you mean, strange?"

"Have you ever seen her show this much emotion? And, we could've followed the trails. Found the missing ponies, but we didn't. We just left. Was that really the right thing to do?" Scootaloo asked, "And...doesn't it seem like she knows a bit too much? Almost like she has some kind of cheat sheet."

The seed of doubt had been planted in their minds. She did have a point, why didn't they go after the trails leading into the forests? Had they given up too easily? Maybe Dinky and the others were still alive? Heck the only body they've found was Archers- 'No, no, no. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.' He pushed the memory far down below, deep where he didn't have to remember her dark eyes, lifeless mane, faded coat and the dried blood and snot...

"Pipsqueak. I'm gonna tell you something but if you ever tell anyone else...I'm gonna deny it and then I might have to hurt you." Scootaloo looked around to make sure nopony else happened to be listening in, "I'm...very scared right now."

"I...I think we all are, Scoots."

"I know. I know. Just...promise me we'll get out of here safe and sound. Promise me that I'll get to see Applebloom and Sweetie Belle again."

"..." Pipsqueak couldn't keep that promise. What could he do to make it happen? He was just one, very small pony. He wasn't a big hero. He didn't have unicorn magic. Couldn't fly. He didn't even have that Earth Pony muscle that they were so famous for... "I promise." He sealed his word, avoiding Scootaloo's quizzical gaze. "Liar...You're not gonna make it out." Why wouldn't the little voice in his head just shut up?! He felt something wet and soft touch the side of his head. His eyes drifted to what it was and he saw...Scootaloo very close to his head. Oh...wait...

Scootaloo pulled away from where she kissed his forehead. "You get just one." She said as she trotted on ahead.

"Uh...ummm...ughbluhh..." What was that? Why did she do that? What was going on? What? WHAT?!

“Hey, you’re trailing behind.” Saphira called to them, already way ahead.

Once more, the Timber Wolf howls made an excellent motivator for the two of them to get their flanks in gear! Down the hill is where it was.
The house was a lot bigger than they thought. They thought it would be something akin to Zecora’s shack, this was much larger. Almost seemed like a mansion, but much…simpler. The outside was nothing special to look at, save for the ornate fence and the garden in the back. Sure enough, from the top of the hill they could just barely see the statue of an elegant pony. Time had certainly taken its toll on the cottage, Pipsqueak could see the overgrowth of vines on the house, the Everfree had almost completely taken the place over. Even the ornate gate, which would normally block passage from the cottage in the past, now lay on its side, uselessly discarded. Saphira had already started down the path with Pipsqueak and Scootaloo in tow.

Ch. 8: "Falling Apart."

“One. Two. Three, push!” The three ponies pushed their whole weight against the large ornate door. It made a loud creaking sound as it clicked shut. Pipsqueak and Scootaloo breathed a heavy sigh from the physical exertion, meanwhile Saphira used her magic to lock the door.

“Took you long enough.” Diamond Tiara commented with a pompous attitude.

“You could’ve helped, instead of sitting there!” Scootaloo responded, she was in no mood for Diamond Tiara’s attitude right now.

Diamond Tiara stood up and faced Scootaloo, “You got something to say?”

“A lot actually.” This was just getting worse.

“Alright break it up you two.” Coronet stood between them, always the mediator wasn’t she. “Look, you’re upsetting Lemon Daze.” She pointed her tail to the crying filly being hugged by Noi.

Diamond Tiara glared at Scootaloo and Noi, she looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it, “…Hmph.” Diamond Tiara turned around and sat back down next to Silver Spoon.

Pipsqueak and Scootaloo sat down around the 4 lanterns that remained in the center of the ponies. A quick headcount would reveal:

Pipsqueak.
Saphira.
Scootaloo.
Diamond Tiara.
Silver Spoon.
Coronet.
Noi.
Lemon Daze.

Of the 18 ponies, there were only 8 who made it this far. For some reason, that scared Pipsqueak more than anything. Not knowing was the worst part. And judging by the state Lemon was in (a pony who was always smiling, even part of Scootaloo’s Rainbow Dash fan club along with Noi), it must’ve been really bad out there. ‘This was a mistake.’ Pipsqueak realized it now, they never should’ve come in here. Whose bright idea was it to bring them all here? And then it hit him. Whose idea WAS it? He assumed it was Diamond Tiara because she was the one who took charge at the beginning, but something about this whole setup didn’t feel like Diamond Tiara’s hoofwork. Why couldn’t he remember the pony who came up with this idea? It was like, there was a noise in his head. Blocking certain memories.
. . . . . . . . .
Whatever, couldn't have been important if he couldn't remember it. He shook his head, trying not to think of it anymore.

It was Scootaloo who broke the uncomfortable silence, “Where’s everyone else? Has anyone tried using their Runes?”

“All night, Scoots.” Noi spoke up, showing her own Rune stone. “I haven’t heard anything from anyone else. They might be lost-”

“How did you all get separated?” Saphira suddenly interjected forcefully. It was a good question, Pipsqueak’s group were the only ones who arrived in full. Everyone else either arrived alone or was missing somepony, “Lemon?” Saphira advanced but Coronet stood in the way.

“Can’t you see she’s hysterical right now? I found her hiding in a bush, sobbing uncontrollably and muttering to herself. I don’t think it’s a good idea to make her relive it.”

“But Coronet,” Noi suddenly spoke up, “If Lemon knows where her brothers are then-”

“No!” She suddenly spoke up, “I-I-I don’t want to remember. D-D-Don’t want to. No. No. No. No.” She started frantically chanting.

Coronet was at her side in an instant, “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay, it’s okay girl. Ain’t nothing gonna hurt you out here.” She gently soothed, “Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head…”

“Okay. Okay…safe. Safe here. No monsters. No bad things. No darkness. No...green...” She softly sobbed as the two fillies went to work on comforting her.

Saphira sighed, realizing there was no point in pressing the issue, “Where’s Twist?” She asked Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Who tensed up just a bit.

“How should I know?” Diamond Tiara retorted, completely dismissing the question with a wave of her hoof. She averted her gaze. Odd, Diamond Tiara preferred to look ponies in the eye. Pipsqueak remembered Featherweight calling it a dominance thing. Silver Spoon on the other hoof, was shaking nervously.

Saphira must've picked up on Silver Spoon's closed body language: The shivering, the aversion of the eyes...Pipsqueak wasn't too good at reading ponies, but even he could tell something HAD happened, “She was in your group. You were supposed to stay together.” Saphira’s tone became much lower, more…angry? “Why would you come here without her? Where is she?”

“I said I don’t know! She probably just went home, are you accusing me of something?!” Diamond Tiara suddenly shouted, standing muzzle to muzzle with Saphira now, the two ponies looked like they would come to blows any minute now. The pompous, spoiled I'm-better-than-you pony vs the pony who lived in a place where nearly everything in the forest had been bred to KILL every other living thing in the forest. Take your pick on who would win...

“Diamond…” Silver Spoon spoke up timidly, “I-I think we should tell them.” Silver Spoon was…going against Diamond Tiara. On Pipsqueak’s list of top 10 things he thought would never happen, that was #4.

“Tell us what?” This time, it was Noi who spoke up. All the ponies looked to Diamond Tiara.

“Diamond Tiara, where is Twist?” Coronet stood up from Lemon’s side and rounded on Diamond Tiara.

“Diamond Tiara…” Saphira’s voice was low and dangerous.

“Tell us where Twist is!” Now it was Scootaloo’s turn.

Pipsqueak wasn’t sure if he should join in or come to Diamond Tiara’s aid. He could see her shaking with rage, everyone was against her now.

“WILL EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP!” Diamond Tiara suddenly screeched, her voice echoing throughout the building. “TWIST WENT HOME, ALRIGHT, END OF STORY!”

“That’s a lie! Twist didn‘t go home.” Silver Spoon looked visibly shaken, she then stood up slowly.

“Silver Spoon, SHUT UP!” Diamond Tiara said dangerously, rounding on Silver Spoon now.

“NO!” Silver Spoon shouted just as loudly, “WE BOTH KNOW THAT TWIST DIDN’T GO HOME!” Her whole body shook in anger, anger directed at Diamond Tiara of all ponies, “Twist is gone.” Silver Spoon choked out between sobs, “We saw her get swallowed up by SOMETHING in the forest.” She reached into her saddle bag and tossed out a pair of large, purple glasses between the ponies, it made a clank sound as it hit the ground. They were unmistakably Twist’s glasses, mangled and broken, but definitely Twists. “And…IT WAS YOU, WHO’S RESPONSIBLE!” Silver Spoon stood over Diamond Tiara, who started to look very small. “IF YOU HADN’T BEEN TEASING TWIST, SHE WOULDN’T HAVE RUN OFF LIKE SHE DID! SHE WOULDN’T HAVE FALLEN OFF THE LEDGE! SHE WOULDN’T HAVE JUST LAID THERE WHILE IT…” She trailed off, her screaming voice echoing throughout the hall.

“Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara said, drawing herself back up to her full height, “if you don’t stop right now, I’m gonna-”

“You’ll what?!” This was getting bad, “All my life, I’ve been KICKED AND PUSHED around by YOU! I just wanted to be your friend because NOPONY ELSE WANTED TO, but no! I‘m just a servant to you! I‘m just someone you take your stress out on! Well NO! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS! I‘M NOT ONE OF YOUR DOLLS! I‘M NOT YOUR LITTLE WHIPPING HORSE! I‘M SILVER SPOON! YOU CAN‘T JUST TORTURE ME FOR YOUR OWN AMUSEMENT!” Before anyone even realized what was going on, Silver Spoon was already upon Diamond Tiara. The two ponies violently fighting, Silver Spoon had the upper hand because she had struck first. Knocking her to the ground and beating on her with her hooves. It took everyone several seconds before they realized that Silver Spoon was going berserk, she might actually KILL Diamond Tiara.

Noi and Coronet were the first to try to pull them apart, bellowing for help from everyone else. But it was hard to hear her due to the terrified shrieks of Lemon overpowering the commotion. Pipsqueak saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara still trying to viciously beat the other, even after they were being pulled away from each other by everyone else. Pipsqueak saw one of Diamond Tiara’s hooves connect with Saphira’s face with a loud CRACK as she tumbled to the ground. For several seconds she lay there, breathing heavily. Dangerously. The air was getting heavier. She slowly stood up to her full height, there was a light rumble beneath her.

“ENOUGH!” She bellowed at the top of her lung, everypony stood by silently as Saphira’s magic lifted the two struggling ponies several feet in the air.
“YOU TWO! CORNERS! NOW!” She very violently tossed them both into opposite corners of the room.
“STAY!” She said, keeping the two fillies from running at each other again with her telekinetic magic. She turned her head to Scootaloo, who looked dumbfounded (they’d all known that Saphira was good with telekinesis, but they didn’t think she was that good).
“GET THE ROPE IN YOUR SADDLEBAG! TIE THEM UP! NOW!” She demanded at the top of her lung.
“YOU TOO! ROPE! NOW!” She bellowed at Noi.

“R-R-Right!” Scootaloo and Noi said in unison, they tripped as they dashed to their saddlebags by the lanterns. It was a good thing Noi also had a length of rope, because Scootaloo had the only one they brought with them.

Pipsqueak just stood there while all that had gone on. He watched in stunned silence as the whole scene played, urging his legs to move but they just refused. “Some hero you are.” The little voice in his head berated him once again.

Ch. 9: "Are you afraid?"

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were tied up on opposite ends of the room. For the first few minutes, they had stared death glares at each other and threw out threats and insults. Saphira put a stop to that right away, threatening to turn them both into ugly little toads if they made her mad (Pipsqueak knew she couldn‘t even if she wanted. She was VERY good at telekinesis, but was about average in every other basic unicorn spell). Best she could do was tie them up again.
He still shuddered at the memory of Saphira's rage, even moreso than Silver Spoon's outburst. This was just a whole new night of sides for everyone.
Now the former friends just avoided each other’s gaze. Pipsqueak could clearly see that the things Silver Spoon said had affected Diamond Tiara, mostly because he was about 2 inches from her face (due to applying first-aid on the wounds she sustained), but also because she hadn’t insulted him ONCE since the whole ordeal ended. She even said: “Thank you” when he cleaned up the open gash on her face. That was probably the most shocking thing in the night...actually, no it wasn't. The dead body was, but this was something to take his mind off of it.

“Pipsqueak. Am I a horrible pony?”

“Yes.” Pipsqueak said in a heartbeat.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but sighed in a defeated tone; “I…I don’t try to be it’s just…it’s just the way I am. I can‘t fight who I really am, after all.”

“Nope.” Pipsqueak said.

“Nope?”

“Nope. You’re giving up too easily, you can change if you really want to.”

“No I can’t.”

“Sure you can. How will you know if you‘ve never tried.”

“…How do I…be a nicer pony?”

“You can start by apologizing to Silver Spoon. She is your friend after all.”

“Probably not anymore.”

“Well, if she’s a good friend. She’ll forgive you. If you’re a good friend, you’ll actually try to earn her forgiveness.” Sage advice from Pipsqueak, where was all that coming from? Probably something his dad had told him. He really missed his dad right now. He wondered if his dad had tried checking up on him, only to find that no one's seen him or 17 other foals? Maybe the town was out searching for them? Maybe they'd be rescued soon?
...What would he tell everyone about Archer, Featherweight, Dinky, Snips, Snails, Firelocks, Rumble, Twist, Green Daze, and Shady Daze? He shook his head, 'No, no. Don't think about it.' He returned his attention to Diamond Tiara.

"Start by saying sorry. Here like this, "I'm sorry." See, you can do it." He stood there with bated breath, waiting for Diamond Tiara to just play along.

She sighed, rolled her eyes and then in half-flanked tone uttered; "I'm sorry." Not apologetic at all.

"It's a start." It was so insincere, he didn't have the heart to tell her that she needed to work on her apology skills. At least she actually said the words instead of trying to twist-- "Don't think of Twist."
She actually said the words, that was probably as good as they were gonna get. "Keep tryin', I'm gonna go check on the others."

“…Okay...” She sighed. “Thanks. I’ll…think about it. Now, go away.” She turned away from Pipsqueak.

Pipsqueak nodded and headed back to the remaining ponies, Saphira was laying next to the lantern and staring at the door. Scootaloo and Noi were trying to comfort each other by talking about how great Rainbow Dash was. Pipsqueak trotted along beside them, then asked; “Coronet and Lemon haven’t come back yet?”

“Nope.” Noi sounded worried. During the ensuing chaos, Lemon had started screaming and then ran off into the hallways. Coronet took off after her. That was 15 minutes ago, “I’m gonna go look for them.”

“I’ll go with you. It’s probably best if we stay in pairs.” Scootaloo ruffled Pipsqueak’s mane before heading off deeper into the building with Noi trailing behind her. He could faintly hear their conversation about Rainbow Dash down the hall, until they were out of his hearing range.

He sighed and laid down next to Saphira. Who was busy stuffing her face with the food they'd brought with them. Stress eating? No, unicorns didn't have an infinite magical pool, it drained energy just like anything else. So it only made sense that she needed to eat.
“Well…what a night.”

“…” Had they gone back to the silent game again? No, she just had a mouth full of chocolate. She swallowed and nodded, wiping her mouth with her hooves.

“I didn’t know your telekinesis was so strong.”

“In Hollow Shades, we learn defensive spells really early. I’m…not really that great at a lot of spells, but Telekinesis is one of my stronger ones. It‘s only gotten stronger since I left. I told you about this earlier, didn't I?”

“Yeah. You did. Hey, why did you leave anyways?” Pipsqueak felt this was a tough question to ask, Saphira might not even bother answering.

“…It’s a long story. Do you remember when I was talking about how I lost my cutie mark? Well, we were stupid foals so against the wishes of our parents, we went out to prove we were brave ponies. We ventured into the woods, looking for…I don‘t even remember why we went in there. I do know though, there were 20 of us at the start. By the end of it, I was the only one left. Next morning the adults found me in a hollowed out tree, shivering and muttering incoherently to myself. All my close friends were gone. Predator attacks, is what they called it. That it was all over and I could rest, but that was a lie. It wasn‘t over…” She trailed off, taking a deep sigh as she brushed her mane with her hoof. “My parents, sent me to Ponyville after I would wake up screaming in the night. I‘d been complaining about, a constant noise in my head to them, but it wasn't until the 3rd week when they couldn't take the constant night terrors."

'Noise.'

"Seeing…them every night, telling me to come back to the forest, or to hurt myself."

'You should jump.'

"I was supposed to live with some relatives. Get away from Hollow Shades for a while, rest and recuperate. Try not to think about it."

'Don't think about it.'

"The nightmares didn‘t stop though, it never stopped. Once in a while, I'd have a peaceful night, it never lasted long though. Only when it seemed like I would die from sleep deprivation.”

And then it started to click, that unease he was feeling from before, “The thing that took your friends. It followed you. Didn’t it?”

“…” She grew silent, that only made Pipsqueak more suspicious. Someone as smart as Saphira, must’ve thought about it. She looked to the Lanterns, “We learned to make those Lanterns in Hollow Shades, they’re more than just simple lanterns. They’ve been enchanted to ward off certain monsters, the only reason I survived is because I kept my lantern with me at all times. If it IS the same one. They‘re probably the only reason we're still here.”

“What do you remember about it?”

“….”

“Saphira. If it can help us-”

“What I remember the most is the green light, the loud screech, and a constant noise in the back of my head. I don’t know anything specific. I hardly paid attention to the bestiary or any old legends, but…what I do remember is that it hunts foals almost exclusively. It leads young ponies astray with a haunting, melodious sound only they can hear. It can mimic the shape of a pony its taken, it can even control what‘s left of their body to fool other ponies. It‘s not a predator, it doesn‘t eat them. It just likes to see pain, misery, fear, rage, sorrow. And then it strikes when it‘s done torturing its victim.”

“The Pied Piper.” Pipsqueak responded immediately.

“What?”

“You’re describin’ the Pied Piper. My dad, he wrote a story based on an old pony legend about a unicorn who lost his foals, so he tried to steal the foals of others after making a pact with…something. There wasn't a word for it in any known pony language. His soul was twisted and mangled, and now he wanders the land. Hunting foals who go astray. That’s what my dad wrote, at least. ”

“…Could it be possible?” She seemed to be seriously considering the possibility, “Regardless. If this one followed me, then we can’t fight it. We should wait till morning and then we‘ll-” Thunder struck overhead, followed by a loud crash from upstairs. The four ponies immediately stood up, “The others!” She said urgently as she ran towards the staircase, Pipsqueak, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon following closely behind.
They raced up the staircase, they heard the sound of sobs from inside one of the closed doors. Saphira and Pipsqueak rammed the door open. Inside the room they saw Coronet huddled in the corner, and the rain falling into the room from the broken window. “Coronet!” Pipsqueak called, rushing to her side then stopping just for a second due to the sound of thunder.

“It got her!” She cried, “A monster, it broke through the window and took Lemon Daze!” She sobbed harder.

“Pipsqueak, we have to find Noi and Scootaloo. Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, take Coronet back downstairs and wait for us in the entrance room.” Without another word, she sped off down the hall with Pipsqueak in tow. Pipsqueak looked back into the room for just a second and what he briefly glimpsed on Coronet's face, confused him. Regardless, he didn't have time to wonder what he saw. It must've been just a trick of the mind anyways...

The two ponies frantically searched throughout the building, checking room for room but finding no trace of the two ponies, “It’s getting bolder.” Pipsqueak noticed, based on what he knew about the monster. It didn't attack them outright, it lured ponies away and struck them when they were alone. Here? It just attacked Lemon Daze right in front of Coronet. Heck, it broke through the window and alerted them to its presence.

“I know, we need to find them. Then get out of here.” But why had it abandoned the notion of stealth? Why would something, that's been primarily attacking from the shadows, suddenly disregard hiding in favor of outright attacks?

“Right!” Pipsqueak couldn’t agree more. He rounded the corner then-
CRASH
He crashed into somepony, dazed and disoriented he heard Saphira exclaim: “Scootaloo! Noi!”

“They’re alright?” Pipsqueak asked, getting back to his hooves then shaking off the pain.

“The monster!” Scootaloo said, completely out of breath, “It’s here.”

“It got Lemon just like it got Archer!”

"Don't think about it."

“Come on, we’ll meet back up with the others!”

As they sped off, Pip slowed down a bit. That noise, he recognized it now. Music. It vaguely resembled, music from a wind instrument. “Are you afraid, Pipsqueak?” Yes. Pipsqueak was very afraid.

Ch. 10: "A stacked deck."

“I think we should wait here until morning. Wandering through the forest at night isn‘t the best idea, right here is definitely the safest place. Monsters hate daylight after all. So we’ll sleep in shifts, there‘s 7 of us so…One hour each? That sounds about right.” The room seemed to agree with Coronet’s plan, everyone except Pipsqueak, Scootaloo and Saphira. Something was bothering him again, and it wasn’t the noise in the back of his head. ‘Noise…’ Why did that worry him so much?

“This place isn’t safe.” Saphira protested, “I think we should leave.”

“Where would we go?” Noi asked.

“Zecora’s hut. I know where it is from here, if we make it there Zecora will definitely protect us.” Scootaloo responded.

“Ms. Zecora can’t use magic! How could she protect us?” Coronet interjected harshly.

“Ms. Zecora has lived here for years, I bet she has all kinds of potions to ward off monsters.” It was Pipsqueak who spoke up this time.

“I say we put it to a vote.” Diamond Tiara spoke up all of a sudden. It was unusual for her, usually she’d be the one to take charge and tell ponies what they were doing. Maybe she took Pipsqueak’s advice to heart? Maybe she’d be a nicer pony now? “All in favor of staying here?” Everyone except Pipsqueak, Saphira, and Scootloo’s hooves shot up into the air immediately. “And for Zecora’s hut?” The three remaining ponies raised their hooves in vain. “Guess we’re staying here then, so who wants first watch. What about you Pipsqueak?”

And so that’s how Pipsqueak took first watch. Pipsqueak sighed, from all the events of today...he of all ponies could use the rest. Or maybe sleep wasn't such a great idea, what if he had nightmares? 'Don't think about it.'

"Hey, Pip?" It was Scootaloo's voice. She hadn't gone to bed with the rest? That's strange. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure." Pipsqueak took note of the way Scootaloo looked back to the others, it reminded him of when Featherweight would look around to make sure no one was within earshot before he would tell Pipsqueak some interesting secret he heard or show and tell a snapshot he just took of somepony.

"Listen. Some, crazy things are happening right now." She was shaking. "I...want to see Applebloom and Sweetie Belle again, Pipsqueak. I never got to tell them how important they are to me." She closed in on Pipsqueak all of a sudden, her muzzle just inches from his. "Pipsqueak, you're the only one I really trust here. So...do you trust me?"

Something about this conversation made Pipsqueak feel uneasy, "O-Of course!" Hesitation, bad move. "I mean, yes. I trust you Scoots. We're friends."

"Good. Because...something about this whole thing feels wrong to me. I think...someone here is working for the monster?"

"Working for it?"

"Yeah, it kind of feels like we're playing an unbeatable game, doesn't it?"

Now that she mentioned it, if this was the Pied Piper that was attacking them then...it was quite possible that someone here is a minion or the Piper itself. If only there were a way to test that theory. He should've paid more attention to his dad's research. Of course he wasn't gonna worry Scootaloo with that, "Don't worry Scoot, we'll make it out of here."

"You're a liar."

She sighed, "Yeah but...I'd be wary of certain ponies. If someone were a spy, they'd most likely be very smart."

'Someone as smart a her...'

"They'd be able to do things that we wouldn't be able to."

'There's only one unicorn here.'

"They'd have to have encountered the monster before."

"That thing that took your friends. It followed you. Didn't it?'

"And finally, they'd have to have some method of communicating discreetly."

He remembered all those times the pony in question's ears had perked up and she looked at something that only she could see, 'How many times had she used her unicorn magic?' Pipsqueak knew who fit the bill perfectly, but...could it really be? It...was possible. How was Pipsqueak supposed to know she wasn't communicating with the Pied Piper? He was an earth pony, to him unicorn magic was (as his father would put it) a convenient plot device. He eyed Saphira's sleeping body suspiciously, could it have been possible? Could she have been betraying them all along?

"Yeah. I think so too. We can't let her know that we know though. I'll keep a close eye on her, if she tries anything I'll kick her flank." Scootaloo made striking motions in the air with her forelegs and smiled slightly. Confident in her abilities apparently. It was nice to see Scootaloo smile at least. "Well, goodnight Pip...try not to sleep on your watch okay?" She playfully nuzzled his cheek.

Pip felt a chill run down his spine. That...was weird. Well, the kiss from before was weird too but...really? What was with Scootaloo right now? He remembered his uncle talking about how fillies mature faster than colts so maybe this was that? Or maybe it was just the crazy situation they were in. Yeah, yeah that was probably it.
.....
It was gonna be a loooong night. He jumped at the sound of a hooting owl from outside.

An hour had passed and it was nearly time for Pipsqueak to wake up whoever was next in the rotation. The mansion creaked every so often and over the past hour, he'd tried his best not to stare down the dark void of the hallways. Even now, he averted his gaze, instead fixating on the comic book he'd been reading for the past hour or so. Every time he peeked down the hallway, he thought he would see a terrifying monster running at them ready to turn him into a pony snack.
‘Be brave, Pipsqueak. You’re a hero.’ “No you’re not, you’re a coward.”
Pipsqueak sighed, the voices in his head were were getting much more prominent. 'Don't think about it, Pipsqueak. "You can't hide forever. Surrender. Put them all out of their misery. Kill. Kill. KILL!" He ignored the voice, even though it kept chanting kill in his head. His temporary insanity was broken up by the sound of rustling sheets. “Hm?” He turned the lantern back towards the sleeping ponies.

Saphira? Check.
Scootaloo? Check.
Noi? Check.
Diamond Tiara? Check.
Silver Spoon? Check.
Coronet? When he shined the light on her sleeping bag, all he saw was a ponyless sleeping bag. Where had she gone? She wasn’t supposed to leave without permission, she didn’t even take one of the lanterns.

Creak

He wheeled around towards the creaking floor board, the floor lantern illuminating Coronet‘s figure, facing the hallway. “Coronet?” He called to her, but got no response. How the hay did she get past him anyways?

She ran off down the hall.

"H-Hey!" He chased after, hearing the rhythmic sounds of thunder like a beating war drum. A sense of dread filled him, his father would call this the climax.
He tried not to think about it, this wasn't like his father's stories.

He chased her throughout the house, finding his way into a room filled with various, worn out musical instruments. The windows had been boarded up, the floor creaked dangerously as if it were going to break, the room looked like a tornado had come through. And there was Coronet, standing in the middle of the room, not facing Pipsqueak, “What are you doing up, it’s not your shift y-” He stopped. There was something very wrong with Coronet. Why? Because she had just twisted her head in a way that wasn’t natural for ponies.
At first, he didn’t know what he was seeing. “C-Coronet?” Surely his eyes must’ve been playing tricks on him. Must be tired. “Coronet, what are-” Suddenly she lunged at Pipsqueak, pinning him to the ground. He felt Coronet push the weight of her hooves down on his throat, trying to cut off his air supply. He pushed against her, tried to call for help but he couldn’t make a sound. He made a mistake. Coronet had led him here, where he was isolated so nopony could hear his struggles. "Y-You! Pied Piper!"

It let up for just a second, smiled a big toothy grin and then continued pressing down on his throat.

'Why?!' She was attacked by the monster too, so why- Daylight hit his brain as he remembered the conversation from earlier.

"It can mimic the shape of a pony its taken, it can even control what‘s left of their body to fool other ponies...

She wasn't hurt by the monster back then, she WAS the monster who took Lemon Daze or at least her corpse was being controlled by the Pied Piper who then took Lemon Daze.
Coronet was in Archer's group. Archer was dead, and Firelocks had never arrived. So where was Coronet during all that? Did she stop Saphira from questioning Lemon Daze because she may have seen something? Why didn't he see it sooner?!
His struggles started to become weaker, he could feel the strength being sapped out of him. Why couldn't he have been a smarter pony? He could've put the pieces together sooner. Featherweight definitely would've figured it out before things got to this stage! Was this it, was this where he would die? He was getting light headed now, the room was spinning, his strength fading, his vision going blurry.

CRASH

Suddenly, he could breathe again! He took several seconds to let the air into his lungs, he dry heaved and saw Coronet wrapped in the blue glow of Saphira’s magic, and then viciously slammed into the ground where she fell through the floor down to the main lobby where everyone had been resting. Everyone had been woken up from the sound of the crash. One of the lanterns lay broken by Pipsqueak’s side. Saphira lowered the two ponies down through the hole. Coronet tried to get up and run but was wrapped in a telekinetic field by Saphira.

“What is going on?!” Noi demanded, sounding cranky from being awoken and confused at the sight she was beholding.

“Co…Coronet…that’s not Coronet!” Pipsqueak choked out through rapid breaths, “She…she…she tried to kill me!”

“He’s lying!” Coronet protested, “I woke up to go to the bathroom, all of a sudden Pipsqueak just attacked me right out of nowhere! I had to fight him off, and then Saphira put me in this bubble!”

“NO, YOU’RE LYING!" Pipsqueak retorted fiercely.

“Quiet, Pipsqueak!” Noi spat out, “Saphira. Let Coronet down, tie up Pipsqueak before he kills us like he killed Archer and Lemon!” Surely she must see the hole in the ceiling, Coronet's story doesn't add up, and yet Pipsqueak was being labeled as the aggressor?

“No, please! You have to believe-” He stopped. What did Noi just say? Saphira seemed to pick up on it too.

“What are you waiting for?” Noi demanded, the desperation in her voice evident.

“Noi…how did you know about Archer and Lemon?” Saphira asked.

“What are you talking about? You told me, when we got here. You said you found Archer‘s body tangled up in tree roots by a cliff.”

“…” Pipsqueak and Saphira exchanged glances, as if they just realized some great truth.

“What? That‘s what you said.”

“Noi. We never mentioned Archer was dead, and we never said anything about how she died.” The room grew dead silent at the sudden reveal, “Furthermore, we never told you about Lemon Daze either.”

“Yes you did, you told us when we got back!”

“But that’s not the first time you said it.” Saphira responded sharply.

“Do you remember what you said when you first met us after Lemon and Coronet were attacked? You said: "

"It got Lemon just like it got Archer."

"How would you know that it got Lemon if you were on the other side of the building?”

“….” Dead silence filled the room, Noi just stood there. Dumbfound and not saying anything. For a while it looked like she was trying to figure out some way to talk her way out of this, but what really sealed the deal was this one last sentence:

“Noi…show us your cutie mark.”

"What? I'm a blank flank."

"No you're not." Scootaloo spoke up. "You've had your cutie mark since last year, it was a pillow. You said it symbolized your desire to make everyone comfortable." The whole room surrounded Noi. "Take off the Wonderbolt costume."

"What? No, I'm not gonna do that." Her green eyes darted around the room suspiciously, she looked just like a cornered animal. It was very clear she was still trying to figure a way out of this.

'Wait a minute...green?'

Before Pipsqueak could say anything, it was Scootaloo who brought the finishing blow: "Noi doesn't have green eyes." For a while, nobody moved or said anything.

Noi’s gaze turned to her hooves. Her shoulders shook, was she crying? No. No that wasn’t crying. That sound was definitely not crying. That was laughter, a broken, high-pitched laughter. Coronet soon followed her example as the coats of the two ponies started turning pale and their eyes sunk into their bony heads, become dead and lifeless, replaced by two black voids. They stared at the others with a big, twisted toothy grin stretching further than their mouth should've been able to go.

"It's the Pied Piper!" Pipsqueak exclaimed. "Everyone run, get to Zecora's!"

Suddenly, all Pipsqueak heard was laughter coming from everywhere around him. From Coronet, from Noi. Silver Spoon. Diamond Tiara. He looked down the hall to the see the dark figures of the lost ponies, he even saw Twist and Dinky poking their heads out from the hole in the ceiling. It was all coming full circle now. Pipsqueak, Saphira, and Scootaloo backed up towards the doorway. Saphira was shaking in her hooves, dead silent, eyes locked on the green light from down the hall and Scootaloo just kept trying to pull the door open in vain, the orange pegasus didn't have the strength of an Earth Pony, she needed help moving that door.

“Give up Pipsqueak.”

Their situation was hopeless. If it was just Coronet and Noi, Saphira could probably handle one of them and the rest could overpower the other. But when he factored the other 15 ponies, there was no way even Saphira’s telekinetic skills could save them.

“Give up Pipsqueak.”

He sat on his haunches, shutting his eyes and waited for the end.

........

“…No.” He told himself. “No.” He said a bit louder. “No!” He didn’t want to die here, he didn’t want to give up and become one of them. No, he wanted, NEEDED to survive. He needed to go back home and tell everyone what happened here! If he died here, then everything will have been pointless, a lot more foals would die if word about the Pied Piper never got out. Just part of an old story that everyone will forget! No! He couldn't let it end with just him! He was not going to die. Plan, he needed a plan. There must be something, something he could use to- "Saphira. Teleport us." He whispered to us.

"What?"

"You said you managed to teleport yourself and a teacher out of a room. Can you teleport us past this big iron door?" He needed a quick answer because Pipsqueak did not like the way the other ponies were advancing on them.

"Th-That was a mistake though, I haven't teleported anything in ages."

A roadblock in the plan already, come on Pipsqueak there's gotta be something. "Remember when you got really angry a while ago? Do that again!"

"I..."

"Just turn your fear into anger like you said before!" If there were ever a time for Saphira to use what she learned back home, NOW WAS THE PERFECT TIME! If she could just manage to build up that same level of anger then maybe they could get away.

"I...I need a minute or two to concentrate."

"No problem!" Pipsqueak was about to do something that he would consider to be the stupidest thing he's ever done: "FOR GLORY!" He shouted as he dived headfirst towards the pony thralls that used to be his friends. Now was a great time for him to show off the Earth Pony strength that should've been coursing through his veins!

"Give up."

'SHUT UP!'
He barreled right into his former classmates, avoiding their diving bodies. 'Duck and weave, Pip!' For the first time in his life, he was THANKFUL for being so short! His small frame made him nimble, while his classmates seemed to have trouble locating him. Maybe this was what they called adrenaline?

"Pipsqueak!" Scootaloo called out to him.

Just a second. Just a second away and he felt something crash into his side.

"PIPSQUEAK!"

That hurt a lot more than he thought it would, he saw the ponies running towards him. He wanted to close his eyes and give up: "NO!" He hopped out of the way just as Noi and Featherweight crashed into where he'd been laying. Coronet bit at his tail and he kicked her with his hoof. Panic was starting to set in as he scrambled to Scootaloo and Saphira. Some of the thralls had switched tactics and started to go after the two of them instead, Pipsqueak needed to get there first. He raced against his thrall classmates, running as fast as his little legs would take him. "TELEPORT NOW!" He shouted as he dived. Then he heard a pop sound.

Next thing the three ponies knew, they were outside on the mansion grounds. The sound of multiple bodies slamming against the heavy iron door broke them out of their dazed state. Yeah, that door was not gonna hold them back forever. No time to celebrate little ponies, RUN! As they ran down the path, they heard the ear splitting screech once more. “Don’t stop!” Pipsqueak shouted over the sound of thunder and heavy rain. “Scootaloo, which way’s Zecora’s hut?”

“Um," She stopped, dumbfounded and circling the fork in the road. She faced them and then, with her left wing, she pointed down the right path, "It’s this way!” She turned right at the fork in the road.

"Alright, let's go!" After Pipsqueak had passed her by, Scootaloo stretched her good wing, separating Saphira from the two ponies.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"You're not coming with us!" Before Saphira could process what Scootaloo had just said; Scootaloo had spun around and bucked Saphira in the chest, knocking the pale unicorn into the mud. "Come on Pipsqueak!"

Pipsqueak looked at the struggling Saphira, he started galloping along with Scootaloo but hesitated when he heard Saphira's voice struggle to cry out:

"Wait!" Pipsqueak stopped just long enough to hear Saphira's next words: “…Zecora’s hut isn’t that way.” Saphira revealed, coughing and struggling to regain her normal breathing. That kick must've hit her worse than Pipsqueak realized.

Scootaloo stopped to see Pipsqueak wasn't following, "What are you waiting for, Pipsqueak?!"

"Pipsqueak..." Saphira gasped, "Listen, to me..."

Scootaloo walked closer towards them, "I thought we were friends Pipsqueak? I thought you trusted me!"

"Zecora's hut...isn't-"

Pipsqueak couldn't hear the rest, as the screeching noise got louder. They didn't have a lot of time to waste here.

"PIPSQUEAK, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE NOW! I'VE BEEN YOUR FRIEND SINCE YOU GOT HERE, SHE'S JUST A PONY WE BARELY KNOW! YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHO YOU WANT TO BELIEVE, BECAUSE ALL THREE OF US CAN'T WALK OUT OF HERE LIKE WE CAME IN!" Scootaloo bit down on Pipsqueak's scarf, "WE HAVE TO GO!"

"LET HIM GO!" Saphira's telekinetic shove returned the buck that Scootaloo had given her earlier by knocking the orange pegasus into the mud.

And now it came to Pipsqueak. He couldn't stay here forever, Scootaloo was right about that. He needed to make a choice, because there didn't seem to be a chance for all three of them to walk out of this together.

Scootaloo struggled to her feet, staring daggers at Saphira, rather than fight the unicorn, she instead turned towards the path to Zecora's hut, "Pipsqueak, come with me! We have to get to Zecora's hut!"

Saphira stared at the sky for a few seconds, it looked as though a sudden realization came upon her, "You're a bad liar, Scootaloo." Saphira pointed to the left path with her hoof, “Zecora’s hut is in the opposite direction.”

“No it isn’t!” She stomped her hooves, “It’s this way! I know it is! Trust me!”

“I...” Pipsqueak remembered Coronet and Noi, all their classmates. Turned into monsters. Who's to say Scootaloo or Saphira weren't monsters like the rest of them? 'Make a decision, Pipsqueak!'
"I can't decide!"

“Why not?!”

"Because, you’re not Scootaloo!” Saphira announced loudly.

“…What? That's ridiculous!” Scootaloo stepped towards Pipsqueak, but Saphira stopped her with a second telekinetic shove, she retaliated by picking up a rock with her tail and tossing it at Saphira's head.

"Stop it you two!" Pipsqueak cried out in vain.

Scootlaoo became noticeably enraged when she looked at Saphira's deadpan expression, "See, I told you! She's one of the Pied Piper's minions, just stalling us! Think about it. She gave us the Runes, they were working fine then suddenly they stop working? Notice how she's never close by when they start working? She's the only unicorn here."

"You can't possibly blame me for that!" Saphira shot back.

"And she expects us to believe that some monster, that we've never seen close up, just followed her all the way to Ponyville? Why?! For what reason? None of this started happening until she came. I think she knew all along. Don't think I haven't noticed, you're always evasive when someone asks you about what happened in Hollow Shades. You've been staring into the Everfree Forest every day, probably listening to the words. You've been sneaking around, and you seem to KNOW where the monsters were and..."

Pipsqueak's ears perked up. Somewhere during her rant, she let something slip. "You've been hearing the voices."

"!" Everything seemed to go dead silent.

That alone casts the shadow of doubt over Scootaloo. Come to think of it, Scootaloo wasn't acting like herself: like the way she was so convinced that there was a traitor, or how she suckerbucked Saphira, and some of what she was saying contradicted things she'd said earlier. Scootaloo would go through life thinking "What would Rainbow Dash do." and here was Scootaloo, trying to frantically pin the blame on Saphira. There was something else though, something she'd done earlier. "Scootaloo. Lift your wing."

"What? We don't have time for th-"

"Do it, Scootaloo." Pipsqueak demanded.

Scotaloo scoffed and lifted her unbandaged left wing, "There, happy? Now we can stop debating this, leave the traitor and just go?"

Saphira telekinetically grabbed Scootaloo's RIGHT wing and lifted it up, she showed no signs of pain...until 3 seconds had passed. 3 seconds too late. "That's the wrong wing, Scootaloo." It was too late to fake the pain.

Pipsqueak saw all he needed, he returned to Saphira's side.

"You're taking HER side over mine? I've been your friend much longer, what the hay Pipsqueak?!”

“…Back at the cottage, you mentioned three of us. You weren‘t there when Snails showed up.” Thunder cracked overhead.

“I-I-I was hiding nearby, I saw him come to the cottage.”

“How’d you know a monster got Lemon?”

“How did you know there WAS a monster, we never mentioned any specific ones.” Saphira quickly added.

“B-Because…”

“And…everyone who we left alone, turned into a monster. Noi was alone with you…I noticed she was acting strangely, after she‘d been alone with you.”

“Maybe she was just scared? Okay, fine, maybe there isn't a traitor and I just got a little paranoid but come on, guys are you really-”

“Do you know whose idea it was to come out here? I remember now, there was a voice blocking the memory but…I think I remember now. Scootaloo, you‘re the only one who‘s ever been deep into the Everfree Forest. It was you who told me that.” Pipsqueak specifically remembered, back in class when Diamond Tiara was calling them blank flanks and scaredy ponies, it was Scootaloo who said that they could find the old house in the Everfree and stay there for the night to prove they weren’t scaredy ponies.

“It’s so deep in the Everfree, Diamond Tiara would never know there was an old house out here.” Saphira was starting to put the pieces together, “You were the first to fall. It was you all along. You made the maps. You even marked Zecora‘s hut being in the south from the big house. Diamond Tiara would NEVER know where that was.”

“So what?”

“You’re going North.” Pipsqueak pointed his nose to the north star in the sky.

“…”

“…You’re the one who led us out here. But Diamond Tiara, being Diamond Tiara is the one who took charge.” Saphira then added, "You look pretty pale, Scootaloo, that color doesn't really go with the blood on your hooves." Pipsqueak's eyes darted to the dark red splotches on her hooves that he thought were part of the red streaks on her costume, but now he saw that they were actually a much darker shade than the painted decals on the costume.
Had she always been suspicious of Scootaloo? Or did she just realize it now. "Oh you thought I didn't notice the way you were constantly wiping your hooves? Are they clean enough yet or can you still see the blood?"

Scootaloo twitched at the words: "Clean enough."

"Where were you, Scootaloo? When you went to the back of the cabin, where did you go? You weren't hiding nearby...you're the one who killed the Cockatrice. Who else did you kill?" She reached into her saddle bag and threw down a wooden sword.
...The same one that Pipsqueak brought with him (even had his name carved into the hilt).
...The same one Scootaloo had never returned.
There was the unmistakable sight of dried blood on the side, "Because, I see a couple blue hairs in your mane."

Blue hair...just like...Archer.

"...She didn't go quietly. Her blood's dry as well, I think she's been dead for a while now." Saphira said while kneeling down to do something that Pipsqueak couldn't see.

"How long ago?"

"...Probably not long after you last spoke. I'd say...about an hour?"

No. No. No. No. There had to be another explanation right? "Scoot...tell me it isn't true. You didn't..."

“…” For a while the only sounds were from the rain beating down on the trees.

"Scootaloo!"

"...."

"How long have you been like this Scootaloo?" Saphira asked.

“A few days ago, I was feeling lonely without Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. I went to visit Zecora in the evening, I followed the path but there was a mud slide blocking my normal route. I took a route through the forest and that‘s when…that‘s when…” She trailed off, “That’s when I…ARGH!” She clutched her head in her hooves. “…I think…I died. Back then. I remember, a cold, dark, loneliness, I remember feeling crushed. Hard to breathe. Then I woke up outside the Everfree Forest. Every night I had this dream, a voice…telling me to do things. Even when I was awake, I could hear it. In the back of my head. And that music, that DUMB, STUPID MUSIC! Always, always, ALWAYS playing!” A small green light, far in the distance was becoming larger. Quickly. Scootaloo’s already pale coat was starting to lose more of its orange color.
“I hear the voice now you know? It‘s telling me to stop you. To lead you away. To attack you. But I don‘t want to. I won‘t…ya know, there's a lot of souls in there. So many, it's like a buzzing hive. All of them working towards the same goal, all of them of one mind. One vision. But I think...something's wrong with me, I still have some control, I think. I'm not sure if it's holding the reins and directing or if I'm just a puppet, as I speak words that aren't my own? But still, I want to believe that I have a chance. So...maybe...I can stop it. No, I can't stop it...but I can slow it down. And I will because…” The void in her eyes stared at them through the tears, “Because you’re my friends and I don't want to hurt anypony. I’m so sorry, for everything. RUN!” She shouted as loud as she could.

Pipsqueak and Saphira sprinted off immediately in the correct direction. Pipsqueak looked back at Scootaloo’s shrinking body every so often, until…she was gone. ‘Scootaloo.’ He fought back the tears and just kept galloping.

Ch. 11: "The pipes are calling."

Pipsqueak and Saphira kept on galloping down the road, how long had they been running? Who knew for certain? His chest hurt, he didn’t care. His hooves ached, he didn’t care. Every muscle in his body was telling him to stop, HE DIDN’T CARE!
Keep running despite the pain! Ignore the voice in his head telling him to slow down and surrender or kill Saphira! Pipsqueak wasn’t slowing down, the same couldn't be said for Saphira who had slowed to a stop.
Pipsqueak grinded to a halt, nearly tripping over from the sudden stop. “Saphira?! What is it?” Did that buck from earlier hurt her worse than Pipsqueak had realized? He tried not to think about Scootaloo right now. Maybe it was something else? If she was hurt how would she escape?

“Pipsqueak. I‘ve been thinking about it a lot; and what Scootaloo said before..." Her voice trailed off, touching the scar on her eye, "How did I survive, when no one else did?"

"Y-You hid in a hollowed out tree. That's what you told me."

"Did it really just…stop when morning came?”

“You said the l-l-lantern, it protects-”

“I was wrong, Pipsqueak. It‘s not afraid of the light at all. EVERYONE WHO WAS ATTACKED HAD A LANTERN! IT DID NOTHING TO PROTECT THEM!” Saphira looked back to where they ran from. “It followed me, all the way to Ponyville. Or maybe it WANTED me to go here. I don‘t know. I know you might think I have all the answers, but I DON‘T! I DON‘T KNOW, I make logical guesses, but I don‘t know everything! I do know one thing though, it wants me. I can hear its whispers creeping into my brain, telling me to do things…just like with Scootaloo, like with everyone else. How long before I start blacking out? Waking up somewhere I don't know? All of this, is my fault. I brought it here. And I'm so tired already...” The glow from Saphira's horn was fizzling, it was obvious that she was struggling against a magical burnout.

“Wh-What are you trying to say?” Pipsqueak asked, praying to Luna she wasn’t going to do what he thought she was going to do. This speech was just like-

“Go. Pipsqueak.”

She was gonna do it. The heroic sacrifice. She was gonna stay behind, fight it and give Pipsqueak enough time to escape. Well he was not about to let that happen! “You can’t! Everyone‘s gone now, it‘s just you and me. Please don‘t leave me out here alone!” He was only able to come this far because he was never truly alone. The few seconds back then when he WAS alone were the most terrifying of his life, he hated it and didn‘t want it to happen again. There was no way he could survive out here on his own.

"Die."

She touched her horn to his head, "Don't listen to the voice. Never listen to the voice. No matter happens, don't ever listen. Don't trust it. Don't believe it. Fight it every step of the way."

Pipsqueak couldn't control his sobs anymore, "Why are you saying these things? Saphira, don't go."

"…I’m sorry, Pipsqueak.” She planted herself firmly on the ground, she turned to see the green light gaining on them. “You can’t hear it can you? The music, the whispers. It‘s like…claws on a chalkboard all the time. Pipsqueak, the reason I came with you on this adventure. It wasn‘t because I thought we were friends, I came here…to kill this monster. There was only one way this story was ever gonna end. One of us was going to die.”

“Th-Then I’m staying too. I can help you fight!” He couldn't just let her fight alone, especially not in her condition! That kick from Scootaloo was obviously still bothering her, in addition Saphira had used A LOT of magic tonight. It was nothing short of a miracle she hadn't burned out when she teleported the three foals a few inches. How much magic could she possibly have left? Definitely not enough to take out the remaining 16 ponies AND the Pied Piper. Besides, what kind of friend does that?! No, he'd lost everyone already and he was not gonna lose another pony to this...monster.

Saphira trotted slowly towards him, she paced around him curiously, as if examining him carefully, then she spoke in a low whisper. “…No. You can’t.” Before he could react, she telekinetically shoved him into a hollowed out tree. “Good thing you’re so small.” She said as she set up a barrier. She could hear his anguished cries from the other side of the barrier, he banged on the barrier with his hooves for a few seconds before realizing how pointless it was. He fought back the tears as hard as he could. 'Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry!'

"Pipsqueak, look at me."

He shook his head, just stared down at the hooves.

"Pipsqueak, please. I'm sorry." She touched her hoof to the barrier, and Pipsqueak reluctantly did the same. “If I win, I’ll come back and get you…if I die. Well…you’ll know.” She turned to face the green light. “It’s…been fun, before all this happened. With you and Scootaloo, I mean. It was fun. I really would've liked to spend more time with everyone. Maybe get to know Applebloom and Sweetie Belle better, even Diamond Tiara looked like she was going to turn over a new leaf. I really wanted to go Nightmare Nighting with all of you." She opened her scarred eye, wanting him to see the truth (though it just raised more questions for the little foal).
She stared straight into his eyes, "Remember. Don't listen, don't let it in. Don't let it see your fear, push your emotions down and focus on the task ahead. You're small but you're stronger than you realize. You have the makings of a real hero. And heroes destroy monsters."

"Why are you saying these things?" He choked back the tears, he knew what kind of speech this was.

"Because, I am not a hero. I'm a scared little filly, about to do something I should've done a long time ago." And then with a sad, tear stained, genuine smile she told him; "Pipsqueak...stay alive, my friend.” With those last words, she galloped out of sight.

“Saphira!” He called after her, then he shut his ears when he heard the screech. A minute later: he saw the green light stop nearby.
He could hear a loud sniffing around the tree. He shrank into the back of the hollowed out tree, making himself as small as possible.
He could see a vague shadow on the ground, outside.
'Don't look this way...' It's ears(?) perked up, stared in the direction Saphira went and dashed in that direction faster than its large body seemed capable of moving.
. . . . . . . .
The silence was the worst part... “Saphira…no…”
. . . . . . . .

He didn’t know how long had he been in that hollowed out tree? He just couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened. Everyone who died. He should’ve done something more, he should’ve tried harder, he should’ve-
His self-pity parade was cut short when the barrier blocking him from the outside suddenly started to lose it's color until it completely vanished. “Saphira?” He cautiously stepped out of the hollowed out tree. But he found no mane or tail of the red eyed, pale white Unicorn. If she wasn’t here, and the barrier disappeared that could only mean…
"No…” He wordlessly muttered. No time to rest though, because he just heard the screech from far off, and it sounded pissed. ‘Run. Run!’ He urged his shaking limbs forward, hitting his hind legs as he did.

He was sprinting faster than he’s ever sprinted before, his legs threatening to break under the constant strain. “Ms. Zecora’s hut, just hafta make it to ms. Zecora!” He heard the screech getting louder, sounding much more urgent. Go faster, go faster! He could faintly see the sickly green light off in the distance. Every once in a while, he’d look back and see a dark, foal shaped figure following behind him. “Ah!” He cried out, “Help!” He called but no answer came.

The forest’s foliage cut, and scratched his hide. But he didn’t stop, stopping meant death.
Stopping meant no one ever knowing what happened to the ponies who went into the Everfree Forest.
Stopping meant the sacrifice of Scootaloo and Saphira would be for nothing.
He could take a little bit of pain if it meant a lot more living. The voice in his head kept telling him to stop, to slow down, that it’s might not be so bad. No. He knew who that voice was.

"Don't let it in."

He couldn’t listen to it, he couldn’t let it tempt him. Something jumped out in front of him, he swerved to the side but tripped on a tree root, tumbled and fell flat on his face.

SHNK!

He felt something hard pierce through his hind leg. He tried to stand but a sharp pain stopped him, he looked down to see the gash along his hind leg. It hurt to move, regardless he tried crawling. ‘Not gonna surrender. Not gonna give up.’ He kept telling himself, even as the dark figures slowed their pace to a light trot, encircling him, trapping him. They were MOCKING him. He saw the figure in the green light casting a shadow over him, then he heard that screech. He wanted to be brave and look death in the face, one last time. Defiant to the end...but he was just a foal. He hid his head under his hooves, waiting for the inevitable. He just hoped it would be quick. He heard the screech, and then the crashing sounds. Crashing sounds? He opened his eyes to see blue fire was separating himself and the pale figures of his former classmates. The dark figures had turned their attention to a hooded mare tossing things at them.

“BACK! Go back to the Everfree. Lest you wish to tangle with the likes of me!” The heavily accented voice of Zecora boomed over the screeching and hissing. There was another explosion and he heard a pained howl, something wet splashed onto his cheek, the light started fading and he heard hoofsteps vanishing in the distance.

“…” For a while all was silent, Zecora trotted up to Pipsqueak, nudged his head with her muzzle. And smiled at him.

Pipsqueak could no longer fight back the tears, he jumped straight at Zecora! Hugging her tightly as he sobbed uncontrollably. Letting out all the pain, all the fear, everything come out before this wonderful, caring Zebra who wrapped her hooves around him. Ensuring him that everything was going to be fine now, he was safe, it's over.

"It's never over."

Prologue

What were they even doing out here? Why were they so stupid? Why didn’t they listen to the grownups?
Their hooves couldn’t stop shaking, every sound in the forest made them jump. They knew it was still out there, they just knew it. Waiting. Watching. It was enjoying this little game of cat and mouse they'd been playing for...Celestia, how long has it been? How long could they stay in this hollowed out tree before it finds them again? When the sun rises, they'll make a break for it. Monsters hate the daylight, that's what they'd been told all their life. It wouldn't follow them in the daylight…right?
Snap
What was that? They backed deeper into the tree.

“Hello? Anypony, guys?” A scared voice called out from nearby, they sounded hurt and just as terrified as the young foal. “Guys come on! Help me! It's coming, please!”

‘Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!’ They pushed their ears against their head, shutting out the desperate cries for help, ‘I’m not gonna die. I’m not gonna die.’
Suddenly there was an ear-piecing scream. ‘Don’t move.’
They heard the muffled sounds of a pony crying and begging for their life, they heard hoofsteps leading away and then--

CRACK!

A sickening crunch. ‘Don’t move.’ The sound of a body being dragged away and a steady rumbling noise. ‘Don’t move. Just stay quiet. The morning will come, it will come soon.’ The screech. Even with their ears shut, nothing could ever block out that screech. Their whole body shuddered as the sound echoed deep into the forest.
....
Suddenly, there was dead silence. The squawking birds had gone away, the wind had stopped, the timber wolves had stopped howling, the trees had stopped rustling and they could no longer hear that thing. It was the silence that scared the red eyed pony the most. Their curiosity wanted to go out, see what was going on. However, they knew the moment they stepped outside of this hollow tree; they were not coming back…

THUD

They brought their light towards the hollow tree's entrance.

Those dead, hollow eyes, as black as the night stared back at the pony. That toothy grin mouthed the words:

"I see you."

Ch. 3: "Into the Everfree."

Of course Diamond Tiara would make them take the longest path. She didn't exactly have a soft spot for Pipsqueak the runt, Scootaloo the chicken, and Saphira the new filly. Shows how much faith she had in the three of them to make it to the end.

“CAW CAW CAW!”

The sudden cries made Pipsqueak shudder. Crows were such jerks, he stared daggers at them as if trying to will them to explode or something. “ ‘Ey, wait up!” Pipsqueak called after Scootaloo and Saphira as he struggled to keep up with their pace. And it wasn’t because he was smaller than them (stupid height), but because they both seemed to be walking much faster than usual. “Slow down guys!” Pipsqueak said through struggled breaths.

They both stopped in unison.

“Phew.” Pipsqueak took a moment to catch his breath, “What’s wrong with you two? Almost like you’re sc-” Pipsqueak paused, a mischievous smile started creeping its way onto his face, “You’re scared, aren’t you Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo suddenly rounded on him, spinning so fast her tail nearly smacked into Pipsqueak's face, “N-NO, OF COURSE I’M NOT SCARED!” Losing control of your voice was a pretty good sign that a pony was scared. As if the comical gods were looking down on the ponies, the howling of Timber Wolves echoed throughout the night sky! “AH!” Scootaloo leaped into the air immediately, grabbing onto one of the low hanging branches in fear.

Pipsqueak stifled a laugh, “Come on, ain’t nothin’ to be afraid of out here! Not while we have the lanterns.” Pipsqueak motioned to the lantern hanging on a stick attached to his saddlebag. At least, that’s what he’d been told, what if the lanterns didn’t work? What if it was a lie? What if they’ve just been lucky to NOT run into a Timber Wolf, or a Dragon, or a Cockatrice or-
He smacked his hind legs, don’t get scared now Pipsqueak. It hasn't even been an hour yet. He didn’t want to be labeled a chicken for life. Nope, he’s captain Pipsqueak! Pirate of the seas, brave explorer, hero of Equestria! There was no time for fear! FEAR WASN'T EVEN IN HIS DICTIONARY (literally, he had used a permanent marker to scribble over the definition of fear in his school dictionary). Pipsqueak may be small, but he was NOT a scaredy pony. Pipsqueak stepped forward and illuminated the path ahead with his lantern.
. . . . .
The fog was really picking up, making it really hard to see.
He dug out the Rune Stone tucked into his scarf, ignoring the sound of Scootaloo crashing into the ground next to him. "How did this work again?"

"Picture the pony you want to talk to. It should do the rest." Scootaloo groaned out an answer as Saphira helped brush the dirt off of Scootaloo's costume.

"Got it. Thanks." Who should he try talking to? "...." There was a spark of electricity and he saw the face of Diamond Tiara.

"What?" She said impatiently.

"Uh, nothing. Jus' wonderin' how things are going?"

"Fine. Now stop talking, and start walking." She cut their conversation short. Pipsqueak puffed up in his cheeks in indignation, Diamond Tiara was still as mean as ever. Pipsqueak just wanted to talk...

Whatever, he tried thinking again. "Featherweight." The Rune stone sparked to life, and he saw the face of his lanky cousin reflected in the Stone, "Hey cousin."

"Hey..." That was it? Featherweight wasn't exactly the most confident pony, but he usually talked Pip's ear off.

"Everythin' a'right?" Pipsqueak picked up on the odd tone his cousin had given off.

"Y-Yeah. Just...hey have you seen Dinky?"

"Dinky?" Pipsqueak and Featherweight's groups had gone off in completely different directions, the odds of running into Dinky out here were slim to none even if it wasn't blacker than an evil dragon's heart. "No. Why, is she lost?"

"N-No!" He said a little too quickly. There seemed to be some sounds in the background, Featherweight turned to see and then said without looking back; "I have to go now. Bye Pipsqueak." He cut the feed.

"Huh? What do you suppose that was about?" Scootaloo had been looking over his shoulder, a curious expression stuck on her face. "Hm...I have an idea." Scootaloo flapped her tiny little wings, "Gimme a boost, I can get up on the tree and then I might be able to see the lights from the other lanterns."

"If she still has her lantern." Saphira spoke up, stopping to see what Pipsqueak and Scootaloo were doing.

The two ponies ignored her, Pipsqueak stood by one of the bigger trees as Scootloo galloped towards him, using him as a spring and then jumped. While Scootaloo still had difficulty flying, she could jump pretty high thanks to the fluttering of her wings. She caught one of the branches and started scaling the tree.

Meanwhile, Pipsqueak tried calling the others. Maybe one of them had seen Dinky?

. . . . . . . .

No response from Snips or Snails.

There was a short response from the Daze triplets, he had just barely seen the face of one of the triplets before it cut out again. What was that expression they were making?

Archer picked up, "What's up, Pippo?"

Another weird nickname, but it least he could finally talk to someone for more than a few seconds. "Have you seen Dinky."

"Did Featherbutt lose her?" She stifled a laugh, apparently not all that worried about the situation..

"Uh...I think so."

"Hm, Coronet, Firelocks, ya seen Dinky?" He heard both ponies in the background answer a resounding No. Archer looked back to Pipsqueak, a somber look on her face. "Sorry, Pips, she ain't here. Hm, but I'll try and use my superior tracking skills to find her, I'm a ranger after all."

"There she goes again, getting into her role." One of the ponies from Archer's group said, "Hey Firelocks, don't wander off!"

"Nothing wrong with that! Anyways, we'll keep an eye out for her. I'll try calling Diamond Tiara and then we'll-" The feed cut out.

" 'Ello? Archer, oi?!" He shook the Rune Stone violently. No good, he couldn't get a signal from anyone. Maybe if he tried bashing it on something-
...
No that was a terrible idea.

"Hey Pipsqueak, I can see a couple of the lanterns! One of them might be Dinky." Scootaloo called up from the very top of the large oak tree, fluttering on the edge of the unstable branch.

"Try looking for the one that's singled out." Saphira called up.
She turned to Pipsqueak, looking as though she was gonna say something. "..." Instead, she turned away and dug out her Rune Stone.

From the top of the tree, Scootaloo waved down to the two ponies, "Okay...Huh?"

"What is it?" Pipsqueak called up to her.

"One of the lanterns just went out-" As soon as she finished her sentence, a large black thing had suddenly smashed into Scootaloo. She screamed and thrashed as she fell from the tree.

CRUNCH

A cringe-worthy sound came from Scootaloo's left wing when she hit the ground.

Pipsqueak stood completely motionless as Scootaloo held her wing. It definitely wasn't supposed to bend that way. Time slowed to a crawl as he watched Scootaloo cry out in agony, and as Saphira rushed over to her. She called out to Pipsqueak but all he heard was a wordless silence. She scoffed and dug out her own first-aid kit, going to work on mending Scootaloo's wing.

It had taken a good twenty minutes to stop Scootaloo from screaming, and during those twenty minutes Pipsqueak had just been staring at where Scootaloo had fallen. Completely dumbfounded. He could still hear the sickening crunch of Scootaloo's wing.

"Once we get back, someone will have to look at that. I'm not a medic." Saphira said as she pat Scootaloo, comfortingly on the back.

Scootaloo sniffed, wiping the snot from her nostrils, "G-Guess I won't be doing any cool aerial maneuvers anytime soon." She tried to joke and laugh off the pain.

Dinky had gone missing. Nopony was answering their Rune Stones. Scaredy pony or not, maybe this was starting to get a little dangerous. What if these lanterns really WOULDN’T ward off the monsters in the forest? His shaking only got worse, and the constant noises weren’t helping his nerves, 'Don’t think about it.'
All jokes aside, even the son of a famous horror writer wasn’t completely fearless. He took a deep breath and stared at the dirt road, laced with twigs and rocks. “I-I think we’re almost there. Saphira, has anyone called back? Maybe we can meet up somewhere and search for Dinky?”

“G-Great idea!” Scootaloo added, "Ow." She accidentally fluttered her wing, she'd have to keep an eye on that.

Saphira shook her head. "...But I'll try again." She immediately added when she saw Pipsqueak and Scootaloo's faces. She seemed to be the only brave one in their merry band of foals. Of course, considering she always kept that same deadpan look of hers…she could've been more scared than either of them but was just really good at hiding any emotions she may have felt. She used her unicorn magic to activate her Rune Stone, “…” There was a small crackle of lightning from the rune, but the only thing the three ponies heard was dead air. “Not in range.”

“That’s weird." It was working just fine a while ago. You think we took a wrong turn somewhere?” Scootaloo asked while trying to use her own Rune Stone. Same result as Saphira’s. This was getting really weird, “Pip, try yours.”

Pipsqueak dug out the Rune Stone from beneath his scarf, held it close to his chest. Concentrated aaaand…there was a spark of electricity but still the same “Pssssst” sound coming from the Rune until the light fizzled and faded. He shook his head.

“M-Maybe they went back already? Yeah, that‘s probably it. So we should probably go too.” Scootaloo tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. She definitely didn‘t want to stay in this forest, cut off from the others like this.

“We probably miscalculated the range of the Runes, is all.” Saphira continued down the path, using her horn’s magic to levitate her lantern forward. “Look. I can see a cabin from here. Maybe some of our classmates will be there as well?”

Pipsqueak noticed something off about Saphira. It wasn't just because she was speaking more than usual (her sentences usually being just a few words), but she was also taking charge. Saphira had usually just been a background pony, either not participating or giving the minimal amount of effort.
He gave a look to Scootaloo who nodded in return. “R-Right, let’s just keep going then.”

Epilogue

When Pipsqueak finally returned to Ponyville, he had to confront the families of the ponies lost to the Everfree. He claimed it was all his idea, not wanting to ruin Scootaloo’s name. The stares hurt the worst, even more than his injured hind leg. For the next week, ponies went in and out of the Everfree forest looking for the lost foals. But there were no traces of them, Pipsqueak found their discarded Runes but no trace of the bodies, not even the monster could be found in the daylight. He felt like…he‘d left something behind. Not just his friends and classmates, but a part of himself. The experience changed him, he‘d never really be the same again no matter how hard anypony tried to tell him it was all over now. Not that they really had any kind words for him...

"It's never over."

It took a long time. But, eventually, the nightmares got to him and he was checked into the psyche ward after a failed suicide attempt. Why did he try to commit suicide? His room faced the Everfree Forest, so every night he‘d hear their voices calling out to him. Beckoning him to return and be with all his friends. They promised how wonderful it was. Even Saphira and Scootaloo were happy. The whispers in his brain wouldn‘t stop, even with medication.
They wouldn‘t stop. Over time, he learned to shut them out but they were always there. In the back of his mind, always keeping him on edge, and always saying the same thing like a song stuck on a loop...

Years came and went as Pipsqueak spent many of his days in the psyche ward of the Ponyville hospital.
“Not yet.” Is what he kept repeating every other day. “I’ll go back to you soon.” He would always say those words every so often. He had escaped from the Everfree on that Nightmare Night many years ago, but he wasn’t done yet. No…this wasn’t over, not by a long shot. Like Saphira said;

"There was only one way this story was ever gonna end. One of us was going to die.”

This was going to end in blood one way or the other, and Pipsqueak was gonna make sure that it wasn’t his blood. Because, what Zecora showed him years ago gave him a small sliver of hope. Whatever was in that forest, hunting foals who go astray…Pipsqueak was privy to two pieces of information:

It could feel pain and it could bleed.

~Fin