1: Into the Enchanted Forest
“Don’t let go Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle carefully measured her step, before bravely leaping across the yawning chasm from one tree branch to another, her cape billowing in the wind behind her, and her magical pan flute slung on her back, her cutie mark, A single semi quaver, glistened under the sun light. Gone were her days of foal hood, she was now a fully grown mare, a successful bard, and an adventurer, making her way across the mysterious land of Equestria with the two finest friends a mare could ask for, searching for the fabled Sword of Destiny. But one of those friends was in danger.
Sir Apple Bloom, knighted by the royal pony sisters themselves, was suspended from a limb of the tree. Her massive, steel plate armor (good for protecting against dragons, not so good for climbing) weighed her down, making it impossible for the young mare to pull herself up to safety. This was the end, Apple Bloom thought to herself. It felt like only yesterday that she had grown up, earned her cutie mark, a pair of crossed silver swords, and set out into the world. And now, a single misstep had her hanging from an unnatural, mile tall tree, the unwelcoming ground waiting below to break her fall.
Sweetie Belle was slowly picking her way towards her friend, but even if she reached Apple Bloom in time, there was no way the weak limbed bard could lift Apple Bloom to safety. “SCOOTALOO!” Apple Bloom cried out. “AH NEED YOU!”
There was a sudden orange blur as Scootaloo, the undisputed fastest Pegasus in Equestria zipped past. “Why didn’t ya say so sooner Apple Bloom?” She laughed, doubling back and grabbing Apple Bloom by the mid section. Scootaloo’s cutie mark was a bow and arrow. She was deadly with any ranged weapon that found it’s way into her hooves, Bows, Blow darts, sling shots, sticks, stones, whatever, and she was as fast as an arrow in flight. With a tremendous effort she lifted the Yellow mare up to the safety of the branch. Sweetie Belle reached them shortly, and soon the three friends were standing by each other’s side.
“Thanks for that Scootaloo, this tree goes on forever, I think maybe we should set up camp for the night.”
“Make sure you don’t fall off again.” Scootaloo laughed. “I don’t want to have to save you in the middle of the night.”
“Hey, I saved YOUR flank from the hydra last week.” Apple Bloom responded.
“Yeah, well I saved BOTH of you from the poisonous caves remember!” Sweetie Belle added.
As the three friends bickered, there was a dreadful cracking noise from beneath them. “Uh-oh.” They said in unison.
The three filly’s screamed as the tree branch beneath them broke, and they all fell three feet to the ground. They all got to their hooves, Apple Bloom struggling to balance in the bulky cardboard armor she had constructed for herself. Scootaloo rubbed her backside, looking back at the crudely painted bow and arrow on her flank. “That hurt.”
“What are you girls doing?” Applejack came running up. “Ah thought I told ya not to play in that tree, it’s all dead wood, you’ll hurt yourself.”
“Sorry Applejack.” Apple Bloom said. “We were just trying to have fun.”
“Well try to have some fun on the ground where it’s safe.”
“Okay big sister, we’ll try to be careful, ah promise.” Apple Bloom crossed her hoof over her heart.
“Alright, you fillies have fun.” Applejack turned to walk away.
The three brave adventurers watched as the wisely sage walked away into the distance. The mysterious mare had given them the information they needed, the sword of destiny was not in Discord’s sky castle at the top of the mile high tree, it was hidden away in the enchanted forest all along.
“I can’t believe Discord fooled us.” Sweetie Belle said in a rage “Making us waste our time climbing the tree while he fortified the forest.”
“He’s a tricky one that Discord.” Sir Apple Bloom added.
“Whatever.” Scootaloo dismissed. “Let’s just get a move on.” She stepped towards the dark treeline, a growl emenated from the forest. “Uhhh, maybe you should go first Apple Bloom, you have all the armor.”
“You scared of something Scoots?” Apple Bloom sneered.
“No, I just… lead better from the back.”
“Who made YOU leader?”
“Well I AM the smartest, it just makes sense.”
“You got a D on your test yesterday!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. The other two looked at her. “I mean, you got a D, back when we used to go to school together… ages ago… back in Ponyville.”
“Whatever, just GO!” Scootaloo shoved Apple Bloom out in front. The knight amre drew her shining, enchanted sword.
“Okay.” Apple Bloom gulped. “Let’s go.” Apple Bloom marched forward cautiously.
The forest closed in around the troupe of mares as they explored it’s depths. There was something following them, no doubt. They would occasionally hear a rustling bush, a misplaced step, a low growl.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have come here.” Sweetie Belle said, taking up the rear of the patrol.
“We’ll be fine.” Scootaloo responded, though her visible trembling betrayed her emotions.
Sweetie Belle looked over to her left, she swore she heard a twig snap right there. “G…girls?”
“What is it Sweetie Belle?”
She was paralysed with fear. Unable to speak, Sweetie Belle just looked into the bushes. Something emerged from the darkness. A massive beast, standing at least seven feet tall, ambled toward her. A massive wolf like creature, snarling at Sweetie Belle, saliva dripping from it’s four inch long fangs.
Sweetie belle screamed.
The monster lunged.
It slammed into her full force, knocking the mare on her back. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom drew their weapons, charging into the fray, but they were too far to save their friend. Sweetie Belle was pinned, helpless, the terrible creature opened it’s massive maw, it’s breath was indescribably terrifying. Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and turned her head away. She was fully expecting for her life to be ended, but instead, something soft, warm and wet slid across her face, and again. Sweetie Belle opened her eyes just a bit.
The monster was licking her face enthusiastically. It wasn’t trying to eat her! It was just saying hello. Sweetie Belle giggled as the enormous wolf kept licking her.
“Don’t worry girls, I think she likes me.” Sweetie Belle giggled again.
Apple Bloom patted the creature on it’s head. “Well she’s actually kinda cute. Maybe we should give her a name?”
“Let’s call her Winona.” Scootaloo said. “She can come on our adventure with us. We could use a brave companion like her in the enchanted forest.”
“Come on Winona, let’s get going.” Apple Bloom helped Sweetie Belle to her hooves.
The three set off into the forest again, Winona falling in line behind them, happily oblivious to the fantasy around her.
Author's Note
Hey all, this is an idea I was toying with for quite a while, finally got around to putting it down on paper (compupaper?). I hope I've done a decent job capturing the power of imagination possessed by children. Unlike the other story I'm currently working on which is a disjointed series of random ideas, I'm planning for this to be a continuing story line with an over arching plot. Anyway I hope you enjoy, and feedback is appreciated :D.