The Phantom of the Boquet
Inside the dark woods of Everfree forest, a pony named Twilight Sparkle was wandering around alone in the dark. The light of the morning sun striking through the trees barely make it through the ground because of the thick patch of leaves of the trees above her.
Carrying a lamplight behind on her back with her pack bag for her little expedition, she scrambled through the tight trees around her looking for something.
She then reached at the end of the river finally seeing the light of the sun striking on the water. The river water sparkles from the light as well as Twilight’s eyes looking at the breathtaking scenery. Even with such extravagant sight, Twilight continued to search far and wide for something.
Twilight slowly immersed her hooves into shallow waters of the river while watching her steps going down from the ledge of the riverside.
Walking against the calm flowing river, she was bound to find something she was finding inside the forest. Suddenly, a flower caught her eyes inside a small dark cave beside the river. The young pony approached the flower slowly. She feared it might be another cursed flower in the forest. The flower is magenta and has thin petals. Opening her bag with her magic horn, she took out her book and shuffled through the pages finding the article of the unknown plant.
“Ah the rhodora! An elegant flower that only grows in the woods… But wait, why is the article only few?”
Twilight Sparkle went closer at the flower and looks at it carefully.
“It’s seems like it’s harmful,”
She remembered the cursed flower before while she looks at the flower. But when she further examines the flower only one word would explain the beauty of the rhodora.
“Wow…”
Twilight was fascinated by the elegance of the rhodora. Even she has doubts on the flower, Twilight wanted to know more about the rhodora. She thought she can have it checked by the pony who knows more than her about the Everfree forest and the plants and creatures inside it. Twilight then took out a spade and a small pot from her bag with her magic horn and dug the flower out of its ground. She then put the flower in the pot together with its soil.
“There,” said Twilight while holding the rhodora and putting back the spade with her magic.
Twilight suddenly felt a disturbance in the area, something very unusual as she holds the flower.
“Hi there Twilight!” said a pink pony popping out at the top the cave.
“Gah!” Twilight was startled and lost the control of the flower she was holding.
The pink pony quickly caught the flower pot with her hooves saving it from falling down the ground.
“Pinkie Pie!” exclaimed Twilight Sparkle. “Were you following me?”
“No! Uh… yes,” replied the pink pony.
“Why?”
“You were all alone when you went inside the Everfree forest. I can’t let you go alone by yourself especially for those ghosties! You might get by the headless horse or the swamp ponies! But thank Celestia I’m here and nothing bad has happened to you! Anyway, what is this pretty flower you got here? It has the same color like mine, see?” asked Pinkie Pie showing her face with the rhodora close to her cheek.
“Pinkie, there’s no such thing and I’m perfectly fine you don’t have to worry about me. And the flower is called a rhodora,” answered Twilight sparkle.
“Oh… Alright! So can I eat it?” asked Pinkie Pie again opening her mouth about to devour the flower.
“No! I picked it up so I can show it to Zecora. I have to ask what if it is even harmful or not so I can further study it,” explained Twilight Sparkle.
“But looks delicious! Come on, just a bite!”
“Pinkie!”
“A tincy wincy bite?”
“Pinkie!!!”
“Alright! Geez, could a pony just have her snack?”
Twilight groaned, “Okay, I’ll treat you a snack when we’re back to Ponyville. Just hold the rhodora and we’ll go to Zecora to have the flower checked if it’s even harmful.”
“Yay! Okie Twilight!” said Pinkie Pie putting the pot down and assists Twilight Sparkle to go up to the ledge of the river.
“Thanks,” said Twilight thanking Pinkie as she takes out the flames of her lamplight with her magic. “Now come on, let’s go.”
While going to the house of Zecora, Twilight is uncomfortable of the way of Pinkie was handling the rhodora.
“Uh… Pinkie. Why is the flower on top of your mane?”
“Well, this is a good spot for holding the flower pot. My mane can hold sticks, pencils, erasers and even cupcakes without falling it down.”
“Cupcakes?”
Pinkie Pie then took out a piece of cupcake inside her mane.
“Oh, where did this come from? It maybe went inside my mane when I looked at the top shelf of the Sugarcube Corner. Oh well,” Pinkie Pie then opened her mouth about to eat the cupcake.
Twilight was then disgust by the fact the cupcake came from the mane of Pinkie Pie.
“What?! I just washed my mane. Ugh!” Pinkie Pie then threw the cupcake away from her.
“Anyway, where’s Spike? Isn’t he supposed to be with you?”
“I rather go for a little expedition on my own, and besides he likes to sleep a lot for a baby dragon in the morning,” Twilight explained.
Halfway of their walk to Zecora’s house, the light of the sun was getting brighter and brighter as they reached at a part of a forest with clearer view of the sky below. The small field with just green grass and scattered rocks was glaring with the sunlight. All of a sudden somepony was singing merrily with the tone of the birds singing too. It was a peaceful sound of a pony’s voice but it was powerful to be heard around the area. The pony’s graceful singing captivated the birds to sing along too in response.
When Twilight and Pinkie saw the pony leading the orchestra of birds, the pony’s hooves were off the ground as the pony conducts the birds singing merely on the branch of a small tree on the small field. The pony’s wings flaps calmly keeping the pony up with the birds. Twilight and Pinkie then approached the pony conducting the birds’ signing.
“Hi there Fluttershy,” said Twilight Sparkle calmly to not startle the birds or the pony.
The pink haired yellow pony looked back and saw her friends Twilight and Pinkie.
“You can all take a break…” said Fluttershy calmly to the birds.
She then went down to the green grass to meet her friends from down below.
“Oh, do you need something Twilight and Pinkie? Does the singing of the birds bother you?”
“Not at all Fluttershy. We’re just on our way to Zecora’s when Pinkie and I saw you singing with the birds,” replied Twilight.
“Can I come too? If it’s fine for the two of you. The birds are having a break, so I can come with you to Zecora.”
“Of course you can Fluttershy, why would we even not?” giggled Pinkie Pie.
Fluttershy smiled. “Thanks,”
Fluttershy then saw a flower on top Pinkie Pie’s mane. She quickly flew over the flower in awe and saw the beautiful rhodora.
“Oh my, such wonderful flower,” said Fluttershy amazed. “Where did you find it?”
“Twilight here found it on the side of a river, it’s called rhodora. It looks yummy to eat but Twilight said we should take it to Zecora.” answered Pinkie Pie with a hefty tone.
“Rhodora? Wow, this is just beautiful. Angel would like to have one. Uhm… is there more of that I can get?”
“I’m afraid not Fluttershy, this the only one I found and I doubt there’s another one in Everfree forest,” said Twilight Sparkle.
“Oh… Umkay. I’ll just follow on to you two.”
Fluttershy went down to the on the grass to join them to their walk to Zecora’s house.
Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy then continued their travel to visit Zecora and answer their doubts about the mysterious flower they have.
While hopping merely across a small path between the trees, Pinkie Pie saw something at the distant.
“Can you stop hopping Pinkie? The rhodora might fall off from your mane,” said Twilight worried about the flower.
“I see something far from here. Wait, it looks like a marshmallow!” Suddenly Pinkie Pie was caught tangled by the veins hanging on the tree branch above.
The flowerpot then fell off from Pinkie’s mane, but luckily Twilight quickly held it with her magic saving the rhodora from harm. The three of them sighed in relief that the rhodora was safe.
“A little help here?” asked Pinkie for assistance.
Fluttering her wings, Fluttershy helped Pinkie off the veins untangling it. As she carried Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy saw the white silhouette too at the distant. She put down Pinkie Pie to the ground.
“Pinkie’s right, maybe some pony is there,” said Fluttershy to Twilight.
“Come on, we’ll check it out,” replied Twilight putting the rhodora on Pinkie’s mane again.
They galloped through the path until they meet the unknown white pony far from them. The pony is a unicorn using her horn finding something while tucked down to the ground. The pony was very busy finding something as the pony walked until the pony saw the three friends staring at her. The pony was startled.
“Oh! You girls scared me! Standing there, I thought I was alone,” said the white pony.
“Sorry Rarity, but we’re on our way to Zecora’s house,” apologized Twilight to her friend.
“Oh is that so? Well, I’m very busy right now. Those demands on my designs are too much for my gem stocks, so I’m on the hunt for gems,” replied Rarity circling around the area for searching for gems.
“Rarity, you can’t find gems here at Everfree forest. You can only find them at the mountain side,”
“I’m just on my way. I was just testing my luck on finding rare gems on the way,”
Rarity then stopped wandering around and when she turned to her friends she saw the flower on top of Pinkie’s mane. She galloped towards the flower and stared the magnificent flower in awe.
“What is that glamorous flower? I haven’t seen one like it,”
“It’s a rhodora, it looks pretty and tasty but we have to show it to Zecora if it’s harmful or not!” answered Pinkie with a jolly tone.
“Oh, this is simply amazing, stupendous! This flower goes well for my designs, I must have it!”
“Sorry Rarity, but we can’t be sure if it’s even suitable for being an ornament. We have to ask Zecora what the rhodora could be. It may be harmful or another cursed flower,” said Twilight to Rarity.
“Oh… That. Alright, but can I come with you? Surely Zecora will say it is an ornament. My gem hunting can wait until the afternoon,”
Rarity walked beside them and joined them for in their way to Zecora’s.
“Okay! That adds one in our group. On to Zecora’s place!” cheered Pinkie Pie bouncing forward continuing the path.
Twilight, Fluttershy together with Rarity followed Pinkie to Zecora’s place and ask about the mysterious flower they have.
The trees were getting thicker and thicker and the forest gets darker with less light striking through the trees as they close by to Zecora’s house. The dark ambiance of the forest chills them and every pony was unsure of what they will get into. Maybe they will get to Zecora’s safely, or they will end up where they don’t want to be. All of them were scared especially Fluttershy already trembling with fear. When Twilight saw Fluttershy all quivered up beside them she lit up her lamplight with her magic and walks closer to Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled in relief. “Thank you Twilight,” uttered Fluttershy.
With the darkness lightened up, they continued to travel in the grooves of the forest. As Pinkie Pie hums a happy tune on their walk, one illusive sound overcame their ears. A loud wail was heard inside the dark forest, and it was getting louder and louder. The ethereal voice chills the spines of the ponies and it was getting a lot louder. Fluttershy couldn’t bare the fear and began trembling again until she began shaking. She quickly quivered close her friends as they prepare what could the darkness throws at them and kept their eyes sharp for anything unsuspected. Out of nowhere, a loud rumble of a tree crashing down echoed across the forest. Fluttershy shrieked in terror and quickly hid behind her friends. After the crash they heard a voice of groaning of pain. It sounded someone needed their aid. Without any hesitation they rushed in to the scene of the crash and saw some pony dangling helplessly on a tree branch. When Twilight lifted her lamplight to take a clearer look at the blue pony with a rainbow mane, they were surprised on who it was.
“Rainbow Dash?” asked Twilight Sparkle curiously.
“I’m fine…” said Rainbow Dash trying to flap her wings down but instead she fell down with a thump on the ground. She groaned even in much more pain.
Suddenly, they heard some pony galloping behind them. Twilight quickly turned and switched the lamplight behind them and saw a pony rushing towards them. The orange yellow haired pony wearing a brown hat stopped in front of them. The pony looked exhausted and was in a hurry. She stopped and panted for a while.
“Have you girls seen Rainbow Dash?” asked the pony. “I reckon she would land here…”
“Uh… Applejack,” said Pinkie Pie pointing at Rainbow Dash lying on the ground.
“Oh there you are,” said Applejack dashing towards Rainbow Dash. “I’m so, so, so very sorry Rainbow. I never meant to kick you off like that. I promise that it would never happen again!” added Applejack helping Rainbow Dash up on her hooves.
“What happened Applejack?” asked Rarity.
“Well, when I was bucking apples a while ago Rainbow Dash visited me. She was asking if she could take an apple from one of the bucketful but she suddenly went in front of the apple tree and I accidentally kicked her off from the orchard to Everfree Forest,” explained Applejack.
“Im so very very sorry Rainbow, I’ll give you an apple when we’re back to Ponyville, I’m sure of it!” apologized Applejack.
“I’m okay Applejack. Thanks by the way,” replied Rainbow Dash spinning her head dizzy.
When Applejack knew that Rainbow Dash was alright, she looked at the others and wondered why they are in the forest.
“What are you girls doing here anyways?” asked Applejack to them.
“We’re just heading to Zecora’s place to ask what could this flower be and it’s even dangerous. This flower on top of mane is called a rhodora; it’s beautiful, maybe it tastes delicious and somehow this is the only one of its kind in the forest. Man, why do I always say the introduction!?” explained Pinkie Pie to Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
“Oh?” Applejack went closer to the flower as well as Rainbow Dash. “This is a magnificent if you ask me. Ol’ Granny would like to have one,” said Applejack.
“Sorry Applejack, but this is the only one and I doubt if there’s even more. So we’re going to Zecora’s to ask more about the rhodora,” replied Twilight Sparkle.
“Well, if you ask me. From the looks of the flower, it does look appetizing,” said Rainbow Dash then wipes off the dust on her shoulder.
“I know right!?” exclaimed Pinkie sarcastically.
“No guys, we should really bring the rhodora in one piece…” said Twilight interrupted.
“It would be glamorous in my designs,” Rarity suddenly said.
“No, Granny Smith like to get one,” said Applejack in chorus.
“Can Angel have that one? He would really like to” added Fluttershy in a timid tone.
“I just want to gobble up this tasty flower!” blurted Pinkie Pie holding down the rhodora widening her mouth about to eat it.
“Guys!” exclaimed Twilight clearing up the chaos.
“I seconded,” said Rainbow Dash raising her hoof in a split second referring to Pinkie’s last statement.
In a sudden silence, all of them looked at Twilight in embarrassment. Twilight Sparkle then sighed. It would be hard for her to explain what the real reason why was the rhodora needed to be studied and analyze. It could inform or save ponies from the dangers might be hidden in the mysterious flower. All of her friends knew that she was disappointed. They felt the same way for themselves.
“We’re sorry Twi, looks like we’ve been carried away, that’s all,” apologized Applejack.
Out of nowhere, a rumble of leaves was heard in the bushes beside them. A pony then came out in front of them. The pony was all black and white striped and wears lots of gold ornaments.
“What’s going on here?” asked the pony. “Oh, the six friends, do you seek me help?”
“Zecora!” said the friends in chorus.
“We’re just on our way to your place, we just have something to ask,” requested Applejack to Zecora.
“How can I be in service then?”
“We would like to ask, what is this flower we got here? Pinkie” said Applejack as Pinkie Pie galloped closer to Zecora and showed it to her.
Zecora examined and looked at the flower closely.
“The rhodora. It is not harmful at all, unlike the others in the forest. This is usually found in groups, but you got here only one flower. It’s very hard to find in the forest, but if you stumble across one it might find it to be in deciduous shrubs. And yes it is edible,”
“Yay!” Pinkie Pie suddenly cheered.
Zecora continued, “Sages say that this flower represents a hidden beauty, a charm that has not been yet discovered. It is said to be a mere rival of the famous Rose flower matching its fairness. This flower is only being ignored so it’s not that well known to every pony. But its true beauty shines when you see it closely and know more about it.”
Zecora then noticed that Twilight Sparkle was very quiet looking and listening to her and Twilight is usually the one who always ask about those matters. Zecora was worried about her.
“Is something wrong Twilight Sparkle? It looks like something’s bothering you,” asked Zecora.
“Yes, and that is us,” said Applejack.
“We’re so sorry Twilight for making you disappointed,” Fluttershy apologized.
“Yeah, we were like monsters before,” Rainbowdash added.
“Yes, we’re very, very, very mean and we should have not done that,” said Pinkie Pie
“For that, we made a decision for ourselves,” added Applejack as Rarity walked closely to Twilight.
While walking, Rarity took the rhodora from Pinkie’s mane with her magic horn and gave the flower to Twilight.
“We give the rhodora to you Twilight, because you are like one. You have a hidden beauty inside you that no one notice and you are fairer than a rose. To us, as your friends you are our rhodora and we see your true beauty shines inside you…”
“Because you are forgiving,” added Rarity for her dazzling statement.
“You are Sweet,” said Pinkie Pie merrily.
“Always kind to us,” uttered Fluttershy timidly.
“You don’t ever give up,” told Applejack boldly.
“Always there for us,” conveyed Rainbowdash audaciously.
“And you are the spark that complete us all,”
They all went closer to Twilight and hugged her, their most magical hug. Twilight Sparkle was all surprised but instead she gave them a big smile. She was flattered that her friends considered her as a rhodora; a flower whose beauty is like no other. All of them hugged Twilight even tighter, and after that all of them giggled and laugh. They were happy they are the very best friends.
Zecora saw their strong friendship towards each other. And she thought it would last forever. She just smiled and chuckled for their sweet enjoyment. But she thought it’s best to leave them be, her work is already done. Suddenly when Pinkie Pie saw Zecora at the corner staring at them, she quickly dashed towards her and gave her a hug too.
“Of course we didn’t forget you Zecora! Without you, we wouldn’t even know what the rhodora truly is!” said Pinkie Pie tightly hugging Zecora.
The others went closer to her and then hugged her for being a good friend too. Zecora didn’t know what to do but to just sigh in distress and let them hug her.
