Expedition Everfree

Snooper a small earth pony colt stood at the edge of the Everfree forest staring into it with a determined look on his face. The small colt had been thinking about going in for a while. The thought frightened him a lot. He HAD to go in though he just had to, if he didn’t nobody would be able to save his father. He briefly remembered a few days back.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was rising and the morning mist was clearing out leaving sparkling dew on almost every blade of grass, the family lived on the edge of ponyville in a simple but homely feeling house, it had about 5 rooms altogether and wasn’t especially extravagant, but Snooper loved it there.

Snoopers mother minty fresh was a red unicorn with white tail and mane that worked at the dentist office her cutie mark was a tooth brush with a tube of tooth paste, his father was a blue earth pony with a yellow mane that worked helping out in the local carrot farm named carrot crunch, he had a carrot top sticking out of the ground for a cutie mark, both were very kind and hardworking, his father had taught Snooper how to trap rabbits and throw them out of the garden they had (much to the rabbits anger).

Snooper yawned and rubbed his tired eyes awaking from a good night’s sleep. He had a dark grey coat with brown shaggy hair. His cutie mark was a magnifying glass as he had a pretty keen eye and was good at finding things. It also made sense because he had always wanted to be a private eye he always thought those where cool.

He stretched sighing in contentment as he did. He got out of his bed and breathed deeply looking around his room at the various knickknacks he had acquired.  Over there on his desk was his little snow globe he had gotten from his trip to the crystal empire with his parents. And on his small bookshelf which had most of the daring doo series on it was his own magnifying glass he had gotten from his last birthday, it was one of his most treasured possessions

The light streamed in from the window and he smiled as he saw it, he walked over to the window looking up into the sky, there wasn’t a cloud there just a huge blue expanse which seemed to make his mood even better, he exited   his room and trotted down the hall towards the stairs the smile still on his face. His hooves made a clip clop sound as he walked down the old wooden steps.

When he entered the kitchen to get himself some cereal he gasped backing up. His father was on the ground and his mother and a few paramedics were hovering over him.

“M-mom?!? What happened? “He asked still standing in the entry way to the kitchen.

“oh honey…your fathers ill-“ her eyes were red, she had been crying “-he’s going to be fine though so you can go to your room, don’t worry he’ll be fine” she assured although she didn’t believe it herself.

Snooper went back to the stairs unsure of what to think. “Why was she crying then?  If dad was really fine she wouldn’t have been crying…” he turned around and very quietly crept up to the entry to listen

“w-what do you mean there’s no cure?!? There has to be!” his mother cried.

“Where sorry miss,” said another voice. “It must be one of the doctor ponies” snooper thought to himself.

“But there isn’t any of the cure available, moonflower only grows in the Everfree and are next shipment isn’t in another month-“ he paused looking at the ground “and Magic Fever takes its victims within a week if not sooner”

His breath caught in his throat, magic fever was a deadly plague, it hadn’t been seen for a few years but everyone knew about it.

His mother started to cry hugging his father. “is there anything else? Anything at all?” she sobbed.

It was a few days of careful planning and he had been off with his magnifying glass some rope and a flash light in his saddlebag. It had taken him about 45 minutes to get to the forest edge. He felt unsure more than ever now about his idea. He gulped and looked around nervously. Why did it have to be night when moonflower bloomed? He said “w-w-well let’s get to it r-r-right?” he chuckled hollowly. He often talked to himself when nervous. He stepped forward into the forest and prepared for anything.

Inside the forest it was dark, not just kind of dark like in the day but ridicules. Snooper took his flashlight out and turned it on gazing about the dark forest, the leaves where shaking yet there was no wind. He felt extremely nervous now but continued onwards. He saw a clump of softly glowing mushrooms. They seemed to radiate a coldness that made him shiver, though that could just be fear, they were blue with black dots and he could almost hear humming.

He didn’t dare touch them he knew better than that, but he decided to throw a few pebbles at it to see if it would react. It didn’t. He sighed in relief there was nothing to be afraid of at all! “To think I was scared of a fungus! Ha!” he turned then started to walk away from the mushroom almost laughing at himself.

Then he wanted to scream.

Something grabbed his back left leg and started pulling him towards the mushroom, a root or vine was tangled around his leg but he was nearing the mushroom when the earth around the creature was being disturbed and a large Venus fly trap like mouth came out of the ground snapping at him. He whimpered and tried to back away from it but he was being pulled steadily closer.

The creature let out a shrill screech that almost made Snooper freeze with fear. He didn’t want to get eaten by some stinking fungus! He pushed away from the plant with all his might and looked for anything that could help him escape. He saw a large rock jutting out of the ground. He rolled over to it and tried to cut the vine that was pulling him. He heard the monster scream in anger and pain but tried to block it out, he finally snapped the vine and ran for his life not even paying any attention to where he was going.

He tripped and yelped as he lost his balance and fell rolling down a small hill, he groaned when he hit the bottom. “well I’m probably gonna have bruises tomorrow.” He said wincing as he rubbed his side. He got up shakily and looked around, nothing but blackness. Where was his flashlight? He searched around felling on the ground for it, he felt hard plastic and in spite of the situation smiled a little.

Here was his flash light now he could see, he wouldn’t be lost or-why was there a large dent in it? He tried to turn it on franticly but only a few flickers came out. “oh crap!” he wanted to yell at his misfortune, but that would attract even more attention that he didn’t want nor need.

He slowly looked around breathing quickly. His legs started to shiver in fright. His ears swiveled towards any sound he heard. He thought he could see ghostly shapes in front of him. He backed up and let out a short yip as he backed into a stone wall. He calmed down a little when he realized what it was, he wondered what a stone wall was doing in the middle of the forest but decided to follow it, he couldn’t see very well and was felling his way along until he fell forward onto his face. He picked himself up rubbing his nose “that smarts,” he said crossly as he felt his nose hurt a lot. He hoped it wasn’t broken.

He still couldn’t see but from the stone floor and no light at all he guessed he might be in a cave, “well I do need somewhere to sleep…I don’t want to go out there again.” He shivered at the thought. He found a warmish place to sleep and sighed as he lay down on the cold hard floor. He felt very tired and his eyes drooped down as he started to drift to sleep

He awoke to a shuffling noise. His eyes snapped open it was still night so he couldn’t see anything. He stayed absolutely still as he felt fur brush up near him he was starting to shiver in fear which knocked the flashlight out of his grip, it hit the ground with a small clank and flickered on, snooper sucked in a breath as he saw a Manticore raise its tail and fling it towards him “why me?!?” he cried out as he rolled to the side, he felt the tail graze him and he gasped in pain as a small wound opened up on his side.

He ran for his life as quickly as possible as the Manticore chased him roaring and trying to catch its meal. Snooper kept on running he didn’t even know where, he felt the beast breathe on his back and ran faster. The nick he had gotten was stinging a lot but the adrenaline in his blood stream was blocking the pain. He ran right into a tree and shook his head to clear it; he heard the monster right behind him and tried to shimmy up the trunk which was angled. He realized the tree was right over a cliff, “nonononononono!” he closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look, he was afraid of heights.

The Manticore closed in coming closer and walking on the trunk swiping with outstretched claws at the small colt then both Snooper and the Manticore froze, “CRACK!!!” Snooper gulped and screamed as the tree snapped from the weight, the Manticore and Snooper ended up holding on to each other for dear life as they fell down the cliff.

Snooper grunted as the trunk bounced and threw him off, he barely saw the ground come towards his face before he blacked out.

His feeling came back first, his back left leg felt excruciating. He wondered if he had sprained it “probably” he thought as he tried to move it and winced as he did from the pain. Next came hearing, he heard breathing, heavy breathing to his side, finally was sight, he could see the outline of the Manticore a little bit away from him. It was unconscious, Snooper grunted as he tried to pick himself up, his side hurt from the Manticore poison as well.

He got up and was only able to maintain balance for a few seconds before he fell over onto his side. He yelped as he hit the ground, he had to be more careful. He slowly tried again and managed to stand. He realized that the flashlight was still on, he grabbed it and turned it off and looked around for his saddlebag

He tried to feel around on the ground and jumped back when he pushed the Manticore by mistake, but it didn’t stir it was out cold. He sighed in relief, he realized that he could use the flashlight and face hooved for being so stupid. He turned the flashlight on and searched around, the flashlight’s light was flickering sometimes and wasn’t as powerful as before but it would do. He saw his saddlebag over on the ground next to the tree. He limped over his back leg hurting whenever he put any weight on it. As he picked it up he was grateful for the soft cloth it was made of, it wouldn’t hurt when he carried it.

He put it on his back and looked around and felt hopeless as he saw to walls that reached very high up. His ears folded back and his mouth hung open “how will I get out of this !?!” he thought wanting to cry.

“Well you could look for a way out”

Snooper snapped his head around behind him and shined the flashlight onto…himself?

“Uh could you stop shining that in my eyes please?” said the copy holding his hoof in front of his face.

Snooper backed up a little but shined it away a little bit out of the copy’s eyes

“ah that’s better thank you,” he said smiling at Snooper

“Uh who are you?” Snooper asked hesitantly

“Well isn’t it obvious? I’m you!” he said almost impatiently

“But how can you be me? I’m me!” Snooper responded not liking his clones tone

“Well you’re hallucinating duh,” the clone said rolling his eyes as if this was common knowledge

“I’m hallucinating?” he asked scratching his head with his hoof “Well…that isn’t good, right?”

“Well that means the poison is getting to you-“copy paused looking at the nick in his own side”-, but you should be alright, I think the poison only makes you hallucinate and have a bunch of pain.”

Snooper tilted his head “so if you’re a hallucination that means you’re from my head-which means I’m talking to myself?” he asked

Copy nodded and said “pretty much”

“Well cool, I guess, anyways so you think there’s a way out of here? Because I don’t see anything,” Snooper questioned.

Copy looked around “well not right now but we can go look around, so let’s go,” he exclaimed pointing with his hoof along the walls of the canyon they were in.

Snooper looked doubtful but saw the logic behind it. He started walking along the wall of the canyon he was in wondering where a way out was.

The canyon was about 65 ft. deep and he didn’t see anywhere out of it. The ground was soft and peaty like clay a little but not exactly. He continued walking along until he exclaimed “Ha I think you were right!” he stared at a large hole in the side of the canyon big enough for him to get into…but it was at least 12 feet off the ground.

Copy nodded “of course, after all I am from your left brain.

”

Snooper tilted his head in confusion wondering how they were gonna get to the exit, he felt around in his saddlebag for anything that could help, he smiled happy he had had the sense to pack some rope.

He pulled it out and tied the end to a long rock, then he started swinging the rope and aimed it towards a large overhanging root, the rope connected and swung around the rock making it hold.

He walked over smirking “well that was easy,” he said confidently, he grabbed on with his teeth and hooves and slowly started to climb the wall. When he was near the top he felt the rope give a little, his eyes widened and he started swinging trying to get closer to the ledge

“Hurry up! The roots giving!” his copy warned as the root was pulled out more from the swinging.

He let go just as the root came out of the overhang pulling down some boulders with it, Snooper landed on in the tunnel barely missing the heavy rocks coming down behind him, he panted heavily sweating from the climb. He limped back away from the entrance which was now blocked. His flashlight had fallen out of his saddlebag and was lying on the floor a few feet away.

He limped over to it picking it up and shining it around the tunnel; the tunnel was about three times his height and stretched on going upwards slightly, he started walking putting as little weight as possible on his hurt leg along the tunnel.

Copy followed behind silently looking around, Snooper came to a cross way, there were three other tunnels leading away, he stopped putting a hoof up to his chin thinking about where to go. He pulled out his magnifying glass and took a closer look at the walls. One had scuff marks as if something traveled that way, the others where bare and he decided that the thing that went this way might be heading towards the surface.

Copy said “What do you think made those marks? I can’t tell, “He scratched his head.

”No idea, the marks are to drawn out and scuffed to know…plus I don’t know most of the creatures that live here,” he frowned a little, the air was getting steadily colder, the tunnel opened up into a large cave with at least 7 tunnels leading away in other directions

“Nice going,” copy said smirking a little

“Oh be quiet I’ll get out of here,” retorted Snooper although he didn’t have any idea how,

“well you might want to soon becau-uh,” copy stopped as scraping and sliding noise came from one of the tunnels.

“W-what was t-that?” Snooper stuttered backing away from the tunnel the sound came from. A throaty hiss came from the tunnel and a very annoyed looking cragodile stared at Snooper

“Um if I where you which I am I would oh I don’t know RUN!” copy yelled at Snooper.

Snooper barely managed to nod before he started running. He could hear the sound of the large reptile chasing him but now he was more lost than ever as he ran through the tunnels at random, it was like a labyrinth he saw a small alcove and dived into it holding his breath as the reptile passed him by without noticing.

“Well that was a close one, nice thinking now we just have to find a way out without being caught,” copy stated matter of fact like.

Snooper nodded but kept panting trying to catch his breath and wits, he realized how much his leg hurt now, he clutched it groaning in pain as it throbbed, he would have to limp as fast as possible if he ever wanted to escape.

He took a look out of the alcove and didn’t see any monster, he slowly and carefully limped out holding back a cry of pain as his leg knocked a loose stone, he walked slowly along the path that the cragodile went on.

“Are you nuts? Your following that thing?!?” copy asked loudly

“Yes I’m following it, it might know a way out” he responded, this pacified copy, he continued along until he saw the reptile again and crouched low to the ground as he saw it sniff the air and scratch at the ground, it was making a mark that was already there more fresh.

It turned its head towards Snooper, he quickly hid as the crags gaze fell where he would’ve been a few moments ago, the cragodile snorted and walked into another tunnel looking for the colt it saw earlier. Snooper walked towards the mark and saw that it was two  wavy lines, they were both like an s but one was a few inches above the other, they were parallel  to each other and where at the entrance to another tunnel.

Snooper walked into the tunnel thinking it might lead somewhere, he wondered if he’d ever find the moonflower and get it back to his father. The tunnel opened up into another cave with a marking at each tunnel entrance. One looked like a fish another looked like the sun, he went into that tunnel, “this must lead to the surface” he said excitedly.

“Well id hurry if I were you because that thing is back!” copy yelled

Snooper looked behind him and yelped as part of his tail was pulled out by sharp teeth, he started limp running as fast as possible for him, the cragodile was following behind gaining on him, he looked behind him at the monster and accidently hit the hard wall causing him to drop his flashlight “OH COME ON!” he yelled as he continued running. The last thing he had seen was the mark from earlier that was two horizontal snake like lines.

He tripped on a raised ledge and went tumbling down the tunnel which was now angling down, he kept bumping and hitting the hard ground and fell into an underground river, he surfaced and sputtered thrashing around trying not to drown and let the greedy waters take him. He got pushed under again and couldn’t see anything as the water covered him entirely and pushed him down.

It was like a torrent he felt his head hit a rock and make him clutch his head groaning as he came to the surface again he realized he was out of the tunnels, he could feel the wind and see the stars, he inhaled as much air as possible as the river swept him along.

He heard a roaring sound ahead and gasped as he saw a waterfall, he immediately started swimming towards the side of the river, he felt the mist of the falls getting thicker and the sound louder, he kept swimming and reached the shore just in time, he panted for breath and started laughing hollowly, “I-IM ALIVE!” he laughed again almost crying with happiness.

He got up slowly shaking off the mud that had caked onto him, he started limping in a random direction, he realized his saddlebag was gone along with his magnifying glass, he frowned wondering if he would get a new one sometime, “probably” he thought to himself.

After a while of walking through the forest he came across another cave, common sense would have told him to “AVOID ALL CAVES IN FUTURE” but he ignored the thought, he was just too tired. He walked in collapsing almost the moment he got in.

His soggy fur weighed him down but before he fell into the dark void of sleep he saw a soft light, his eyes lifted slightly and he moved towards it with renewed vigor, as he got nearer he saw it was a flower, he felt his eyes snap open and his breathing quicken.

Here it was the prize he had searched endlessly for through danger and trouble even losing his precious magnifying glass, yet here the moonflower was. He started digging around the plant attempting to get the roots out, he pulled it out gripping the stem in his teeth ready to start heading back, but the minute he touched it he grew incredibly sleepy. He clamped his teeth holding firmly on before everything went black.

When he woke up the plant was still in his teeth, he hadn’t lost it good. He was moving? Or being dragged along, he saw that the plants flower was closed right now, and then he realized he could see that the flower was closed. It was day now, he turned his head slightly to see what was dragging him and froze, it was a timberwolf.

“REALLYREALLYREALLYREALLY?!?” his mind practically screamed. The wood wolf was pulling him along by his injured leg which hurt a ton by the way, he didn’t know how he could escape this one, he looked around slowly not wanting to give his alertness away.

They were on the crest of a hill which was very steep and high, they were nearing what looked like to Snooper a tunnel leading into darkness. No, he wouldn’t go in another cave again. Ever.

He saw some of the trees had scratches on them as if the wolf had marked out its territory, there where large chunks of bark on the ground. Some were his size, some were small, he looked at the wolf which was about to pull him into the den.

He acted quickly, throwing his hoof in a hard punch at the wolfs head making it let go of his leg, the wolf howled in pain which alerted the other wolves in the area of his presence, they came raising towards their comrades cry.

Snooper however ran towards a large bark platform and jumped on it causing it to move forward off the crest of the hill, it was like a sled ride but the wolves where hot on his tail most of the pack chasing him, he looked behind him jumping slightly seeing them all.

He turned his head forward again his eyes going wide with surprise as he saw a tree coming very close, he leaned to the right making his makeshift sled swerve in that direction. A timberwolf crashed into the tree breaking apart into twigs and branches.

The trees where getting thicker and Snooper was swerving madly to avoid everything, one tree clipped his sled breaking part of it off. He yelled in pain as the same tree hit his shoulder hard enough for it to bruise right then and there.

He saw the hill was starting to level out-and that it would lead straight into a canyon. He searched quickly for a ramp, anything! He saw a tree that had leaned over onto a rock, “close enough” he thought as he aimed his sled at it.

It hit it and a knot in the tree at the end of the tree caught his sled shattering it and sent him flying over the canyon. He landed on the other side rolling sideways into a tree, he groaned and felt his head throb and get hot.

He got up unsteadily and wobbled a bit before realizing that he was on a dirt road, well sort of a dirt road, it was covered with debris and some boulders where in the middle of it, he looked around and saw a small rectangular faded sign that said “PONYVILLE ->” he smiled a little at his fortune, “must have been an old trade route” he said to himself, he turned around hearing angry howling to see the wolves glaring at him from across the canyon.

He walked on the trail which was much safer and uneventful. He made his way over a few hours to the outside of the Everfree forest, by that time it was noon and the air seemed fresher as he came out of the forest.

He traveled with renewed spirit with a spring in his limp step holding the plant in his mouth. He approached his home and heard crying coming from inside; he swallowed nervously hoping his father wasn’t already…gone.

He knocked on the door causing his mother’s voice to yell “GO AWAY,” he recoiled a little, he called out “it’s me mom.”

The door opened hardly a second later and his mother burst out wrapping him in a hug “where were you! I thought I lost you!”

“I-I went into the Everfree…I fou-“

“You WENT INTO THE EVERFREE?!?” she yelled

Snooper winced “yes but I found this,” he said showing his mother the moonflower

His mother said “m-moonflower? You found it...I was so worried about you, you didn’t tell me where you went, I had to consider something might have taken you…” she seemed to get e tiny more control over herself “we need to get this to your father he’s almost gone” she took the flower and poured a cup of tea putting the healing plant into it.

She took it up the stairs to Snoopers parents’ bedroom and opened his father’s mouth and poured the drink into it, after a few minutes of waiting hope against hope he’d be alright Snoopers father coughed and weakly opened his eyes.

He smiled weakly at his wife and son “h-how long was I out? I passed out right?” he asked slowly

“Yeah, you did, but Snooper went into the Everfree to find the cure…”

Snooper nodded and smiled at his father “I had to, I couldn’t let you die” he affirmed

His father said “thank you Snoop, I don’t think I would’ve made it without that, but please get some help next time?”

Snooper nodded “y-yeah I will…I love you dad”

“Love you to Snoop.”

                                     THE END