The Rotten Core

by StarlightFeather

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Main 6, Silver Spoon, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure
Length: 8244

After Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's teasing makes Apple Bloom question her friendships, she runs away to find a new home and new friends. What lagnths will her family and friends go to to find her?

After Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's teasing makes Apple Bloom question her friendships, she runs away to find a new home and new friends. What lengths will her family and friends go to to find her? What evil lurks in the most dangerous place in the Everfree Forest? Will the filly's friends get to her before her own delusions do?

Published 2014-02-16 01:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-06-19 17:55:36 UTC

The Bullies

Chapter One: The Bullies

     It was a sunny morning in Ponyville. This was the kind of day where you don't feel like doing anything but kicking up your hooves and relaxing, enjoying the peacefulness of the day. More importantly this was the last day of spring. Tomorrow summer would begin, and that meant summer vacation. Unfortunately, jobs still had to be done and foals still had to be schooled, even if it was the last day. Cheerilee, though, capitalized on this lovely whether and decided that today's class would be outside. At the moment, it was free time and the foals were doing whatever they liked while Cheerilee relaxed.

     Scootaloo was talking with Rumble, who looked nervous with his set back ears and red cheeks. Sweetie Belle was playing tag with Dinky Doo, Shady Daze and Button on the other side of the yard. Apple Bloom was sprawled out on the grass, half asleep it was so nice out. She vaguely registered a shadow looming over her and was awakened by a very unwelcome voice.

     “Hey, blank-flank!” Diamond Tiara's voice demanded. “Get into any trouble lately?” Apple Bloom knew she was talking about the incident from a few days ago. In her and her friends' quest for their cutie marks, they had somehow ended up destroying a large number of shops. All three had been soundly scolded for it. Apple Bloom tried to move away with a slight frown but Silver Spoon was already there, ready to pick up where Diamond Tiara left off.

     “I heard it'll take weeks until those shops see any more business.” the dark gray filly mocked. “So embarrassing.”

     “The shops'll all be back up tomorrow. Applejack said.” Apple Bloom muttered, her face turning a slight shade of pink. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders helped fix them up.”

     “Pfft! The Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Tiara sneered. “You're just a bunch of misfits trying to look special when your just a bunch of not-special blank-flanks.”

     At this point, Apple Bloom stood up to face Diamond Tiara. Her orange-amber eyes blazed. “We're on a mission, and more important we're friends, which is more than I could say for you! Silver Spoon's the only one willing to put up with your stuck up hoo-haa!”

     Diamond Tiara lost her sneer and looked furious. “At least I have one real friend.”

     “I have real friends!” Apple Bloom shot back indignantly and stomped a hoof on the ground.

     “Really?” Tiara's face regained its smirk. “What about Twist, huh? You two were best friends before she got her cutie mark. After that, she totally left you in the dust.”

     “When's the last time you two hung out?” Silver Spoon asked. “She left you out to dry as soon as she became special, unlike you.”

     “And that's just what your so-called friends are gonna do once they get theirs!” the pink filly hissed. “You're just a crutch, Apple Bloom. A crutch that other blank-flanks use until they get their cutie marks. Better get used to it, too; it's all you'll ever be good for.”

     As lessons continued, Apple Bloom tried her hardest to concentrate, but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's taunts kept nagging at her mind. By the end of the day, Apple Bloom had a headache from the war in her head. All the other fillies and colts were jumping for joy and cheering for summer break, but not Apple Bloom.

     “Apple Bloob!” Twist called as she pranced up to her. The off-white filly had rarely spoken to Apple Bloom since she got her mark. Twist was busy making sweets 'til her heart's content and Apple Bloom was always off with the crusaders. Or at least that's what Apple Bloom told herself. But it was true, Twist and Apple Bloom were once the best of friends but once Twist got her cutie mark... “Applejack hath a thop oped tobaorrow, right? Bon Bon wanth to take be out for thome thruddleth tobarrow, if we have timbe.”

     Apple Bloom was quiet for a minute, then looked at Twist with the most serious yet sad look the candy-making filly had ever seen on her. “Twist, we're still friends right?”

     “Of coarth!” Twist was surprised, having not expected something like this from Apple Bloom especially when her question had had nothing to do with their friendship.

     “It's just that,” Apple Bloom began. “we haven’t been spendin' much time together these last years, once that you got your cutie mark -”

     “Hey, we're thill frieds.” Twist smiled. “I probith. Ith just that I've been making tho bedy thweets I've beed buthy. Ad you sped all your tibe with the cudie bark cruthaders, tho of coarth we're dot godda sped as buch tibe together.”

     “Yeah, I guess.” Apple Bloom smiled, even though Twist's reasoning didn't cheer her up in the least.

     “Apple Bloom!” An orange, purple and red blur stopped on the other side of Apple Bloom. Scootaloo was pulling a wagon with her scooter again with Sweetie Belle in it. “You ready? We've got loads of things to try before it gets dark. Hop in!”

     “Girls, if it's all the same, I just wanna get home and go ta bed.” Apple Bloom smiled sweetly but weakly. Even her bow was drooping.

     “Yeah, I guess we'll have all summer to look for our cutie marks.” Scootaloo shrugged.

     “Tomorrow’s the first day of summer anyway.” Sweetie Belle noted. The first day of summer was always a busy day, especially for young colts and fillies who tried to fit three months worth of fun into a day. “We should probably all get some rest tonight.”

     “Okay, then. See ya 'round!” Scootaloo called as she sped off. Sweetie Belle waved goodbye as she was also scooted away.

     Apple Bloom didn't say another word as she trudged home alone. Applejack was in the orchard looking at the apple blossoms when she saw Apple Bloom. Seeing her sister's depressed face, Applejack decided to speak carefully. “You're home early. No schemes today?” Her face fell in worry when Apple Bloom didn't answer. “What'sa matter, sugarcube?”

     “Diamond Tiara says that when they get their cutie marks, Sweetie Belle n' Scootaloo won't be my friends anymore.” she explained.

     “Aw, don't let her get to ya.” Applejack lifted Apple Blooms chin for eye contact. Orange-amber eyes met bright green. “Scootaloo n' Sweetie Belle'll always be there for ya.”

     “But what about Twist?” Apple Bloom whined. “We were best friends but as soon as she got her cutie mark -” Apple Bloom paused for a breath. The flush was hurting her face and she still had a headache. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders were formed to get our cutie marks, but what then? When we all have our cutie marks, what'll be keepin' us together?” she asked. Tears began to run down her face. It occurred to her that maybe that's why all of them always hoped to get cutie marks in bowling, zip-linning and whatever else together; if they all got cutie marks in the same field they could all stay friends. “None of us have anything else in common. Why else would we be friends?”

     “Now don't you go sayin' that.” Applejack scolded the filly but tenderly. She clearly had more than enough on her plate as it was. “Just look at my friends. Rainbow Dash n' Fluttershy, Twilight n' Pinkie, myself n' Rarity? None of us have that much in common that n' we're as close as friends could hope to be.” Apple Bloom didn't seem to hear her, she just looked at the ground and kept crying. “Ya know what?” Applejack said. “Why don't you go on up to bed? Maybe you'll feel better after a night's rest. I'll tell Granny Smith n' Big Mac that you had a hard day and you need rest.”

     Apple Bloom smiled. “Thanks, Applejack.” She sniffed and hugged her big sister gratefully. For the first time in hours, Apple Bloom felt happy. True, all of her family adored her and always did what they could, but Applejack would always, always, always find a way to come through for her. Minutes later she was in her room with the curtains drawn and snuggled up all cozy in her bed.

     Applejack was the one who thought her everything she knows, who played with her, comforted her, and took care of her when she was sick. There was a strong love between the sisters, a bond few others understood. In fact, Apple Bloom couldn't see her mother's face anymore. However hard she tried to remember, the only face she ever saw was Applejack's. And she was okay with that. It always made her feel a little guilty whenever she heard anyone else talking about her parents, but she never felt bad otherwise of replacing something that was lost years ago with something that would be there forever.

     The sun was bright the next morning even through the still-drawn curtains. A good night's sleep seemed to be just what the little filly needed because she was up bright and early as bubbly and happy as ever.

     “Well, somepony's sure chipper today.” Applejack smiled after setting down two plates of breakfast; eggs, toast with jam, apple juice and chocolate fritters. They were basically apple fritters, but the batter for the pastry was chocolate and they were lightly glazed like doughnuts. They were an invention of Granny Smith's and Apple Bloom's favorite treat. Applejack always made them to go with breakfast on holidays and special occasions like the first day of summer. “Ya feel any better this mornin'?”

     “Yep. Looks like all I needed was some rest like ya said.” Apple Bloom said before wolfing down her breakfast. Having skipped dinner last night had left Apple Bloom hungry.

     “So, feelin' up for some first-day-of-summer fun? I hear the Cakes cut half off everything in their store for the occasion.” Applejack winked. Apple Bloom knew that Applejack wouldn't be partaking, she always spent the first day of summer selling apples and treats in town, but she always loved hearing about all the fun Apple Bloom had on these days.

     “No, I'll just find Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They were ichin' to try some new ideas yesterday.” Apple Bloom said as she wiped the chocolaty crumbs from her face.

     The sun was bright out in Ponyville. Applejack got in line at Sugarcube Corner because before she opened up the stand she was hoping to pick up an order she'd placed about a week ago for a large cake. Pinkie had promised that it would be terrific, and she trusted her pink friends' word.

     Apple Bloom blazed though the town towards the Carousel Boutique. She hadn't been able to spot Scootaloo, so maybe she'd go see Sweetie Belle first. As expected, Sweetie Belle was trying to get Rarity to do stuff with her.

     “C'mon, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle whined, “You promised we'd get ice cream!”

     “What?” the older unicorn gasped, “And risk getting surgery mush on my coat? Sweetie Belle, honestly!”

     “Hey, Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle sighed as the other filly approached. “I guess you and Applejack are having all sorts of fun today.”

     “No, actually.” Apple Bloom shrugged. “First sis has to pick up somethin' up from Sugercube Corner, than she's sellin' treats all day.”

     “It's nice to know Applejack's sister has a life of her own.” Rarity muttered irritably as she stitched some kind of trimming onto the edge of a violet silk sheet. Sweetie Belle glared back at her.

     “Have you seen Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom asked. “You guys looked pretty ready to get to it yesterday.”

     “We were, but you're right.” Sweetie Belle said. “We have all summer to look for our cutie marks, so we decided to take the day off. I don't know where Scootaloo is, ether.”

     “Oh,” Apple Bloom's ears fell in disappointment. “Well, okay then.”

     “Rarity, can -”

     “Nonononononono!” Rarity shook her head. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. So Sweetie Belle wanted to do things with her sister today and Scootaloo was nowhere to be found. Maybe Twist was available. Actually, Apple Bloom thought to herself as she left the boutique, this was perfect. She and Twist could catch up, seeing as Apple Bloom was free from the Crusaders for a day and the Shakes couldn't have been that busy.

     Twist's family the Shakes owned an ice-cream parlor near their school. Back before Twist had gotten her cutie mark, they had often joked  that it would be good if Twist moved in with her sister Bon Bon at her candy store. It turned out the Shakes were busy, but not that much. “Hello?” Apple Bloom called and was greeted by a familiar face. It was Twist's mother Strawberry Shake.

     “Apple Bloom? Well isn't this a surprise?” she smiled as she opened the door allowing the filly in. “We haven’t seen you in a while. How've you been?”

     “Fine, Mrs. Shake. Is Twist home?” Apple Bloom asked walking into the house. Mr. Shake was manning the parlor selling ice creams and shakes, some with what Apple Bloom recognized as Bon Bon and Twist's handiwork. Although Bon Bon worked her own store now, she always sent some of her candy back to her parents on days when they would need it.

     “She's taking a break in the back, playing with Swirl.”

     “Huh?” Apple Bloom asked, showing herself into the main room as Mrs. Shake went back to the parlor. Twist was there playing with a foal, maybe a few months old. He was mint green with a spiky white mane and eyes the same color as Apple Bloom's own.

     “Twist?” Apple Bloom asked.

     Twist looked confused at first, than happily surprised to see her old friend. “Apple Bloob! Cub id!”

     “Who's this youngin?” Apple Bloom asked as the foal belched.

     “Oh, thorry.” Twist smiled guiltily. “Thith ith Thwirl, by dew brother!”

     “New brother?” Apple Bloom stamped her hoof in outrage. The noise spooked Swirl, but only enough to make him pout a little. “Why didn't ya tell me? How could ya not tell me somethin' as big as gettin' a new brother?”

     “Well, like you thed, we haved beed speding that buch tibe together.” Twist explained. Apple Bloom opened her moth to speak, but a bell rang. Mrs. Shake came in and took a yawning Swirl into another room. “Oopth! By breakth up. I godda get back to the thtore. Thorry I can't talk, but I'b deeded up there. We cad talk tobarrow, okay? I probith.”

     Apple Bloom, feeling as dejected as ever, trudged sadly out of the house. Twist didn't have time for her, and how could she not tell her about something as big as gaining a new baby brother? Twist had told her the day her sister had moved out years ago, that she'd finally be getting the bigger bedroom.

     “Well, well.” Apple Bloom was startled by the voice. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were here, glaring at her. “Looks like we were right, weren’t we? Twist has better things to do.”

     “Looks like not even Scootaloser and Squeaky Belle want to hang out with you now.” Silver Spoon sneered. Apple Bloom meant to stand up in their defense, but words wouldn't come. Because Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were right. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Twist were all far too busy with their own stuff to be with her. She didn't want the crusaders to drift apart but what she just saw with Twist...Unable to deal with it, Apple Bloom ran.

     “Go on! Run home to you're cooky granny.” Tiara yelled. Her blue eyes glittered with malice. Silver Spoon didn't often look their victims in the eye, almost as if she was afraid of what she might find, but Diamond Tiara seemed to relish in the pain she caused.

     “Hey, sug-” Applejack tried to greet Apple Bloom as she raced passed but the heartbroken filly didn't even notice her as she ran home in tears.

The Runaway

Chapter Two: The Runaway

     Apple Bloom's pillow was growing wetter and wetter as she sobbed endlessly. It seemed to Applejack and family to be a lost cause to try to console her because she refused to listen to reason. At first Applejack had tried to get answers, but whatever she did get was muffled in crying and sobs. The filly finally exhausted herself a little past noon and fell asleep to nightmares of rejection and loneliness.

     Sweet Apple Acres was silent that day despite the thriving sale this morning. Big Mac had been observing the blossoms as they bore the fruit when he'd heard his youngest sister's sobbing. Granny Smith had been startled to see Apple Bloom barging into the house, rushing up the stairs and finally slamming the door to her bedroom. None of them knew what was wrong with her, but all the same it was heartbreaking.

     Applejack had decided to whip up a fresh batch of chocolate fritters in the hopes that it would cheer her filly up. She opened the door quietly with the plate of treats balanced on her back and whispered, “AB?” Apple Bloom was asleep in her bed, sweating and looking troubled. Applejack set the plate gently on the table beside the bed. She could find them in the morning. “I'm not sure what's got ya in this mood, I just wan'cha ta know your family loves ya and ya could always come to one of us for help.” Applejack kissed the filly gently on the cheek, her eyes shimmering with love. “Love ya, little sis.” The orange mare left the room quietly.

     Apple Bloom was no longer in her room, but standing in the middle of a road flanked by leafless trees. The full moon loomed high in the sky and the cold made Apple Bloom shiver.

     “Hello?” Apple Bloom called but was greeted only by her own echo. Her eyes caught a shadow slink from the trees on one side. Fear was overruled by curiosity as Apple Bloom ran down the road, chasing the shadow. “Hay, wait!” she called. She was running so fast she failed to look where she was going and skidded to a halt when she saw a cliff. The skid wasn't fast enough and she gave a yell as she fell off. Her head hurt as she got back up. Thankfully the fall hadn't been more than a few yards.

     Apple Bloom was now in the middle of a mass of black with long, white fangs. Thousands of bright blue eyes opened in an instant and Apple Bloom started breathing hard. Changelings; she remembered them from the wedding in Canterlot. Soon, the creatures took the forms of three ponies she knew very well. Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith.

     Apple Bloom couldn't think as she ran from the images of the ponies who loved her but wanted to hurt her. Finally she came to a sunny clearing where Twist, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were talking, all with their cutie marks.

     “Twist!” Apple Bloom called as she reached them. “Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle! Ya have ta help! There's changelings lose, n' they're comin' this way!” Apple Bloom was shocked when none of them so much as flinched. In fact, they didn't seem to see or hear her at all. “Hello?” The changelings reappeared as her former friends disappeared. Apple Bloom clinched her eyes tight as the hoard of family-lookalikes overcame her.

     Apple Bloom awoke with a start. It was a warm night but her body was cool with a layer of sweat. Her heart raced as she registered where she was; in her room in the middle of the night. Thunder spooked her and she brought her covers up to her chin, terrified. She heard the rain as it beat the roof and saw it soaking her window. Twist, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had all ignored her. Did that mean that they saw her as nothing, fit for only changeling fodder? By the hours end, her pillow was again soaked with tears. She wasn't about to let that happen. She had to get away, find a new home with new friends. Friends who loved her and wouldn't leave her. Quite as a mouse, Apple Bloom tiptoed to her closet and grabbed a few things, after which she irritably trotted to and out the window and into the warm but harsh rain, praying to the Princesses that no one would spot her.

     The next morning was a sunny one. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle raced through the dewy grass, soaking their legs and underbellies. They both knocked hard on the door to the Apple's house until Big Mac appeared in the doorway and looked that the two fillies. “Hi Big Mac! Is Apple Bloom home?” Scootaloo asked with a wide, toothy grin.

     Big Mac returned with a small smile. “Eyep!” Without another word he opened the door to allow the pair in as Applejack entered the room holding a letter. She walked over to the table and began to read it.

     “Well, whatdaya know?” she said with a smile as she read the letter. “Babs got her cutie mark.”

     “Really?” Sweetie Belle smiled. “What is it?”

     “Three seeds. Turns out she had a gift for breeden' em this whole time, of all things. Says she got it when she realized how natural it felt to be tryin' it with her fellow crusaders in Manehatten. Also says that she's commin' to town to celebrate with you three in a few weeks, and she's bringin' a whole lot of fancy new fruits with her so ya'll had better have empty stomachs!” Applejack grinned.

     “Cool!” Scootaloo said. “We can't wait to see it!”

     “Speaken'a cutie marks, ya girls here for Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked.

     “Yeah, we have lots of ideas to get our cutie marks and just three months to do it!” Sweetie Belle said.

     “And after our day off yesterday, we feel rested and ready to go!” Scootaloo beamed as she fluttered in excitement.

     Applejack looked overwhelmed for a moment, but that turned to mild aggravation as she rose her head to the ceiling. “What in Equestria is taken' that filly so long? It's nearen' noon, how long's she gonna sleep?” The mare disappeared from the room and headed up the stairs.

     “I-is Apple Bloom okay?” Sweetie Belle asked. She and Scootaloo were worried now. That worry become fear as they watched Big Mac slump down.

     “Nope.” he said depressingly.

     “Apple Bloom? You up yet?” Applejack called, knocking on the door. “Sweetie Belle n' Scootaloo are here for ya.” When she didn't get an answer, she opened the door and her heart skipped a beat. The first thing she noticed was that Apple Bloom was neither in her bed or in the room. The plate of chocolate fritters was still on the table, completely untouched. “Apple Bloom?” she asked, looking around the room, under the bed, in the closet, in the toy-chest. Apple Bloom was nowhere to be found. Applejack started to tear as she panicked. “Apple Bloom?” Applejack's heart plummeted when she felt a cool breeze that drew her attention to the open window and her eyes widened. “Big Mac, Granny Smith!”

     Within the hour, the whole town was in a frenzy. Ponyville was usually very tight-neat and the idea of a foal-napper lurking around town scared everypony out of their wits. Shops were shut down, jobs went undone, and the streets were empty of anyone who wasn't part of a search party. Families who had young foals were shut up in their tightly locked houses, parents peering from the windows eying everyone that walked by with suspicion. Only a few foals, with their parents' permission and under the strict supervision of search parties, were allowed out of their houses.

     “Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo called from the skies. She was riding on Rainbow Dash's back, who was keenly scouting the land from above along with countless other pegasai. Her parents had been reluctant to allow her to aid in the search party, but they knew that Apple Bloom was one of their daughter’s dearest friends and that Rainbow Dash, who they knew was like an older sister to her, would never see her put in any real danger. Though they both knew that they could and did trust Rainbow Dash fully, neither of them still liked their only child being outside with a foal-napper on the loose.

     “Apple Bloom?” Twilight asked, moving bushes up with her magic to check under them. She was leading a search party made up of Rarity, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle and Zacora. Knowing that Rarity grew fiercely protective of Sweetie Belle whenever it really counted, their parents had been far easier to convince when it came to allowing her to be in the search party.

     Applejack ran frantically through the streets, panting and blinking furiously. “Apple Bloom! Where are ya!” she hollered.

     “P-Printheth?” Everyone stopped as a little white filly with curly red hair and a candy cane cutie mark shyly approached the princess. The Shakes looked on with expressions that seemed to run the spectrum from terror to fury. They had clearly forbidden her from from leaving the house, getting Bon Bon to watch them which she apparently did a poor job of. Twist had sneaked away when her sister had been tending to Swirl. She could imagine Bon Bon being trapped in the house with their brother and irritably cursing her name right now.

     “Yes, Twist?” Twilight asked worriedly.

     “I...I talked to Apple Bloob yethserday.” Twist said, not making eye contact with Twilight. “I thik she wath sthad we didn'd hag out like we uthe to.” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon hid behind a house. Like Twist, neither of their parents knew they were out here, and unlike Twist they left not because of worry for Apple Bloom or wanting to help, but because they had found the sudden lack of freedom infuriating and unacceptable. Diamond Tiara had a deep, hate-filled scowl on her face as she stared down the group of ponies who were unaware of her.

     “That makes sense!” Applejack said frantically. “Apple Bloom ran home right after her visit with Twist. Haven’t seen her with a dry eye since.”

     “I didn'd bean to!” Twist shook her head, her eyes starting to water half out of sheer guilt and half in fear of being punished. To her own surprise, though, Twilight simply looked at her sympathetically for a moment, then conjured up a handkerchief to whip Twists streaming eyes with. The little filly felt awful and she could only force herself to sob a very shaky thank you.

     “What?” Tiara asked. She was dumbfounded that Twist hadn't mentioned their own parts in this; Surely she'd heard the teasing yesterday. After all, they had been right outside her door and weren't exactly being discreet about it. “Why didn't she rat us out?”

     “Do you think Apple Bloom really ran off?” Silver Spoon asked, suddenly feeling rather worried. Although Diamond Tiara had never been fond of Apple Bloom, there wasn't really that much, if any, bad blood between her and Silver Spoon. The gray filly had merely been following her best friend in the teasing for years, though she herself never really had a problem with Apple Bloom.

     “Nopony cares.” Tiara's voice was dry and uncaring. Silver Spoon was surprised. Apple Bloom could be hurt or scared or worse. She knew Tiara didn't like Apple Bloom, but didn't she care if the girl was alive? Out of seemingly nowhere, an outraged courage built up in the filly's heart that she'd never known before. Silver Spoon had always been far more empathetic then her so-called friend, and for the first few times it happened she had felt awful bullying her peers like she did. For years she had wished she hadn't had such a conscience, but now she was glad about it, because she could do something. With or without Tiara, she had to.

     “If you won't do anything, I will.” Silver Spoon muttered. Tiara looked on in shock as her friend abandoned their hiding place and ran up to the princess.

     “Princess! Princess!” Silver Spoon called. Twilight looked her way for a second before turning to the sky when her name was called. Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo in tow, was back with two others. The first, Twilight instantly recognized as Princess Luna.

     “Twilight Sparkle,” Luna spoke in a voice that was both soft and sweet, but still commanding authority. “I hear Ponyville has lost a foal. I've come to aid in your search.”

     “Thank you so much, Luna.” Twilight sighed. “Are the others on their way?”

     “My sister has important duties to attend to in Canterlot, and Cadance is...” Luna's cheeks turned a bright purple. “shall we say, in delicate condition. Shining Armor refuses to leave her side, and so he sent  one of their guards to assist you.”

     Twilight's heart jumped and her cheeks heated up once she noticed the third pony. It was a very familiar pegasus stallion with an orange-golden coat and calming blue eyes. His blue mane was shaped by the helmet he was wearing, his ears were set back and his cheeks were red. He cleared his throat. “Princess.” he greeted.

     Twilight's eyes darted away timidly and she couldn't help but grin. “Twilight's fine.”

     “If that's what you'd prefer, pri – uh, Twilight.” the stallion smiled a little shyly. Neither of them noticed the teasing grins they were getting from Rainbow, Rarity and Fluttershy. Luna even hid a small smirk. Pinkie was far too obvious to know such things and Applejack, who had been the first to tease her about it back at the Crystal Empire, was still far too preoccupied with searching for Apple Bloom.

     “Princess?” At last, Twilight noticed Silver Spoon and came down from her cloud immediately.

     “Silver Spoon, no!” Diamond Tiara tried to tackle the gray filly but was stopped by a small barricade made by the remaining cutie mark crusaders. Weather it was out of sheer dislike for Diamond Tiara or if they somehow sensed that she had something to do with this, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo glared at her accusingly.

     “It was us – me and Diamond Tiara.” Silver Spoon explained, tears welling up in her eyes. They blurred her glasses. “We were teasing Apple Bloom about how her friends would leave her once they got their cutie marks. Than she ran home crying.”

     “Yes, I entered her dream last night.” Luna said, “She had a nightmare about being chased by changelings in the form of her family. When she came upon her friends, all baring cutie marks, she could not get their attention.”

     “What?” Scootaloo stamped a hoof in defiance. “We'd never do that, even if we did have cutie marks!”

     “Apple Bloom has been known to run off before.” Zacora said. “Perhaps she left in search for more.”

     “What 'more'?” Applejack challenged, angry tears now flowing freely from her eyes. “Apple Bloom's got all she ever wanted here at home!”

     “But if she felt her friends didn't really care about her...Well, she is just a filly.” Twilight said. Despite knowing without a doubt that they would never abandon Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hung their heads.

     A few hours later, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and Twists parents had a sort of mini-conference. Each of their mothers had soundly grounded them. Diamond Tiara got the worst of it, needless to say. She would be under constant supervision from now on (“If you wish to act like a baby, we'll treat you like one.” her father had said.) and was grounded indefinitely until they found Apple Bloom. Twist and Silver Spoon, for at least owning up to their mistakes and honestly trying to repent, were given reduced sentences. In the light that Twist's contribution to this was purely accidental and that she was feeling bad enough already, was grounded for three days for disobeying Mr. and Mrs. Shakes clear orders to stay inside. Bon Bon was also apparently lectured for her negligence. Silver Spoon's parents came up with a sort of compromise – for her courage and honesty their daughter wouldn’t be grounded – instead her punishment was to help look for Apple Bloom no matter what without the comforts of home, though they trusted the older ponies – the former bearers of the Elements Of Harmony, for pony's sake! - would keep their daughter safe while she did this. Silver Spoon was forbidden come home without Apple Bloom in tow, a punishment even she herself saw as fitting.

     The crickets chirped loudly that night. After a long day of searching, they were all at Sweet Apple Acres for the night to come up with a game-plan. The unspoken lock down of Ponyville was lifted once it spread that Apple Bloom had not been foal-napped but instead had run away. All of their bags were stocked, ready for a long journey tomorrow. They would find Apple Bloom and bring her home no matter what or how long it took. Spike, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were asleep. After practicably begging their parents and some heavy reassurance from Rarity and Rainbow, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had been once again permitted to help in the search. As mentioned before, Scootaloo's parents trusted Rainbow Dash with their daughter’s life, and there was still no way any harm would come to Sweetie Belle with Rarity around.

     “Applejack's taking this real hard.” Rainbow Dash commented. Applejack hadn't said a word since hearing that she had run away, and she had just dragged herself upstairs. Her heart felt like a stone. If one listened very carefully, they could just hear her heartbroken sobbing.

     “'Course she is.” Granny Smith said, “She's been raisin' that filly like her own up 'til now. Startin' round the time Applejack got her cutie mark, her ma and pa started gettin' sick an awful lot. My poor ol' boy got the worst of it, goin' before he even knew that a third foal was on the way.” Twilight and her friends looked somewhere between entranced and sad; Applejack had never spoken of her parents before and they all knew far better than to ask. “Their ma hang on 'til the birth, but I reckon she was too weak by that time to be doin' that kind a' labor.”

     Big Mac started to choke up thinking of his parents. He'd been just a colt when they went, having to take over the farm just after they lost his their father. He was surprised then, to feel the nuzzle of the small yellow pegasus beside him. Fluttershy's large blue-green eyes looked up at him, clearly wishing to comfort him. He couldn't help but smile and was rather thankful for his bright red coat at that moment. Granny Smith continued.

     “Big Mac was already doin' all he could wokin' on the farm, and I was too old to take on another foal. That left Applejack, bless her heart, to raise our little Apple Bloom. Had to pull 'er outta school for it, too. Them two might be sisters by blood but in Applejack's mind, that's her filly. I reckon she'll go to the moon 'n back to find her if she has ta.”

     Everyone was silent for a moment, perhaps in moaning for their friends' parents or contemplating this new-found importance to find the filly. “Luna,” Twilight said at last. “I need to go help my friends. I can't shake the feeling that we'll all be a part of this. Can I count on you to watch over things here for a while?”

     “I'm afraid that would be quite impossible, Twilight Sparkle, as I fully intend on accompanying you.” Luna returned. “Flash, will you be able to manage?”

     “Yes, Princess.” Flash nodded, his expression one of determination and resolve. “I'll send a letter to the Crystal Empire at once explaining why I'll be staying in Ponyville for a while.”

     “Spike'll help. If something happens out there I don't want him to get into any trouble.” Twilight reassured him. Her face grew hot when Flash smiled at her in thanks, but she pushed it back. Now wasn't the time for that. What mattered was that they had to find Apple Bloom.

The Everfree Forest

Chapter Three: The Everfree Forest

     After a full day and a sleepless night in the Everfree Forest, Apple Bloom was cold, exhausted and hungry. The well known rout to Zacora's had been out of the question from the start, so she'd fought her way through thick trees, sharp grasses and scratchy thorns and brambles, making a point to keep well away from any paths she found. A strange thought had struck her yesterday that this forest seemed to be pretty well mapped out for a place nopony had dared to step hoof into until only a few years ago. Rather amusing, she thought.

     Apple Bloom was covered from head to hoof in scraps and cuts. All this was aside from the fact that by now, she probably knew the smell of a timberwolf's breath by heart, a good portion of last night was spent avoiding the stench. She had no idea where she was, but she was bound to find something sooner or later – anything as long as it wasn't home. Her stomach rumbled. Apple Bloom wished she had planned her runaway better, those few apples had only lasted her a day.

     The filly huffed in indignation as she came to a wall of brambles. The only way she could get to the other side was through a small hole that she might have fit through once, but now she was too big. For a small moment she considered going back home, apologizing for scaring her family, and living happily ever after. Still, the image of the changelings came to her mind, and put that revelation firmly to rest. Apple Bloom sniffled and forced her way through the whole with tugs and hard pushes. She strained her arms trying to wriggle through the hole. All at once, though, she flew from the bramble wall on the other side. Her ribbon came undone but remained in her hair, and she forced herself on her hoofs. She could feel the slew of new scratches and could still feel the sharp pokes.

     A small whimper got Apple Bloom's attention before she could go on. It was a ferret, stuck in a small knot of brambles. He was desperately trying to reach an acorn. Apple Bloom's heart twinged for the critter and she moved the acorn with her hoof. The ferret chattered what she assumed was a thank you, and munched on the nut as Apple Bloom freed him, which wasn't enjoyable seeing at the thorns poked her teeth and tongue.

     “Hey, you wanna come with me? I'm travlin' alone, too.” Apple Bloom asked. She wasn't sure if the ferret could understand her, but as far she knew it did, because he climbed up on her back. Delighted to have a companion, she walked on. “I'll call ya....” Apple Bloom paused, unsure of what name to give him. “Oh well. I'll think'a somethin'.”

     By the time they got a few feet from the brambles, Apple Bloom's eyes were watering. She wanted to go home, but she didn't have one. Apple Bloom was so wrapped up in these thoughts that she didn't look where she was going, and was startled when there was no ground beneath her hoof and she fell down a slopping hill, crashing into an old, dead tree at the base. Her ribcage was guaranteed to be bruised up later. She looked out to the landscape beyond.

     It looked like the start of a swamp. A low growl startled her and when she looked behind her, she could see ripples, like something had ducked under the musky water in a hurry. Not willing to take any chances, Apple Bloom climbed an old log out of the water. When a vine got caught on her back leg, she had to struggle to get it free and continue climbing onto the small patch of muddy land that at least was safer than the water. After learning the hard way the the mud stuck her hooves to the ground harder the longer she stood in one place, she decided it was a good idea to keep going. That wasn't easy with her back hoof, which was twisted from the vine.

     As she lay heaving for a breath, Apple Bloom had realized in horror that the vine had come out of no where and she could have sworn that it was pulling her, almost like it was trying to drown her. That thought had Apple Bloom running at top speed, her mind too fuzzy with panic to think.

     Somehow she came to a grassy clearing, once again collapsing in need for a breath. The grove was full of brightly colored flowers headed by a large tree, and Apple Bloom's first alarmed thought was that it might be like the poison joke or heart's desire, or some other terrible thing. When nothing seemed to happen after a while, she allowed herself to relax. They were just a bunch of ordinary flowers. It occurred to her that this forest must have been a far bigger area than anything anypony had imagined before to have all these vastly different landscapes. Once she looked to the very center of the clearing, all thought left Apple Bloom's mind at what she saw.

     A big, juicy, red apple.

     In the back of her mind, she knew to be suspicious, what would a perfectly good apple be doing out here with no apple tree in sight? But her stomach would not listen and she raced up to the grove's center and dug into the apple. It was cool, crisp and juicy. The juice from the fruit quenched her thirst.

     Her stomach full and her breath back to normal, the filly was about to start on her way. Her heart sped back up as she felt long things wrap around her body. Huge, thick green vines wrapped themselves around her body and legs, pulling her to the tree. To Apple Bloom's horror, the tree opened up to reveal a huge flower. The peddles were striped yellow, blue and red, and an impossibly thick green vine was shooting from below the flower. In the middle of the flower was an empty space surrounded by what looked like – Apple Bloom felt ill – tiny teeth.

     Apple Bloom screamed as hard as she could, losing her mind to panic. The flower was pulling her closer and closer. She was about to be eaten by a giant, pony-eating flower! Her ferret friend had climbed out to the vines and was trying to bite them, but to know avail and in the commotion she lost her bow. She didn't care who found her or how they found her, as long as they could get her out of this.

     There was a zapping noise like unicorn magic and a hiss, and Apple Bloom was dropped to the ground. The vines were still around her, but they had gone limp and relaxed their grip until she was able to wriggle out of them. Apple Bloom looked back at the flower, hissing and waving it's savored vine clearly in agony. The little filly couldn't help but feel sorry for the thing, even if it had been trying to eat her seconds ago. The flower eventually retracted it's vine and closed up.

     “Are you alright?” Apple Bloom's  ears pricked at the voice and spun around to see the pony behind her. A night-black unicorn colt her own age with a long, flowing dark blue mane and tail and bright blue eyes. His cutie mark was a puff of white smoke.

     “Y-yeah.” Apple Bloom said warily as the colt helped her up. He didn't seem to hear her as his horn let up and Apple Bloom's body was bathed in a blue aura. When it faded away, Apple Bloom noticed that she was healed of any cuts, scraps and her bad ankle was fixed. “Thankya' kindly.” she muttered shyly.

     “No problem.” the colt said, smiling bashfully. “My name's Night Shade.”

     “I'm Apple Bloom.” she returned. The ferret was silent and still, as if he wasn't sure what to make of Night Shade.

     “That plant would have had you for lunch. You really outta be more careful in this forest.” Apple Bloom was about to ask Night Shade what he was doing out so deep in the Everfree Forest when he cut her off.

     “I've been out here for years. I used to live in Canterlot, but the ponies there are so fake an judgmental. So I ran away and came to live here. What about you?” he asked. Apple Bloom was stunned for a while, it was as if he read her thoughts, but answered anyway. As she told her story, Night Shade looked sympathetic. “So I guess we're both runaways out here, huh?”

     “Looks like it.” Apple Bloom lamented. Suddenly, she thought of all the bad times in Ponyville. Getting in trouble with Applejack and Granny Smith, getting into fights with her former friends, Twist flat out abandoning her after getting her precious cutie mark, Diamond Tiara and Silver Soon taking any opportunity to bully her. Apple Bloom fought back thew tears, not wanting Night Shade to think she was a crybaby. “I really hated it there.”

     They sat in silence for a couple of moments, but Night Shade broke the silence. “Hay, wanna see my house? You must be hungry if you fell for the Trap Iris's trap.” Apple Bloom beamed, happier then she'd been in days as she trotted behind the unicorn colt. It seemed that she had finally found a real friend.

     Following Night Shade, Apple Bloom took routs that she never would have considered and became nervous when they had to follow a path. What if someone found them and took them back to their towns. She sighed in relief when that didn't happen. After what must have been hours, they came to a small woods. There was a small path in the trees, but that was to be expected if it was somepony's house. But there was no house. Instead, there was something curious. A hole. No a pit. A pit that all four Equestrian princesses could have fit in. More than that, it was so completely black that it looked almost like ink. Nothing was visible except darkness.

     Apple Bloom felt a small tugging at her hind leg. The ferret was trying to pull her away, scared for the both of them. Night Shade sneered. Suddenly filled with rage, Apple Bloom lightly kicked him away. He chattered frantically as if trying to warn her about something and she turned to face him. “What? Night Shade wouldn't hurt us.” More chattering. “So after all I did for you, you're abandonin' me, too?” The ferret shook it's head frantically, but Apple Bloom didn't listen. “Just get outta here! You're like all the rest of 'em!”

     The ferret scurried off into the bushes. For a moment, Apple Bloom felt afraid, she probably shouldn't go down there. Once again, she thought of the unhappy times with her so-called friends and family, and now her ferret friend had left her, too. At this, her heart hardened. If she never saw any of them again, it would suit her just fine. She hoped they were worried and scared for her, not because it proved they cared for her but because they all deserved to be as much.

     Night Shade jumped into the pit and Apple Bloom followed. To her surprise it wasn't really that long of a drop, maybe a few feet at the most. The place she found herself in looked like a world wide cave. There was no sky, only a stony ceiling with sharp stalactites here and there. The ground was more or less smooth stone with a river cutting through.

     “This is a weird place for a house.” Apple Bloom said.

    “Maybe, but it's the best I was able to find.” Night Shade said.

     Apple Bloom was about to comment on how creepy everything was, but noticed that it didn't seem all that creepy to her at all. In fact, she felt very safe with Night Shade. She couldn't remember feeling so safe with anyone else before. Night Shade was her only true friend in the world.

     What she didn't notice, though, was Night Shade's eyes flashing bright red and shinning greedily.

The Search

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The Split

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The Confrontation

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