APPALOOSA
TEN YEARS BEFORE THE CORONATION OF PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE
The mayor's house stood on the outskirts of town, silent as it always was. Although it looked much like every single other house in Appaloosa on the outside, it was the largest of the bunch. On the inside however, it was a completely different story. Pristine hardwood floors and intricately designed rugs greeted the occasional tourist once he stepped hoof inside. Inside the backyard was some of the most perfectly cared for apple trees in the orchard, as well as sculpted oak trees. The guest rooms were nearly twice the size of an average bedroom, the master nearly a home in its own right. This building not only served as the centre of government in the small municipality, but was also the home of one of Equestria’s most respected Earthen family’s. Belonging to a couple by the name of Apple Seed and Apple Flower, it had been built by hoof from the blood, sweat and tears by the Apple Family almost a century prior. Each generation since had added on a new extension to the home, turning a small shack into a lavished and well deserved mansion.
The entire family was passed out in their bedrooms, letting the sweet embrace of night take them after a long day of work. Apple Flower and Apple Seed slept with their youngest daughter, appropriately named Apple Bloom, in their hooves. The other two members of the family, the eldest son Big McIntosh and the middle child Applejack, lay peacefully in their bedrooms. Being fast asleep, the Apple Family were not at all aware of the two purple eyes gazing upon them in the darkness.
Nine year old Applejack was sleeping tranquilly, her dreams vivid with a great flying machine in the likeness of an apple. She was awoken with a start, a blood freezing shriek emanating throughout the house. What sounded like a violent brawl had broken out, followed by a flurry of hoofsteps. Her elder brother Big McIntosh burst into the room, a light in his eyes that screamed panic.
"We have to go, now!" he yelled.
Applejack protested meekly, unsure of what was going on, but was ultimately forced out of bed by her older brother. Apple Bloom was strapped around his neck, desperately trying to not get thrown off as he erratically moved around. Her face was torn into shreds of confusion and worry, but overall she remained silent. Big Macintosh quickly navigated through the maze that was their home, expertly moving through the long and twisting halls.
Quickly looking back behind her, Applejack barely see back down the hall that she had just galloped through. The few lanterns and candles that were left lit were slowly snuffed out as the darkness seemingly followed in their hoofsteps. Two purple eyes crawled out of the black, illuminated by some fell magic. Muffled screams carried from its unseen maw, ethereal moans that echoed softly down the hallway.
Practically throwing her down the stairs, Big Mac galloped as fast as his legs would carry him. The ghostly creature behind them followed, nipping at their hooves as they ran. Apple Bloom cried out in fear, but no relent or mercy was given from it. The sound of their movements, both from their frantic and running and the collisions into the walls as a result bounced off of the walls, seemingly driving the monstrosity further.
The main entrance came into view, a reassuring sight amidst the chaos that was unfolding around the three younglings. Lowering his head, Big McIntosh collided with the door quite violently. It gave way, his body nearly flying out from the interior into the front yard, Applejack quickly followed in his wake. Slumping over on the ground to catch his breath, the two Apple sisters surrounded their pained brother in reassurance.
A loud hiss directed their attention back to the doorway, writhing mass of shadow and blackness waiting just behind the doors. Its eyes were alight with anger as its form moved out of the archway. A crack of thunder, sounding as though it were right above the house, sounded and momentarily stunned the three ponies. Droplets of water slowly fell to the ground, opening up to the planned storm for the night. Retreating back to the interior of the Apple family residence, it let out a feral cry towards the sky. Sounding half way between broken laughter and a stallions dying breath, it only took a few moments for the pegasai working above to begin flying in under the cloud cover.
The doors groaned as they were shut closed, the few remaining lights inside slowly extinguishing as the weather teams descended to see what was going on.
APPALOOSA POLICE STATION
THREE HOURS LATER
The Apple family siblings sat on a bench in the Appaloosa police station. After hearing their pleas, the weather teams had taken them there for help. The thunder storm had been called off to help give better visibility to the first responders, but so far no news had been brought back. Several weather ponies and officers stood around, offering reassurances to the three. Opening quietly, the door revealed the form of the town sheriff, a dear friend of the Apple family and had always been considered an uncle to the three foals.
"We will begin a full investigation in the morning,” the sheriff said calmly to the three children, “we’re already looking in the area and we’ve sent a letter to Cloudsdale to request some extra eyes in the air but can any of you three tell me what this stallion looked like? How he might have gotten inside?”
"He had these glowing purple eyes!" Applejack blurted, the attention suddenly being drawn towards her, "It felt like that... that they were staring into my... into my soul."
The sheriff looked back to the officers behind him, a worried expression forming on their faces. He dipped his hat slightly, inhaling before properly responding.
“We’ll do everything we can to find your parents,” he said softly, embracing the three of them with a hug, “You three can sleep at my house for the night, I promise I’ll keep you safe from that varmint.”
Nodding somberly, the three silently remained on the bench. Apple Bloom occasionally asked when mommy and daddy were coming back, while Big McIntosh carried a solemn look on his face. He didn’t show any emotion, not even to his younger sisters, but kept a hoof wrapped around both of them. Applejack couldn’t react to anything properly however. A part of her wished to cry, another wanted to hide away from the rest of the world.
The sheriff spoke with his fellow officers about the details of the case in a hushed whisper. Despite her best attempts at listening in, Applejack couldn’t hear what they were saying. A mare from the weather team returned with a tray of hot chocolate, kindly offering the beverage to the three of them. Each taking a mug the Apple siblings sat in hollow silence, none of them knowing what to say or do.
