Into The Forest

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It was dawn. The remaining ponies were gathered around the camera Rarity had left behind. They watched the previous footage from the night before, and looked on with complete disbelief and awe as their friend is carried away by the hairy creature.  Twilight shook her head and began to pace. “That is not possible.” She muttered.

“I… I can’t believe it,” Fluttershy said with fear in her voice. “Bigfoot took Rarity! What… what do we do?!”

Pinkie Pie looked around at the group with a somber expression. “I think there’s only one thing to do,” She said gravely. She bowed her head and closed her eyes. Everyone except for Twilight reluctantly did the same. “Rarity was a great fashionista… and a fantastic friend,” Pinkie said. “She was always there for us when we needed her. I’ll never forget the time when she chased me around with a pair of sewing scissors when I accidentally dropped Ice Cream on her new dress.” The rest of the ponies nodded and chuckled lightly. “Or the time when she followed through with that dare, and got her mane wet in the rain. She was so brave.”

Applejack looked up at Pinkie with a raise eyebrow. “How’d you know about that? You weren't even there.” Pinkie never opened her eyes.

“That’s not important right now, Applejack.”

Twilight spun around. “Alright, everypony stop! Rarity is not dead.”

Rainbow nodded. “Twilight’s right. She can’t be, and we won’t let her.” The Princess of Friendship gave a small smile.

“Thank You, Rainbow Dash.” She turned to address the rest of the group. “We are going to find her, and then we are going to get out of here.” Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy both picked up their cameras (Pinkie with her mane of course) and started rolling.

Rainbow looked back over her shoulder. “Fluttershy, how are we doing on battery?” She asked.

“Um, half, and we still have auxiliary.” The veterinarian replied.

Rainbow smiled. “Nice.” She turned to Twilight. “We’re ready when you are.” The Alicorn gave an exasperated sigh.

Pinkie bounced over to her. “Twilight, I know you’re upset,” She started.  Twilight cut her off. “Why are you filming this, Pinkie?”

The Baker took a deep breath.

“Becauseatfirstwehadtofilmeverythingelseandthetapealonemightgiveuscluesandeveryponywouln’tbelieveusiswetoldthemandwecouldlookbackatthisandlaughandwehaveadutytoserveourcounrty!!!”

Twilight shook her head. “I give up. I have no idea what you just said.”

Applejack suddenly galloped in front of them and stopped. She turned to look back at the group. “Guys, I smell barbecue!”

Twilight looked at her friend with sympathy. “No, Applejack, you’re not. You’re distressed and you’re probably projecting a delusion of grandeur.”

Applejack shook her head. “No...No. It’s smoked meat.” She took a big sniff. “And it’s fresh. It’s freshly smoked meat!” She took off, galloping in the direction of the smell.

Twilight blinked in surprise. “That’s the direction where Rarity was taken!” She quickly galloped after Applejack. “Let’s go! Everypony, now!”

Rainbow Dash leisurely trotted behind Twilight. “Sure knows a lot about smoked meat,” She commented.

The Main five silently moved through the forest with Twilight in the front. Fluttershy hovered in the air in front of Rainbow Dash while filming her.

“Three, two…”

“Rainbow Dash here! We are currently tracking the monster in an attempt to find and rescue one of our own… or possibly find her remains.”

“That is overstated!” Twilight called back.

“Fix in post,” Rainbow said quickly. “Needless to say, we have risked everything in order to bring the truth behind this legend to the rest of the free speaking world.”

Applejack stopped. “Are she blows,” she announced proudly. There was a crackling fire and a cave within just a hundred feet from where the ponies were standing. “I knew that I could always smell food from a mile away.”

Fluttershy pointed a hoof towards the cave. “Look. That’s the same cave we can see from the blind, which means… we’ve gone in a big circle.”

Twilight slowly crawled out in front. “Okay everypony,” She whispered. “Stay together. Let’s go.”  Everyone quickly and quietly made their way towards the fire. When they got there, they saw that a hunk of meat was being rotisseried over the fire. There was also a certain saddle sack with gems on it hanging in the entrance of the cave.

“Uh-oh.” Pinkie said.

“Oh my goodness,” Fluttershy breathed. “That’s Rarity’s saddle sack!”

Rainbow Dash gulped. “It looked she got roasted rotisserie style.”

Pinkie took a deep breath. “Okay…uh… In lieu of everything that we’ve been through with that dear pony… I can’t believe I’m about to say this…” Everyone stared at Pinkie intently. “…Rarity does smell absolutely delicious, anypony?”  Applejack took another deep sniff.

“Amen,” She agreed. “If that is in fact Rarity…which I highly doubt…I reckon that she’s been dry rubbed.”

Twilight threw her hooves up in the air. “What’s the matter with you guys?! Look, I refuse to believe that there isn't a rational explanation for all this, and I highly doubt that Bigfoot is dry rubbing his dinner with barbecue sauce!” Applejack spoke up.

“’Course he didn't, Sugar cube. It’s apples and oranges. The operative word is ‘Dry’ meaning ‘No sauce’.”

Rainbow Dash cut in. “Look, the show must go on, right? We gotta get inside that cave.”

Pinkie came back from investigating the cave. “He’s not in there,” she reported. “But I found a cabin not too far away. Also, I think he might have a green thumb… which is weird, because he’s Bigfoot.” It was true. Beautiful flowers were decorated along the path. The ponies quietly made their way to a large clearing that surrounded the cabin. “Huh.” Pinkie said. “This is surprisingly cozy… and is that a solar panel?”

Twilight burst through the door with the others right behind her. The inside of the cabin looked rather charming. There was furniture, a fireplace…and Rarity wrapped in a blanket in a chair with her eyes closed.  “Rarity!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Everyone rushed to the unicorn’s side.

“She’s here!” Pinkie squealed. “She’s alive!”

Twilight gently shook the unicorn by her shoulders. “Rarity? Rarity, say something! Talk to me. Tell us you’re okay.” Rarity’s eyes remained closed. Pinkie started to tear up. Were they too late?

Suddenly, Fluttershy shouted “THERE’S A SALE HAPPENING AT THE MALL!”  Rarity immediately perked up. She looked around at everyone in surprise.

“Oh, hi girls!” She said with a big smile. Everyone sighed in relief, and hugged the element of Generosity.

“Rarity,” Twilight breathed. “Oh gosh, we thought that…” She paused, and composed herself. “They thought  ...” Rarity gave a light chuckle. “No, I’m fine, Twilight dear. In fact, we were going come and find you right after brunch.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “We?” Just then, the door flew open, and the large hairy creature stood in the doorway. Everyone but Rarity screamed, including the creature. Twilight’s horn lit up, ready to fire at the creature if he came any closer.

“Don’t shoot!” The creature pleaded. “I’m unarmed!” The ponies’ mouths hung open.

“Dear Lord,” Rainbow gasped, stumbling forward. “You can speak!”

Rarity waved her hoof in the air. “He’s okay girls!” The creature pulled off his head… it was costume.  The monster was in fact… just a pony. An Earth Pony. A stallion. He was tall, about seven feet to be exact, and he had light gray fur, and a scruffy beard. He looked around at the astonished mares sheepishly.

“Okay, I may have fibbed a little bit right out the gate there,” He said in a deep voice. “I’m armed but I’m not dangerous.”

“You look dangerous.” Applejack said truthfully.

The stallion shrugged. “I mean, I‘m really dangerous, I’m just not vengeful or vindictive.” Rarity smiled warmly at the stallion.

“It’s quite alright, Ed. They’re with me.” The others just stood still, unsure of what to think of the situation.

“Rarity, what is going on here?” Twilight asked cautiously.

“Ladies,” Rarity said, extending her hoof towards the large pony. “This is Big Ed Trottington. He saved my life.”  The girls looked at Ed and back at Rarity. “Truth is, my ankle was a lot worse off than I admitted,” Rarity confessed. Ed put the head of his costume on a shelf, and the others started to relax. “I bled profusely and at some point in the night, I passed out… by the way, Applejack, your hat is on that chair over there.” As Applejack went to retrieve her hat, Ed explained what happened the night before.

“I found the trap with blood on it, and saw Miss Rarity, put two and two together and felt horrible. It was my trap.”

Rarity stood up and started hobbling around, lightly tossing her recently brushed mane. She was all cleaned up. “Like a gentleman, Big Ed picked me up and brought me back here. He cleaned up my ankle and re dressed my wound.”

“Um, Mr. Ed?” Fluttershy spoke up softly. “Pardon me for asking, but why do you wear a furry costume?”

“And what are you doing out here?” Rainbow asked, knitting her eyebrows.

“I've been living in these woods for over a decade,” Ed explained. “The sad truth is I just lost faith in the Equestrian society. I was an army ranger back in the day, so I knew I could exist at one with nature.” He gave a deep sigh. “I don’t have to open the paper every morning and get depressed.”

Pinkie walked up next to Ed. “You lost faith in society? Why don’t you come over to Ponyville? It’s ideal, and fun, and there are lots of ponies, and they’re all so nice, and we sing a lot…” Big Ed smiled down at the bubbly mare.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m content with being alone. Regarding the costume, In any event, I created this pelt suit for camouflage. It allows me to hunt and move about without disturbing the natural order of things. Plus, I burn easily.”

Twilight, having relaxed now that everything seemed to be okay, smiled at the tall stallion. “Well, we can’t thank you enough for saving our friend.” Then her demeanor changed a little. “And I really hate to be a buzz kill here, but there are still two bodies that are unaccounted for. I suppose you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Mr.Trottington?”

Ed smiled. “Oh no, your highness. I wouldn't hurt a fly.”

There was an awkward silence that followed.

“Anypony hungry?” he asked. Voices erupted in agreement.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Yes.”

Trottington nodded. I've been smoking some venison outside all morning,” he said. “Trust me. My dry rub is the best thing you’ll ever taste.”

“Affirmative.” Applejack said with a laugh. Then she paused. “Uh, so it smells,” She said quickly.

Pinkie Pie turned to Applejack with an angry glare. “Oh my… Applejack, you are unbelievable!”

Applejack glanced at Pinkie, looking guilty already. “What?”

“Don’t you ‘what’ me!” Pinkie hissed. “You sampled the meat, didn't you? You tasted the meat when we all thought it was Rarity!”

Applejack gave a huff. “No. I said that I highly doubted that it was Rarity. Besides, what difference does it make? You’re the one who said that she smelt delicious!”

Pinkie’s eyes widened.  “I was trying to put a positive spin on a horrific event! I certainly wasn't going to partake!”

“I can feel my ribs, Pinkie.”

“It hasn't even been 24 hours!”

Ed quickly cut in. “Okay, okay. There’s plenty of meat for everypony… and none of it is made out of pony. I’m gonna hoof it up to the Ranger station and get an ATV back in here for Miss Rarity… and for the Earth pony and Pegasus,” He informed. “I just need to get out of this suit.”

The Main six sat at the dinner table eating the meat that Ed put out for them (Except for Fluttershy, who insisted on salad and fruit and kept filming the group while she ate).

After a while, Rainbow Dash notices that someone was missing. “Where’s Pinkie Pie?” she asked.

“Probably in the back snooping around,” Applejack said a matter-a-factly.  She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “You guys aren’t at all suspicious of Ed?”

Rarity picked up a grape with her magic and smirked. “You didn’t seem to have any trouble eating his food.” After munching on the delicious fruit, her expression changed. “Pinkie Pie, you better not be snooping back there!” She yelled.

***

In the back of the house, the Element of Laughter was indeed snooping around in Ed’s bedroom with her camera still being held by her mane. “Pretty bare bones, huh, Ed?” She said with a sigh. She eyed a brown wooden box under the bed. “What do we have here?” She reached down and pulled the box out from under the bed.

***

“I’m just saying,” Applejack said back at the dinner table. “This fella’s been living here for how long? And he’s never seen or heard anything?”

Rarity straightened up in her chair and threw Applejack a stern glare. “Ed Trottington is an angel in a wolf’s, bear’s and elk’s clothing,” She said, waving a fork with her magic. “Why would he nurse me back to health if he was a cold blooded killer, Applejack? It doesn’t make sense! Despite his rugged appearance, the Stallion is quite chivalrous.”

Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair, putting her hooves behind her head. “He’s two Stallions,” She said with a smirk. “Seven feet, and what, like, 400 pounds? Did ya get a load of those meat hooks? Can you imagine?”

Twilight looked at Rainbow with a deadpan expression. “Imagine what?”

***

Meanwhile, Pinkie had laid out most of the contents of what was inside the box on the mattress. Documents, files, certificates, The Purple heart, and a picture of Ed in a military uniform and another picture of Ed in a tux with a pretty mare beside him in a white dress. Silently pondering these items, she moved on to the shelf by the bed, and found another box. As she opened the box, her eyes widened.

“Hey guys, I think you should get in here!” In less than two seconds, the other ponies appeared at the doorway.

“Pony feathers, Pinkie Pie!” Rarity said angrily. “I told you not to—“ She stopped short as Pinkie held up photos of the two dead ponies that were lying in the hole.

“I found these in a box by Ed’s bed.” Pinkie said. Rarity quickly held up the photos with her magic so that everyone could see them better.

“I thought I recognized those ponies,” Twilight gasped. “That one’s June Del-Mane!”

Rarity squinted her eyes. “And that one is Silver Platinum. I remember reading about them in the Newspaper. They went missing about two weeks ago, but the trail went cold.”

Fluttershy nodded. “That’s right! They’re associated with a Serbian crime syndicate up north.”

Twilight looked back at the pictures gravely. “It looks like these guys have taken contract killing to a whole new level.”

Applejack shook her head. “What did I tell you? Big Ed is probably taking out the trash for mobsters who don’t even speak English!”

Pinkie Pie tilted her head to the side. “We don’t know that for sure. I mean, they’re bound to have accents.”

Applejack face hoofed. “Regardless! We know who the dead people are, and we know who killed them and we’re in his house! We need to get out of here.”

As the Main six piled into the living room, Ed burst through the front door with a huge BAM!!  They all stopped in their tracks, some shouting in surprise. Without hesitation, Rarity held out the photos in front of her with her magic.

“Would you care to explain these?” She asked in a calm voice.

“I found those netting salmon.” Ed replied with difficulty.

Rarity swallowed, and said “I’m afraid we have to leave now, Ed.”

Ed said nothing at first, but then he replied, “I’m afraid you’re not gonna make it out of here alive, Miss Rarity.”

The Main Six stood their ground, ready for anything that Ed might throw at them(Except maybe for Pinkie and Fluttershy who were still filming, at least until Ed made a move). Twilight and Rarity both lit up their horns, ready to fire. Then, Ed collapsed on the floor in front of them with an axe buried in his back. The mares stared at him in shock. Pinkie Blinked. “Um…Ed?”