Philosopher of Earth

+++ The next morning, the Apple family orchard +++

I woke from a strange dream. I had told what I believed to be an "alicorn" about some of my personal demons, I have no idea what event in the past few days caused this dream to occur, but I will search any memory I can to locate the source, and possibly the dreams meaning. I still had no idea what to do next in terms of my physical survival however. So, I boiled some water and picked a few apples and bunkered down in the shack.

+++ Twilights Castle, the next few days. +++

Silver Star and Nimbus Light were reunited with Wind Rush when the search was moved to Ponyville. The three of them, since they were the only ones who had made confirmed contact with the alien, had instructed the newly added members to their mission, about what they had learned about it in the brief time they had encountered it. Twilight, had then assigned them to the team that she would help in the field. Twilight had also, early on in the search, outlined the surrounding area with a spell that would alert her if the monster exited the area, she apparently wanted to capture it for scientific studies, and didn't want it harmed. Patrols were out covering nearly every inch of Ponyville and surrounding areas at almost all hours of day and night, with patrols switching every few hours. To help keep morale up, she had spent some of her personal savings on a home theater for one of her many studies, and had ordered tons of food from a local restaurant to help feed the mass of Guards. The combination had kept everypony in the Royal Guard happy, the same could not be said for the workers of said restaurant, but Twilight had paid so that was that. Twilight, unlike the guards, almost never stopped in her efforts to find the alien, she had to be dragged to bed by her grumpy dragon assistant Spike.

Twilight had finally managed to find something to cover her nose and mouth so she could examine the rabbits remains. She, to everyones relieve, soon had recorded everything about them and ordered the remains to be destroyed.

The search remained fruitless until one of Twilights friends came to the castle and demanded an audience with her.

"Twilight!" exclaimed Applejack.

"AJ!" greeted Twilight.

"Ah... um... Ah've found something yall might want to see..." said Applejack.

"What'd you find?" asked an excited Twilight, she was very eager to find the alien.

"Well... Ah was walking through the orchard today, and I smelled something funny..." began Applejack

"Oh no! Not another one!" exclaimed distraught Twilight.

"Let me finish! Ah heard about what Fluttershy found, and this ain't it."

"Go on..."

"Kay... So I looked through some bushes and I found a pile of apple cores."

"Apple cores?" asked Twilight.

"Yea... And I asked Big Mac, Applebloom, and Granny Smith if they've been eatin’ apples out in the orchard and throwing 'em in a pile. And each one of them said that they haven't been eatin’ apples, at least not out in the orchard!"

"Curious..." said Twilight.

"Twi, do you think that maybe your monster is in mah orchard?" asked Applejack.

"Wait...How do you know about the monster?" asked Twilight.

"Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, and mahself may have read the letter Celestia sent you..." admitted Applejack. Twilight face hoofed and sighed. "And talk around the town ain't keepin' yer secret..." continued Applejack.

"I supposed it was inevitable..." sighed Twilight. "Alright then, yes, the alien MAY be eating your apples Applejack."

"So what are we gonna do?" asked Applejack.

"The same thing we did last time we thought something was in your orchard..."

"Steakout." they said together.

"But no spells that turn Fluttershy into a vampire..." warned Applejack.

"Now AJ, you know I can't make that promise." Twilight joked. They both laughed. "No, I think Fluttershy has had enough of the creature, I won't pressure her, or any of the others to help." said Twilight.

"So, when are we gonna do it?" asked Applejack.

"What time is it?"

"Uh... Almost noon..."

"In three hours."

"That soon?! Twi, maybe we shouldn't rush into this..." Applejack veered off.

"I agree, we shouldn't rush this, but necessity sometimes has other ideas. It must be captured before it kills a pony! And who knows what it'll do next!" exclaimed Twilight.

"Ah see yer point... But why three hours?"

"So far, it has been active at all times of the day, possibly stealing a pot during the night, gathering food during morning hours, and, if I'm right, maybe returning to its nest or shelter in the late afternoon or evening." answered Twilight. "Go home and get your family prepared, I don't think them getting in the way would be helpful. I'll start assembling a team to capture it."

"Okay Twilight... You sound like you know what yer doin..." answered Applejack as she left the foyer.

When she was gone Twilight started writing a letter to Princess Celestia, outlining her plan. Then she gathered the team she had chosen for her own scientific patrols. Ten Royal Guard unicorns and pegasi, each one brought a unique skill or experience that would help capture the alien. The original tracking team, NImbus, Silver, and Wind Rush were included.

"I've gotten a tip that our quarry is hiding in the local apple orchard," Twilight said to the assembled soldiers. "I've devised a plan that should enable us to capture it, should we come across it. But I'm warning you now, there is a high chance we will see it. So if any of you don't want to come, I'll accept that. As you all know, the monster is very dangerous, and will require a willing attitude to capture. If any of you wish to stay behind, or have any questions, say something now." After a moment a stallion unicorn stepped forwards. "Yes?" asked Twilight.

"When is this mission going to take place?" he asked.

"Three hours."

"I'm in." he replied. All of them stepped forwards to also join in, but Silver took two steps forward.

"Your Majesty, I think I also speak for Sergeant Nimbus and Wind when I say, LET'S GET THIS MOTHER CLOPPER!" she yelled. Nimbus and Wind responded with a,

"HOOF YEA!" At this Twilight smiled, it was obvious the trio had been together a long time, and had a friendship that could rival the friendships she had with her friends.

"We'll be leaving the castle in two and a half hours, tracking and capture gear will be necessary. And as Silver Star so kindly put it, LET'S GET THIS MOTHER CLOPPER!" yelled Twilight. The ten responded with a yelling cheer, and went to their assigned bunks to get equipment.

Twilight also went to her chambers, and started packing parchment, quills, and ink. She also strapped on some of the golden Royal Guard armor, minus the helmet as it might get in the way of serious spell casting. While stretching out her wings, Spike, who had started to get over his annoyance with Twilight, walked into the room and saw her in the armor. For some reason he started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" asked Twilight. The baby dragon didn't hear, he was too busy trying to breathe. Twilight walked over and kicked him, trying to get his attention. He still didn't stop laughing. "What's so funny?!" she yelled.

"I...I...I never thought I'd see you in armor!" he said in between maniacal laughter. What ever the joke was, Twilight didn't get it.

"Oh shut up and help me get my bag on." she said, now irritated with Spike. He started to settle down a little as he helped get Twilights saddle bag on, but he still chuckled. Suddenly a light bulb went on in Twilight's head.

"Hey Spike, how good are a dragons sense of smell?" she asked looking at the baby dragon with a devilish glint in her eyes. Spike stopped giggling when he saw that she had an idea.

"Pretty excellent compared to most things... Why?" he asked hesitantly.

"Good, your coming." she replied with a grin.

"Coming? Where?" the dragon asked.

"Applejacks orchard." she replied

"I've been to the orchard before, why..." suddenly his purple scales seemed to get a little paler. "Oh no... No... Nononono... I'm not coming to help track the monster." he stated.

"Think of it as a learning experience... And punishment for laughing at me." Twilight said as she dragged the helpless dragon behind her.

"Nooooooooo!" he yelled behind her.

+++ At the Apple Family Orchard, three hours later. +++

A very disgruntled Spike sat on Twilights back as she, and the ten other ponies trotted up to the Apple Family barn. Next to the barn stood the Apple family.

"Hey Twi! And company." said Applejack.

"Hey Applejack. Um... We'll only need you to lead us around the orchard and and show us where you found the cores... Why is your family with you?" Twilight asked bluntly.

"Ah know that! But they!" she said while gesturing to Big Mac, Applebloom, and Granny Smith, "Wanted to know what's goin’ on!" Twilight sighed, and then began to explain everything.

"We'll be looking around in the orchard looking for a possibly dangerous monster, but I would like YOU to be out of harms way in case things go wrong. And the only way you guys can do that is stay in your house, or go into Ponyville for possibly the night. I'm sorry for being rude but time is of the essence!"

"Whee know that!" said Granny Smith, "Whee just wanna see the Royal Gerds before whee tuck in fer the night!"

"Ah think Ah should warn ya, Granny here likes to get up in the middle of the night and wander the orchard." said Big Mac.

"Can you keep her inside? Just for the night? asked Twilight.

"Eeyup, but no guarantees." replied the large stallion. Applebloom remained silent, instead she stared at the Royal Guards with dilated pupils. "Come on you two..." said Big Mac, gently pushing Applebloom and Granny Smith towards their house.

"But Ah need ta inspect that pegasus right there! Up close and make sure he iz tha real deal!" yelled Granny Smith while pointing at Wind Rush. Eventually Big Mac got Granny Smith and Applebloom into the house, much to the relief of everypony outside.

"I feel like she's still watching me..." said a scared Wind Rush.

"Good, that'll make you want to stay in the orchard." said a chuckling Silver Star.

"Which way Applejack?" asked Twilight.

"That way." AJ replied while pointing in a direction.

"Okay! Let's go!" exclaimed Twilight.