Waking up in Equestria

Celestia had arrived some time after Twilight was left alone at Sweet Apple Acres. She came, as she always did, in her chariot drawn by two royal guards in shimmering golden armor. The two friends greeted each other cordially at first and then more tenderly, leaving the formalities behind and walked towards the barn.

"I'm so excited to meet this human, Twilight! I haven't seen one in over a hundred years!"

"You've met other humans in Equestria?" Twilight asked

"Yes, Twilight. Humans have found thier way to our land before... usually from somepony playing with magic they know little about..." she gave the smaller Alicorn beside her a knowing sidelong look.

Twilight felt her face burn red with embarrassment and she looked down. "I'm sorry, Celestia... I just..."

Celestia cut her off. "Oh Twilight... please don't apologize. You aren't the first talented magic pony to use that spell."

Twilight's eyes snapped up wide and she gazed at the majestic Alicorn walking beside her . "You mean..."

"Twilight.. who do you think hid that book? I should have known my best student ever would find it eventually." she smiled down at her friend.

"What happened? Did he make it back to his world?"

"No..." The briefest of sad looks passed over her face. Twilight wondered if there was more to Celestia's involvement than she was letting on. "He died here before you were born. He had a good heart, Twilight... and those of us who knew him mourned his passing."

Twilight's ears drooped and she wanted to ask her more about it, but they had reached the barn and she had to tell her friend what had happened.

"Celestia, something's come up..."

Twilight filled Celestia in. The tall Alicorn's face grew dark at the mention of Whipwind. There was not a more spiteful and untrustworthy pony in all of Equestria right now and she was more fond of Discord than the dishonored ex Wonderbolt. Her face softened and she gave a peculiar smile when she learned that Scootaloo had confided in Mason.

"I was hoping that young Scootaloo would confide in someone eventually. She's suffered greatly in silence for a long time... The human must be special to her."

"Yes... we didn't have a chance to ask Mason about that."

"I will talk with the human. If what I'm thinking is true, Scootaloo may have chosen Mason for a reason." Celestia changed topics. "Has anypony returned yet with news?"

"No... but it's been a while. I'm sure somepony is bound to show up soon!" Twilight offered, wondering what Celestia meant by a 'reason'.

"Alright, we will wait until we hear something. Then we can decide how best to help"

While they waited, Twilight pumped Celestia for information about the last human to come to Equestria. She was an inquisitive pony, and was always eager to learn about anything given the opportunity. Celestia explained that it happened in the Crystal Empire. Princess Amore had been a young but very powerful unicorn who had ventured to Canterlot for training. She had found the very same book Twilight had and, like her, also took it with her back home. She purposely sought out to summon a human, but for selfish reasons. She wanted one as a status symbol for her land.

Using a different spell, she bound the human's life force to her own. While this acted as a shield against Equestra's influence for the human, it also enslaved him. What Amore didn't anticipate was her sister, Rose, falling in love with the human. A bitter divide formed in the royal house of the Crystal Empire. Amore saw him as nothing but a pet, Rose as a kind and loving soul, worth of his own life and freedom.

Twilight and Celestia were both startled when when Fluttershy burst through the door. She was covered in sweat and very out of breath. Panting, she struggled to take in a big lung full to scream in her tiny voice

"APPLE BLOOM!"

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"Zecora!!" Apple Bloom had never been so happy to see somepony in all her life. "Help! Please!..." She sobbed.

"What brings you hear to swoon? It's not even half way to noon!" The zebra said. Taking a closer look at the filly, she reared back in shock at the the limp and wrong angle Apple Bloom's leg was laying, the large amount of dried blood all over her and the chunk of her mane that was missing.

"Your leg and body all in tatters! Please, little one! Tell me what's the matter?"

"My leg....It hurts... Zecora... It hurts so ba ha ha had..." she cried.

"Hmm...Broken it must be, but do not worry, you are safe with me. While we journey to my abode, you must tell me what brings you to this road"

Zecora knelt and scooped up the crying filly, doing her best to position her on her back without bumping the visibly swollen leg too much. Once settled, she took off at a very rapid pace through the bush. Apple Bloom tried her best to tell Zecora everything, but she was in pain and traumatized, prone to breaking out into fits of sobbing from either or both of those conditions. The thick underbrush began to thin and the forest opened up. They had arrived at a wide smooth path that Apple Bloom recognized as being very near the zebra's hut.

"... and then... and then he yelled he was gonna find me. I don't know how I ever got away, Zecora, but... but I did. I musta fainted or somethin' cuz I woke up... and I didn't know where I was!"

"A bad adventure you've been on, and I'm angry how you've been wronged. A bed is where I'll let you lay, for I must spread this word today."

Zecora moved quickly to her hut that was surrounded close by the forest on all sides and opened the door. Once inside, she carefully placed Apple Bloom on her back in a pile of soft blankets and cushions in the corner. The hut was cluttered with colored bottles, hanging flowers and all sorts of esoteric baubles and vials that Apple Bloom was clueless about. Her large cauldron was cold and empty at his hour.

She closed her eyes and tried to block out the pain of her leg while Zecora busied herself collecting small vials from various places around the interior of her dwelling. Once gathered, she selected a goblet and began to pour a bit of each vial to it, but the final ingredient had to come from Apple Bloom. She stepped over to the filly and picked a dried scab from her head without saying a word.

"Hay!" Apple Bloom complained.

"This special brew is just for you. It needs to know just who is who..." she said flatly and trance like.

Zecora dropped the scab into the goblet and a small flash of light issued flared from inside. Satisfied, the zebra picked the vessel up and brought it to where Apple Bloom lay on her back.

"Drink from this and you'll feel better. For your leg will not be under the weather."

Apple Bloom took the goblet in both hooves and sniffed the liquid inside... It didn't smell of anything. This wasn't the first time she had one of Zecora's potions and the zebra was her friend so she gulped it down quickly. The liquid burned down her throat in a pleasant tingle and when it hit her empty stomach, the tingling spread out through her whole body quickly. It worked its way up to her head and filled it with a pleasant buzzing, making her feel happy and relaxed. After a few moments, she was peacefully laying back on the blankets in a hazy, pain free fog. A few moments after that... she was deeply asleep.

Zecora was quick to catch the goblet from the limp hooves of the poor filly. She would have to set the bone in her leg very soon and wanted Apple Bloom to be asleep when she did, but she had time. That potion would last for hours and she needed to send word to her family and friends. This Whipwind was dangerous, and there was no telling what has become of Scootaloo.

She bolted out of the hut in a fast gallop looking in the trees for a very specific bird.

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Fluttershy had drifted in her slow methodical way towards her house way out on the eastern edge of Ponyville. She figured she would recruit the help of her animal friends to help look for Apple Bloom. The birds especially would be able to cover a lot of ground quickly and she made a beeline for their tree soon after arriving near her house. The critters around the area naturally greeted her whenever she arrived home and she was soon surrounded by squirrels, butterflies, rabbits and even a big ol' bear had wandered out of the thicket of trees nearby to say hello.

She addressed them all with her kind and loving voice that she was looking for someone and asked them please, please to take some time right now to spread out and help look for her. The gathering of critters, eager to help their friend Fluttershy, star-burst in all directions and were soon gone.

"There, that should help out quite nicely" she said, pleased with herself for such a good idea. She busied herself drifting along the northern edge of Everfree forest. She scouted first to the east, way beyond where any of the fillies would ever go on their own and then turned around. She was now humming contently to herself, happy to be out in the sunshine.

Moving west now, she crossed back over the area where her house was and continued. Ahead in the far distance she could barely make out the first of the small houses where so many ponies had come and gone. A small twittering bird appeared from the treeline, squawking loudly and frantically. Fluttershy had never seen a bird so agitated before and wondered what was wrong with the poor little thing.

She turned and glided towards it. When it got close, she recognized it was a Everfree mocking jay. These little birds were very intelligent and could repeat many words and sounds. Often they were used as messengers between great distances by ponies. The bird flew straight at Fluttershy and hovered.

"Why hello there, little Jay... I'm happy to see you" She smiled at it.

Her smile vanished instantly when the Jay told her exactly what Zecora had requested.

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"Calm down, Fluttershy. What about her, did you find Apple Bloom?!" Twilight asked hopefully.

"Zecora.... Found her.... In... The forest...." she gasped. She had flown as fast as she could from her house to here. While technically a pegasus, she was really bad at flying. "Apple Bloom is... hurt bad. Her and Scootaloo were... attacked by Whipwind!"

Twilight's horn flared a brilliant red light as her eyes narrowed. "Whipwind...." she growled.

"Well.. that is what... the Jay told me... I don't know for sure..." Fluttershy hated it when Twilight got angry.

"Patience, Twilight Sparkle. Let us learn the truth before we waste the energy. We must go to Apple Bloom and bring her safely back. Besides, if Whipwind is still at the house, he will have to deal with Applejack and Big Mac, I do not envy any pony facing those two in anger. Perhaps they will find Scootaloo there as well." Celestia said in a calm and soothing voice.

"Errgh! Fine, but who will stay here and tell the others when they return?"

"Ya'll fergot I was here again... didnt'cha?" Granny Smith said from the other room.

"Granny Smith! When did you get back?" Twilight called out, moving to the doorway to the great room. There was Granny perched in her rocking chair.

"Ya'll were so busy jibber jabberin ya didn't even see me! Snuck right in on ya! Hahahhee! I still got it, don't I? Ya'll go on now, I'll let em know where ya be. Go get that lil filly and get er back to where I kin mend her."

"Thank you Granny." She said gratefully. Turning to Celestia and Fluttershy then " Alright girls! Let's go!"

The two Alicorns and one pegasus took off to the east towards the distant path that lead to Zecora's house. On the way, they first passed the large bride over the river, then the crossroads to Ponyville to the north, and finally the southern path leading to the cluster of houses on their right where the fillies were attacked.

Had Fluttershy been only a little longer in getting back to Sweet Apple Acres, they would have seen the trio who went to Scootaloo's house returning up the path to head back to the barn with Apple Bloom's bow.

Had Fluttershy been much longer, They would have met with Rarity and the trio from Scootaloo's house just after crossing the river.

Had Fluttershy taken a good deal longer. Everyone would have been together except Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie was drifting down from the clouds near the river crossing.

But Fluttershy had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres exactly when she did. The two powerful Alicorns and the sweet, shy pegasus flew on... unaware of the trouble in Cloudsdale until they returned with a sleeping Apple Bloom much much later.

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When we spied Rarity trotting south on the road from Ponyville, we hoped she would bring some news. But they the three of us were disappointed when Rarity told our group that nopony in town had seen or heard from the two fillies. The white unicorn was appalled when Applejack told her what we had found at Scootaloo's house.

I had worked myself up into a burning hatred and anger at Whipwind. I knew how miserable Scootaloo had been all these years and it was all his doing. That house was a horrible place to be and because of her father's abuse... she wouldn't let anyone help her. My stomach knotted with worry and the bitter taste of anger. If he has done anything to her... The thought trailed off. I wasn't a fighting person. I'd never so much as hit anything in my life before. I didn't know what I'd do if I confronted him.

"Oh I know that filly's hurt. Just look at this bow!" Applejack held the bow out again. There was a large clump of Apple Bloom's fiery red hair stuck to the clip. We had all closely inspected it for blood, but it was hard to tell with the color of the fabric and the dirt caked on it.

After meeting Rarity, the three ran at a good clip towards the farm with me trundling around in the cart behind Big Mac. We all hoped for some good news once we arrived. Maybe Apple Bloom or Scootaloo had shown up by now and had a perfectly logical explanation? It was a fool's hope. I knew that had been dried blood back there... and I was sure something bad was going down.

Rarity suddenly dug her hooves in and came to skidding stop. The other two ponies followed suit and I slammed against the front wall of the cart with a painful jolt. Big Mac looked around apologetically.

"What in all of Equestra is that noise? Do you hear that?" Rarity said, perking her ears up.

"What are ya talkin bout I don't..." Then Apple Jack stopped too, her ears doing the same.

"Eeeuppp!" Big Mac rumbled.

I tried to listed as hard as I could... but still nothing but the birds and the breeze reached my ears. The ponies had way better hearing than I did. I should remember that...

"That sounds like Pinkie Pie!" Rarity announced.

"Sure does... LOOK!" Applejack smiled, pointing at the large white fluffy cloud above us.

The bottom of a large woven basket broke the edge of the cloud, followed by a massive red balloon. Apparently Pinkie Pie had found one at that hour. I could hear her now. She was singing away some nameless song at the top of her lungs as she drifted down to us.

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack yelled as the three of us took off to meet where the balloon had landed. She was talking excitedly before we even got to her.

"There was a BIIIG flock of birds and they almost hit me but then I started singing REALLY REALLY LOUD and they left me alone so then I decided to go higher cause I didn't think birds could fly that high but you know what? I forgot about pegasus! They can fly really really high too so I followed them and next thing I knew..." Pinkie had to stop to take a huge gasp of air. Applejack shoved a hoof over her mouth before she could start again.

"Pinkie... did you see anything?" she said flatly and then removed her hoof.

"Well, thats what I was TRYING to tell you! I have to go to Cloudbrand and get Twilight!"

"Say whut, sugar cube?"

"Twilight needs to go to Cloudsdale! To Cloudbrand's mansion near the city center! Whipwind is there and Rainbow Dash needs our help!"