Past is Present

Chapter 7

Evacuation

Twilight Sparkle walked slowly down the seldom used trail into the Everfree forest. Behind her Pinkie Pie happily hopped, the Grand Marshall of her own personal parade. Twilight Sparkle envied her. Behind them a long line of ponies stretched halfway back to town. They walked in pairs and trios looking about nervously and talking amongst themselves with hushed tones. Rarity, Zecora, and Fluttershy walked alongside of the line as a way of reassuring the townsponies that they were being protected from the dangers of the forest. Applejack headed up the rear of the party. Twilight Sparkle looked up to the sky, "How is everything up there?" she called out. Rainbow Dash swooped down from her post above the forest.

"Its all clear to the river!" She answered.

"Alright everypony, let's keep moving!" Twilight Sparkle called out to the line. She was relieved that the path was clear thus far, but they were far from safe. At any moment Timberwolves might take notice of the tempting line of skittish ponies and it would be hard to protect them all. A far off howl seemed to speak to her fears. A young pony cried out in terror and the dull murmur or the crowd suddenly rose in volume and pitch. Twilight Sparkle could feel the tension as fear took hold of her charges. Another howl. Suddenly she wanted to break away and run. She willed herself to stay calm - she had always prided herself on her ability to stay calm in crisis; why did she feel such a sudden rush of terror? Pinkie Pie hopped around her,

"Follow the leader!" she sang out. Twilight Sparkle stopped short with a confused look on her face as though a sudden revelation had struck her in what seemed to be a normal Pinkie Pie non sequitor. Twilight Sparkle smiled - leave it to Pinkie to know exactly what to say. She hadn't wanted to run away because she was afraid of the Timberwolves - those wooden brutes were formidable but nothing they hadn't handled dozens of times - it was not the danger she wanted to escape, it was the massive responsibility for all these ponies. She let out a loud sigh as her nerves calmed. Still she increased her speed a half step - no sense dawdling in the woods.

From above, Rainbow Dash stalled in the air and looked down on the river of ponies snaking through the forest. She placed a hoof over her eyes to block out the late evening sun. Where the fields met the forest she could just make out Applejack waving her hat to signify the last of the ponies was entering the woods. She turned to peer out ahead where she could just make out Twilight Sparkle's glowing horn closing in on the river. All was going according to plan, she turned to make her way to the front of the line to report back to Twilight Sparkle. Then she saw it. Six paths quickly snaking towards the line - three on one side, three on the other. Suddenly the air was filled with a loud chorus of howls - they seemed to come from everywhere. "Oh no!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She looked towards the river that Twilight Sparkle was fast approaching and then to where Applejack had disappeared only a few minutes before. "Ohhh...!" she was torn between the two sides, finally she made up her mind "Sorry Twilight, AJ." she apologized to the air as she dove towards the center of the line.

Applejack stood her ground in front of a mass of quivering ponies while four Timberwolves slowly crept up to her.

"If you think I'm gonna let you near any of these here ponies you got another thing comin'!" she announced to the Timberwolves who ignored her threat and continued their advance. "Don't say I didn't warn ya. Alright Winona, you know what to do!" A small dog leapt up from behind the young mare and landed directly in front of her growling menacingly at the Timberwolves who looked perplexed at the appearance of this small tidbit. Winona ran right through the Timberwolves who followed her movements with their heads and then looked to each other, confused. They seemed to decide that this was not worth their attention and growling, turned to face the ponies again when suddenly their gaze was met by a massive pair of hooves. It sounded as though anvils were being struck as the Timberwolves flew back into the trees. Applejack and Big Mac watched them limp off whimpering all the way. "Nice job Big Mac!" she and Big Mac bumped hooves.

"Eyup" he replied with his simple but knowing smile. Winona returned and hopped all around the pair yipping. Suddenly she stopped and turned outward growling. Red eyes surrounded the group.

"Well look who decided to join the party. Let's show these fellers what a real Apple Family hootenanny looks like!" Applejack took out her lasso and pulled it taut with her teeth as Big Mac and Granny Smith joined her one on each side.

"Eyup!" Big Mac affirmed. Granny Smith narrowed her eyes,

"Let's go chop us some firewood" she said raising her walker.

On the other side of the line, approaching the river, Twilight Sparkle suddenly stopped as the sound of howls whipped through the air. "Come on everypony!" she shouted back, "We're almost to the river!" She looked over to Mayor Mare who had been following close behind her. "Mayor Mare, get them to the river!" Twilight Sparkle turned to run.

"But where are you going?" the addled public official cried after her.

"To stop the Timberwolves!" Twilight Sparkle shouted back. She ran down the line of frantic ponies "Keep going!" She shouted, "Don't stop until you reach the river!"

Twilight Sparkle skidded to a stop as mares and stallions rushed past her. "no." she breathed looking ahead, she saw a large pack of Timberwolves at the heels of the ponies racing towards her and beyond them... nothing! The Timberwolves had split the line and were routing their party entirely. And where were her friends? A Timberwolf leapt from the front of the pack and landed in front of two small colts. It spun on them, snarling viciously. The skinny colt managed to stop right before he collided with the beast but the chubby one skidded right between it's thorny forepaws. It lunged at this unexpected gift. The skinny colt cried out and covered his eyes with his hooves, the chubby one winced as the teeth came down upon him. A second passed, and then two. The colt looked up to see the monstrous jaws snapping viciously at him but unable to land a blow from their position five feet above him. "Oh no you don't!" the unicorn yelled and she whipped her head sideways slamming the beast into his compatriots. They flew apart at the force of the blow leaving twigs and splinters in their wake. Immediately the branches that were once the Timberwolves began to reform. "Run!" Twilight Sparkle called out to the two terrified colts. The plump one left a puff of dust in his wake but the thin one still had his head to the ground, his front hooves covering his eyes. "C'mon!" Twilight Sparkle urged, but he didn't budge. She let out an exasperated sigh and ran behind him and began shoving him with her head "Come... On!" she turned around so she could get more force by pushing him with her back. The two made little progress, a trench forming from where the colt had dug in. A howl pierced the air, Twilight Sparkle's eyes flew open and she stopped pushing for a second for that was all she needed to see the wolves had reformed almost entirely. "Move!" she ordered as she redoubled her efforts. The trench grew at a faster rate as the pair moved forward. Suddenly a small rock in the path caused the colt to get caught and sent Twilight Sparkle toppling over him. The two rolled twice and then stopped. The flattened colt looked sheepishly up at the unicorn when suddenly another howl rang out. His eyes grew huge as he saw the Timberwolves, now fully reformed, begin to creep towards them, growling menacingly. "Run!" Twilight Sparkle shouted. This time the colt needed no reminder to run, he was off like a shot on those spindly legs with Twilight Sparkle close behind him shooting down tree branches to slow the wolves who easily cleared the obstacles with great leaps. Twilight Sparkle felt the steam of their hot breath on her heels. She ran as fast as her hooves would carry her looking only at the ground in front of her and the hooves of the colt in front. They were almost to the river. If they ran into the main group at this speed they would lead the Timberwolf pack directly into them. But how to slow them down? She looked to the left and right. "Snails, see if you can cut down those vines! I'll get the tree!" For a moment Snails looked stunned. Had he really been asked to help Twilight Sparkle? His countenance flushed with pride. His first shot failed to hit and ricochet off the trunk of a nearby tree. "Wait for my mark!" Twilight Sparkle admonished him. "Concentrate...!" Twilight Sparkle called out from behind him. "Alright... go!" She sent a bolt from her horn which knocked down the large dead tree just as he sent a bolt into the vines. The two hurdled the dead tree only milliseconds before the vines came down, forming a net. Twilight Sparkle heard the yelps behind her as the Timberwolves, failing to slow down in time, either careened into the tree or, leaping to avoid the tree, got tangled in the vines.

"That was awesome!" Snails exclaimed with awe.

"It was pretty awesome, wasn't it." Twilight Sparkle replied with a smile and a toss of her mane. "But that won't hold them for long." The two slowed their pace a little as they approached the riverside.

"Oh dear" Rarity spoke to no one in particular. "Those howls sound dreadfully close. Fluttershy, do be a dear and fly up to see where they are coming from."

"Okay." Fluttershy nodded her ascent and lightly took off through the canopy. She had just cleared the leaves when a rainbow-hued streak barreled into her.

"What gives!" a temporarily disoriented Rainbow Dash had her hooves up ready to fight.

"Ummm sorry." A quiet voice from below intoned. Rainbow Dash looked below her to realize she was sitting on top of a cowed Fluttershy who was caught in the uppermost branch of a tree.

"Sorry Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash said, helping the yellow pegasus to her feet. "Where are the others?"

"They're just below us."

"Good," Rainbow Dash said "Let's go." She started to dive into the forest.

"Wait!" Fluttershy called after her. "Did you see any Timberwolves?"

"Oh yeah, and they're coming this way!" Rainbow Dash called back.

"Oh dear." Fluttershy exclaimed still flying above the canopy. Suddenly a peal of howls split the sky. Fluttershy's eyes grew big. "Rainbow Dash! Wait for me!" She cried out and dove after her friend.

On the ground Rarity awaited Fluttershy's return. A scream of howls ripped through the dense forest around her, their echoes bouncing off the trees so that it sounded as though they were everywhere. The other ponies in the line stopped and stared wild-eyed in all directions.

"Daddy make it stop!" cried a light purple filly with a crown on her flank. She snuggled tightly against the leg of a light brown stallion with a slicked back mane.

"Don't worry honey, Daddy won't let anything hurt you." He placed his hoof around her to comfort her but the look in his eyes as he lifted his face to look to Rarity spoke of his barely contained terror.

"Don't worry, everyone, we'll be just fine." Rarity's voice trembled a bit as she spoke the words. There was the sound of cracking branches above her and she looked up just in time to see Rainbow Dash coming right at her, she leapt aside to make way for the pegasus. "Oh Rainbow Dash Its such a relief to see you!"

"There's no time for that, the Timberwolves are headed this way!"

"The Timberwolves!" the scream came from a nearby pony who had overheard Rainbow Dash. Panic struck the herd.

"Everypony remain calm." Rarity attempted but nopony seemed to listen. They were too busy running in circles and crashing into each other to care what she had to say. "Everypony Please!" Her cries for order fell on deaf ears.

"QUIET!" came a roar from the center of the crowd. All ponies stopped in their tracks and their wide eyes turned slowly to the origin of the sound. "Thank you." Fluttershy added timidly.

"Alright everypony the Timberwolves are headed this way, you all have to follow me. Now!" Rainbow Dash barked. It was a bold move and not very well planned. She had seen the lines of wolves coming towards them and noted a weak area to the SouthEast - there was a chance they could get through if they left the path, just a chance, but it was an infinitely better plan than staying where they were. Rainbow Dash ran with the herd following close behind her, Fluttershy flew alongside the line making sure nopony got separated while Rarity ran along the line looking for Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie Pie! Pinkie pie!" Rarity's head bobbed up from the sea of ponies. A puff of bright pink mane caught her eye "Oh there you are!" She cried in relief. She swam over to the pink pony "Pinkie I'm so glad to see you." She said placing a hoof on the shoulder of the other pony.

"Excuse me!" exclaimed a gruff voice as a hardened face turned towards her.

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry Fender Bender, I was looking for somepony else. It won't happen again." She backed away, her cheeks burned bright with embarrassment. The stallion flicked his fluffy bright pink tail at her and was off. Rarity put a hoof to her head. "Oh how will I find her in this crowd?"

"Are you looking for somepony?" a voice chirped.

"Yes." the exasperated unicorn exhaled.

"Well, maybe I can help; who are you looking for?"

"She's a pink mare with a puffy pink mane and a cutie mark with three balloons on it." Rarity replied still looking at the ever moving herd.

"Nope, haven't seen anypony looking like that." chirped the voice again.

"Well thank you anyw- Pinkie Pie!" Rarity had looked up to thank her assistant and there, hanging from a tree upside down just slightly above her was Pinkie Pie. "What are you doing up there?!"

"I think the better question is what are you not doing up here?"

"Hold still while I get you down." Rarity gently freed the mare from the hanging vines and helped her to the earth below. "Now we have to go before the Timberwolves get here."

"You mean those Timberwolves?" Pinkie Pie indicated to their left where two Timberwolves stood growling, drool falling in droplets to the ground.

Rarity let out a cry of alarm. "Run!" she exclaimed wrapping her hoof around Pinkie Pie's, the latter cheerily smiling at the encroaching wolves. It never ceased to amaze Rarity how fast Pinkie Pie could bounce - she found herself struggling to keep up. Pinkie looked back at the wolves and called out:

"Can't catch me! phbttt" her tongue waggled at them. Certainly, one could question whether Timberwolves have emotions, but this action seemed to infuriate them as they redoubled their efforts to catch the ponies.

"Did you really have to do that?" Rarity wheezed beside the bouncing pink puff.

"Yes." Pinkie answered with no further explanation offered.

"I don't... know... how much longer... I can keep this up." Rarity panted.

"Oh, don't worry about that Rarity, worry about the other six waiting on the bridge." Pinkie Pie said reassuringly. For a moment Rarity was slightly assuaged then her eyes popped open.

"Other six?!" Sure enough, not far ahead of them, standing, blocking the bridge with four in front of the bridge and two on the bridge, were six monstrous Timberwolves. She hadn't noticed it before, she barely had time to register it now, their glowing red eyes. It was like staring into the fire!

"Okay NOW!" Pinkie Pie suddenly veered right, slamming into Rarity and causing them both to start rolling down the hillside, fast, away from the predators. "Whee!" Pinkie Pie cried out. Rarity felt every rock and clump of dirt as it left its mark on her perfect snow white coat. The twosome bounced off hillocks and rocks until they finally came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of a large tree. Pinkie Pie popped up first, disheveled but grinning - "That was fun! Let's do it again!"

"Oooh my head" Rarity moaned with a hoof to her head gingerly rubbing. The sound of howls closing in on them fast reminded her to their danger. The Timberwolves were closing fast on their position. In a moment the monsters would be upon them and there was nowhere to run to - not that she had much running left in her anyway. "Oh no Pinkie! What are we going to do?"

"Use the doorknob silly." Pinkie Pie said with a smile. The Timberwolves had cleared the hill.

"What doorkn-" Rarity started up but quickly felt a sharp rap against her head and instinctively raised her hoof to the sore spot. She felt something hard and round and looked up to see a golden door knob directly above her. The beasts were almost upon them

"That doorknob!" Rarity wasted no time, the doorknob turned with a lavender glow. The two ponies slipped inside and the door slammed. Rarity and Pinkie immediately braced themselves against the door. Barely a moment later the door was slammed with impressive force - the sound of twigs snapping and violent snarls could be heard from the other side. For a few tense minutes the two ponies listened intently as the Timberwolves clawed and bit ferociously at the door and knob but it refused to budge. Rarity looked over at Pinkie Pie.

"Did you know this door was here?" she asked.

"Of course not!" chirped the other pony.

"Then why-" Rarity put a hoof to her head again, "Nevermind." Finally she lowered herself from the door and looked out about her. Her mouth dropped as she stared out at her bright and spacious surroundings. Her next question came out in a barely audible whisper. "Where are we?"