Chapter 2 Into the Forest part 1

It was pandemonium in Ponyville the whole town was in an uproar, everypony was in a panic looking around checking under everything that wasn't nailed down. It was pure chaos as everypony who could lend a helping hoof running around like they are on fire. It would have brought Discord tears of joy if he had witnessed this chaos. Applejack and Big Mac where very surprised at the scene when they arrived into town ready to get a search party ready only to be greeted with the whole town already searching high and low for the 3 lost little filly’s.

“What the hay is going on?” Applejack asked looking around in confusion.
“Applejack! Big Mac!” A voice yelled getting their attention.
“Twilight! What in the hay is going on?!” Applejack asked as she and her brother ran over to the purple unicorn.
“I got here first and told the whole town what had happened, and now everypony is looking around frantically for The Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Twilight said with a hint of pride in her voice.
“Oh thank you so much Twilight, what do you need me and Big Mac to do?” Applejack asked eager to get started with Big Mac nodding behind her.
“OK! You, I and the rest of the girls will go to Zecora’s hut; while Big Mac goes to town hall they need some more help there.” Twilight said pride still in her voice. Applejack and Big Mac nodded as the 3 ponies split up.
"Give a shout when ya find them!" Big Mac yelled as he galloped away from them.
"Sure Ah will, right after Ah tan their hides!" Applejack yelled as she and her purple friend ran in the opposite direction.

“Hey Twi can Ah ask you something?” Applejack asked as she and Twilight ran together to their friends hut.
“Sure what?” She said back with a smile.
“Why Zecora?” Applejack asked looking over at her friend. Twilight just smiled at her.
“Easy we need her to help us look for the CMC.” Twilight said smiling.
“CMC?” Applejack asked with a confused look on her face.
“The Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Twilight said out loud a hint of annoyance on her face.
“Oh hehe” Applejack laughed nervously, but then looked at her seriously.
“Wait...why do we need her help? Ponyville isn't that big not to mention the whole town is looking for them, not to mention Zecora doesn't know the place as well as us.” Applejack said with a hint of pride in her voice. At that moment she noticed something they were not in Ponyville anymore. They where galloping away from the town and slowly reaching the edge of it.

“Twilight where are we going exactly?” Applejack asked nervously her stomach tightening in a knot as she noticed The Everfree Forest coming closer and closer. She looked over at Twilight who in turn looked at her with a worried look in her eyes.
“Applejack we couldn't find them in town and the only other place that they could―Applejack wait!” Twilight yelled as her friend ran at full speed toward The Everfree Forest. Applejack barely noticed Twilight calling her. She ran as fast as she could she reached the entrance to the forest but didn't stop, she just kept running.

“Oh why did Ah have to yell at her?!” She yelled at herself running more and more.
“What if we never find her?! What if something got her!? What if Ah never see her again?!” the last thought made tears run down her face.
“Ah'm sorry, Ah'm so sorry!” She said to herself and tears freely ran down her face. Suddenly she crashed into something knocking them both down.
“Have you gone mad?!” the voice yelled angrily. Applejack looked down and noticed she that the pony she knocked down was no pony at all but a zebra.
“Zecora! Ah'm so sorry!” Applejack said helping up the zebra.
“Oh is that Applejack before my eyes? Ah it is how happy it is to see you.” Zecora said with a smile but it quickly faded as she looked into Applejack’s tear stained eyes.
“Everything is not alright your eyes look so sad.” Zecora said sadly as she stared at her. Applejack shuddered a bit the way she looked at her made her feel like the Zebra was reading a open book.

“Your right I did a terrible thing and I need to make up for it.” Applejack said standing up.
“Ah yes Gabby Gums would be the one or should I say ones for this little mess.” Zecora said looking up into the sky as if expecting something to call to her.
“You heard?” Applejack asked looking over at the zebra. She just nodded looking back at her.
“Come there is much work to be done.” Zecora said taking a path back into the forest.
“You don’t think they are in here?” Applejack asked looking around the forest getting more and more worried as she followed the zebra.
“Maybe or maybe not that is the question of the moment.” Zecora said as she and Applejack continued walking.

“What you mean not the question?! My little sister is missing not to mention 2 other little fillies and you say it's not the question?!” Applejack said angrily. Zecora turned around suddenly making Applejack yelp in surprise.
“ The question that has lead to their disgrace is exactly what made these three little fillies run off in the first place ” Zecora said with a hint on anger in her voice. Just as Applejack was about to say something but before she could Zecora walked past her.
“Ah how is my fast friend doing this fine day?” Zecora said happily. Applejack looked up and saw Rainbow Dash flying at them.

“Hey Zecora, hey Applejack any luck?” Rainbow Dash asked looking at them with hopeful eyes. The look in Zecora's eyes made Rainbow Dash look down sadly.
“Nothing? Nothing at all?” she asked landing looking up at her 2 friends.
“ Ah just got here and Ah feel so helpless.” Applejack said with a sad tone looking down at the ground the memories of what had happened still fresh in her mind. She then felt a hoof on her shoulder, she looked up and saw Zecora looking at her as if she was looking straight into her very soul looking for answers, and she still felt unnerved by it.
“Relax Applejack mistakes are made here and their but only when we admit them do we learn from them.” Zecora said with a smile as she turned to the Pegasus.
“Did you bring the items I asked for?” Zecora asked with a smile.
“Yeah I did, but why do you need them anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked pointing over at her saddle bags.

“In time you will see, for this will be the first step to our goal to find out missing fillies.” Zecora said as she turned around and began to walk. Applejack and Rainbow Dash fallowed the zebra. Applejack looked over at the multicolored Pegasus and noticed something she hasn't before, their where bags under her eyes.
“Hey Rainbow Dash you alright?” She asked in a worried tone. Rainbow Dash looked over at her and knew that she couldn't hid it.
“No didn't sleep at all last night.” Rainbow Dash said looking over at the earth pony.
“Oh why?” Applejack asked as they continued to fallow the Zebra.
“Well after the little meeting last night....I began to think about some things.” Rainbow Dash said looking ashamed of something, Applejack knew that look she had that same look this morning and knew it had something to do with the 3 missing crusaders or in this case a little orange Pegasus.
“Let me guess, Scootaloo?” Applejack asked and noticed at how her cyan friend winched at the mention of the filly Pegasus.

“....yeah....I did something.....something so...” Rainbow Dash began to choke up tears beginning to leak out of her eyes.
“Easy no need to say anything ah know the feel---
“NO! No you don't! I did something so terrible!....I...I broke her heart and dreams.” Rainbow Dash yelled in tears remembering the incident. Applejack just watched her as she began her tale of what she had done to the little filly.

…...................................

“Stupid Gabby gums, stupid Applebloom, stupid Sweetie belle, and stupid Scootaloo!” The rainbow colored Pegasus yelled as she lay down on a cloud. She growled in anger as she shifted laying face down.
“If I ever see any of them again...I'll do more than just make it rain on them.” She hissed angrily as she suddenly yelled into the cloud making it muffle her scream. The events of what happened today still plaguing her mind. How she walked into Cloudsdale only to be laughed at, everywhere she turned she was laughed at. She walked around in a panicked state wondering what was happening, that's when she noticed the new Gabby gums.
“How could they publish that?! It was only once and now my life is ruined!” She yelled into the cloud again.

“Figures that the one time I decide to let my friends talk me into going to a spa it completely ruins my life.” She said out loud. Her anger building and building as she remembered everything that happened today. everything from running out of Cloudsdale practically in tears due to the embarrassment, from her so called fellow Cloudsdale friends laughing at her when she passed them. to having her bosses laugh at her. it was the worst day she ever had.
“Now The Wonderbolts will never accept me.” She said in a sad tone as a small tear ran down her face as she dug her face deeper into the cloud.
“Rainbow Dash! Hey Rainbow Dash!” A voice yelled out to her.

“ Oh you have got to be bucking kidding me.” was all she said as she lifted her head and looked down and saw a little orange filly Pegasus looking up at her. Her anger began to rise again the moment she saw her.
“What do YOU want Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash hissed at her. The small filly didn’t seem to notice the venom in her voice as she looked up at her with a nervous smile.
“Can...can I talk to you?” Scootaloo asked with hope in her voice. The Rainbow Pegasus just scoffed as she laid back down on the cloud doing her best to ignore her.
“Come on Dash.....I really want to talk to you.” Scootaloo said again this time more of a urgent tone in her voice. Rainbow Dash dug her head into the cloud trying to ignore her.
“Come on please?” Scootaloo said out loud again. The small filly continued to ask over and over again, not realizing that the bigger Pegasus was getting more and more angrier.

“What the buck do you want?!” Rainbow Dash yelled as her face popped out of the cloud, this time Scootaloo noticed the tone in her voice making her recoil a little.
“I uhh....I--
“SPIT IT OUT!” she yelled again as she flew right in front of the little filly making her back off.
“...I just ...wanted to....say...I’m sorry.” Scootaloo said looking down in shame.
“You're sorry?....too late for that.” Rainbow Dash said angrily. Scootaloo didn’t dare look up at her, at that moment Rainbow Dash saw a small saddle bag on her back.
“What's in their?” Rainbow Dash asked pointing over to the saddle bag. Scootaloo looked over and smiled up at her.

“I..it's something I wanted to give you.” The small filly said with a smile as she reached into the saddle bag and pulled out a necklace. It was old, the pendant was in a shape of a gold heart with silver wings on the side, a gold necklace looped though it. Smudges and small scratches covered the whole thing.
“Here I wanted to give it to you for some time now.” Scootaloo said handing it over to her role model, her Hero.
“What is this? A bribe?” Rainbow Dash asked annoyed as she took the necklace. She held it in front of her glaring at it.
“No I just wanted to give you it to say I’m sorry.” Scootaloo said looking up at the cyan Pegasus. Rainbow Dash just looked at necklace then at her, this time the little filly noticed the cold glare in her eyes.

“You think I’m going to forget what happened?” She asked angrily shaking it, making it sway violently left to right.
“Be careful!” Scootaloo yelled in a panic as she looked up in fear.
“Why? Because you won't get your money back on this?” Rainbow Dash hissed bitterly. She began to shake it harder making Scootaloo panic some more. The anger in the rainbow maned Pegasus blinding her to the fear in the small fillies eyes.
“Please Rainbow Dash I’m----
“Sorry? Well too late!” Rainbow Dash yelled at her suddenly making her be quite.
“It's too late! I’m the laughing stock of the whole town! Of Cloudsdale!” She yelled more the events of the day still very fresh in her mind.
“Because of YOU and your friends I can never live it down!” Rainbow Dash yelled louder not caring anymore.
“I'm sorry!” Scootaloo cried back this time near tears as her necklace was being swung about violently.

“And worst of all! The Wonderbolts will never let me join now! All because you wanted a story!” Rainbow Dash yelled with tears of anger in her eyes.
“And ….and you think you can make up by giving me this?! A cheap necklace you bought at a pawnshop!?” Rainbow dash yelled as she bit into the necklace and pulled on it. She could hear the small filly cry out in horror but she no longer cared.
“NO! PLEASE DON'T!” Scootaloo yelled crying as she run up to her idol only to be shoved back hard enough to fall to the ground, she grunted loudly as her right back leg hit a rock. Scootaloo looked back quickly and noticed a nasty cut in her leg as it slowly started to bleed. She looked back and saw that Rainbow Dash only growled angrily as she pulled and pulled until it finally snapped. Scootaloo's eyes shrunk to the size of dots as she watched the chain snap making it fall to the ground, everything seemed to move in slow motion as it fell. Scootaloo wanted to scream and cry but her mouth hung open in a wordless yell. The small filly only crawled slowly over to it and just stared at it as she slowly reached for it with a shaking hoof.
“So take your stupid present and don't EVER come talk to me again!” she yelled as she noticed that Scootaloo wasn’t even paying attention anymore. Scootaloo slowly continued to reach over trying to grab the necklace only to have Rainbow Dash’s hoof smash it into the ground.

“Don't you dare ignore me!” She yelled stomping it again and again like a mad bull. Scootaloo stood there in complete shock as tears freely ran down her face watching the necklace being stomped by her hero. Each stomp that made contact with the necklace was followed by the sound of crunching metal. After a few moments Rainbow Dash stopped huffing and snorting like the mad bull she was at the moment. She looked down and saw the heart bent and dented in several areas, the right wing snapped off while the other was bent in half. She reached down and picked it up glaring at it.
“Stupid piece of junk!” She yelled and she tossed it at Scootaloo hitting her in the head with it. Scootaloo just stared at it with so much sadness in her eyes she didn't dare look up at her so called hero not wanting to show her how much it hurt.
“I don't want to see you again you got that?” Rainbow Dash said coldly not looking over at her as she turned making Scootaloo shake slightly.

“OK....” Scootaloo said her voice barely audible still shaking.
“And you can forget about any flying lessons, you're not good enough to fly with me, heck you're not good enough to fly at all.” She said coldly as she began to take off but stopping in mid air and looked back looking over at the little filly as she began to walk away slowly with a slight limp slightly shaking.
“Here! something to remember me by.” She said kicking a nearby cloud turning black as it began to rain on the little filly. the little filly stopped her shaking becoming uncontrollable as sobs and chokes where heard. Scootaloo looked up at her, Rainbow Dash winched as she looked down at her seeing how sad she was how much her hero hurt her was clear in her eyes. She mouthed out "I'm Sorry" as tears ran down her eyes. At that moment all that anger that she had in her heart was gone and replaced with the most powerful feeling of guilt she had ever experienced in her life.

“Scootaloo I---Wait!” She yelled as Scootaloo ran away sobbing being heard clearly as she disappeared from sight.
….I'm sorry” She said feeling ashamed of herself. She quickly kicked the cloud making it go away, she wanted to fly after her to go hug her but her pride told her not too. Told her the kid would get over it. her heart felt like it was about to break into pieces as a small tear slides down her cheek. She sighed and turned to fly home but then noticed something shining on the ground she looked down and saw the broken necklace, she slowly flew to it and picked it up.
“I'll make it up to you, I mean how much does this thing cost to replace?” She said as she flew away with it in her possession.

….................... …...........

Applejack walked in silence as she listened to the story come to an end, they walked on silence thick in the air.
“You can say it Applejack, I'm a monster.” Rainbow Dash said wiping tears off breaking the silence.
“You're not a monster.” Applejack said firmly but backed off a little as Rainbow Dash ran up to her angrily.
“I broke the necklace right in front of her and told her she wasn’t good enough to fly! And made it rain on her! How am I not a monster!?” She yelled getting in her face but then backing off in a puff.

“Oh Rainbow you're not a monster, I mean how much can it cost to---
“It can't be replaced.” Rainbow dash said interrupting Applejack her voice dripping with sorrow.
“Why it can't be that expensive right?” Applejack asked looking over at her friend.
“It was priceless and irreplaceable.” Rainbow Dash said sadly her voice cracking a little. Applejack just rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“OH will you just spi---
“IT WAS HER MOMS OK!” the rainbow colored Pegasus yelled out angrily making Applejack yelp in surprise making her back off a tiny bit, as well as getting a look from Zecora.
“What?” Applejack asked looking over at her multicolored friend.

“It...was her moms at least that’s what I found out later.” Rainbow Dash said not looking at her friend. Applejack walked in silence not knowing what to say.
“I swear I ...I didn’t mean..to.” the multi colored Pegasus said as tears ran down her face. Applejack just stayed silent not knowing what to say.
“If I knew it.... was her mom's I would have never ….done anything I would of forgave her ….right then and their if I knew.” she said breaking into sobs.
“You should have forgave the small filly Scootaloo before you gave into your rage.” Zecora said in a tone that sounded very displeased.
“I know! I know! I should have kept a cool head! I should of! I wish I never done any of that to her!” Rainbow Dash yelled crying not holding back anymore.
“Easy their Dash it---

“NO! Don’t you dare tell me it wasn't my fault or not to worry, It was all my fault!” Rainbow Dash yelled at Applejack in anger and sadness.
“I have never in my whole life felt soo...sooo...sick to my stomach!” Rainbow Dash yelled suddenly bucking a nearby tree with her two back legs making it shake violently.
“How did you find out?” Applejack asked looking over at her but keeping her distance, last thing she needed was to be bucked by a angry Pegasus.
“I found it out from their teacher.” Rainbow Dash said looking at the ground not bothering to look at her friend.
“Cheerilee?” Applejack asked.
“Yes....Scootaloo brought it to show and tell and told everypony that it was her moms....at least that’s what she thinks it was.” she said shaking slightly.
“Oh.....Ah'm mighty sor----

“What kind of kid doesn't know something like that?!” Rainbow Dash yelled out suddenly interrupting Applejack again.
“What kind of kid doesn't know anything about their parents! She didn’t even know if she ever had a mom in the first place!” the cyan Pegasus yelled out again kicking the tree again. Applejack just watched on as her winged friend vented out her anger on the poor tree.
“And …..and I.....I......broke the only thing that...that.” Rainbow Dash began to cry harder not able to finish her sentence as she let out her sadness not bothering to stop herself this time. She sobbed and yelled angrily as she kicked and kicked at the tree each time kicking harder than the last. The last kick she gave shook the tree so hard that Big Mac would of been speechless. Zecora had stopped walking ahead to observe the normally "cool" as she put it pony loss her cool. To their surprise she spun around and grabbed a rock with both her hoofs and tossed it at the same tree. The rock took some bark off as it hit the tree with such force it sounded like thunder. She stood there huffing and snorting angrily tears running down her face freely. Suddenly she fell on her flank her back legs apparently giving out as she sat there crying her eyes out. Applejack quickly walked up to her and embraced her. Rainbow dash quickly embraced her back holding onto her as if she was the last pony in the world.

“It's OK, it's OK you didn't know, everypony makes mistakes.” Applejack said stroking her friends back as she rocked back and forth gently.
“No it's not OK! I took something she loved and destroyed it! I don’t even know why she wanted to give me it in the first place!” Rainbow Dash said as she sobbed into her friends shoulder.
“It is quite simple why she did what she did, it is because you are her hero.” Zecora Said looking at them.
“Why would she look up to me!? I......I’m not special at all.” Rainbow Dash cried some more into Applejack's shoulder still holding on tight to her.
“It is quite simple, you embody what she always wanted to be, free from the ground and bound to the sky and free.” Zecora said as she walked over and placed a hoof on Rainbow Dashes shoulder. Rainbow Dash looked up and saw Zecora smiling down at her.
“Everypony makes mistakes, it is when we notice them that only then we can learn from them.” Zecora said placing a hoof on crying Pegasus shoulder.
“Yeah Ah mean Ah know how ya feel Ah treated my own sister like a rotten apple and ah feel so bad ah just want to find her and bring her home and tell her how much we love her.” Applejack said rubbing the back of her friends head trying to calm her down some more. After a few moments of silence Rainbow Dash's crying slowed down until she finally stopped crying and she looked up at her friends.

“I'm sorry....I guess I just....lost it.” The rainbow maned Pegasus said quietly wiping away her tears while sniffling.
“It is best to not let emotions be bottled up, or it will make you explode.” Zecora said with a smile.
“Yeah trust me Ah know what it means to blow your hay stack.” Applejack said smiling at Rainbow Dash.
“Thanks guys.....I guess sometimes it's better to blow off some steam.” Rainbow said wiping the rest of her tears away.
“It's OK we don't blame you at all.” Applejack said with a warm smile. After a few more moments Rainbow Dash stood up and smiled her tears gone.
“Come on slow pokes we need to get back on track those little pain in the flanks aren't going to find themselves!” Rainbow Dash said in her usual tone all sadness gone from her eyes, and replaced with determination. Applejack and Zecora smiled as the zebra turned and began to lead the way back to her hut. As they walked Rainbow Dash slowed down a bit making Applejack slow down as well.

“Hey....thanks for..you know....being here.” Rainbow Dash said shyly looking over at her friend.
“Oh think nothing of it surge Ah'm happy to be here for my friends. “ Applejack said with a smile as she playfully nudge her friend. They laughed a bit as they continued to fallow the Zebra noting that they were getting close to her little hut.
“So...not to open up old wounds but what happened to the necklace.” Applejack asked with nervously. Rainbow Dash looked at her and sighed but gave her a smile.
“I almost forgot about that.” Rainbow Dash said as she reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a baby blue box. Applejack stopped walking and looked at her. The Pegasus opened it and smiled as she showed applejack what was in it. Sitting there on a cushion of soft pink sponge was a recently polished pendant in the shape of a gold heart with silver wings on each side, a gold necklace looped though it.

“Wow! That’s incredible how you get another one!?” Applejack said happily as she stared at the beautiful necklace.
“I took it to the local jeweler, he knew what it was the moment her saw it apparently scoots took it to him before.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
“Oh you mean Diamond Tinker?” Applejack asked as she continued to stare at the beautiful necklace.
“Yup he did manage to fix it and I added something extra to it.” Rainbow Dash said pointing to the middle of it. Applejack looked closer and at the very center of it. It had Rainbow Dash's cutie mark engraved in it. Applejack whistled as she looked at it with a smile.
"Didn't ya say it was irreplaceable?" Applejack asked with a grin Rainbow Dash just chuckled.

"Oh heck ya! I thought it was but thank Celestia for unicorns." she said with a bright smile.
"He looked at me and sighed I could tell it would be a lot of work for him, but he fixed it! and I will say this now Applejack I will never make fun of unicorns again." she said as she looked at the necklace with joy. The look in her eyes reminded her of when she meet the Wonderbolts face to face, but even that failed in comparison to the joy she saw in her eyes.
"So not even if Trixie was here?" Applejack said with a grin nudging her playfully.
"If Trixie did this I would gladly kiss her on the lips and call her All Powerful Mistress." Rainbow Dash said with a gag, making Applejack laugh.
"Wait Ah thought you where----

"Hey I swing both ways but even I have standards and let's face it Trixie would drive Celestia insane!" Rainbow Dash yelled with a laugh. the two continued to laugh at the thought of Trixie and her cyan friend being at each other necks. Applejack continued to laugh until it died down a little with a chuckle but then looked up at her friend as a thought came to her mind.

“How much did it cost ya?” Applejack asked and regretted it when she saw Rainbow Dash winch.
"100 bits?" Applejack asked a bit hopefully, her winged friend nodded no.
"Higher." she said quietly, the fact she sounded like Fluttershy made her worry.
"300 bits?" she asked hoping she hit the target range, but nod from her multi colored friend told her otherwise.
"Way, way higher." she said cringing.
"Well out with it already!" Applejack yelled a bit annoyed.
“.....too much, let's just say I will be in Fluttershy's dept for the rest of my life.” She said laughing nervously but applejack just stared at her.

“....how did she pay for it then?” Applejack asked surprised.
“She had a lot of bits left over from when she was modeling and I mean a LOT, no wonder she always wants to treat us on our nights out.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
“How you going to pay her back then?” Applejack asked almost not wanting to hear the answer.
“well....for fixing this necklace for me I would of done anything and I was ready to, but all that she asked for is to go to....the grand opening of the botanical gardens opening next week in Canterlot .” the cyan Pegasus said with a sigh.
“Wow seriously? That doesn't sound bad at all.” Applejack said with a laugh.
“ It's not but I hate places like that but I can bite the nail on this one, for Scootaloo.” She said with a chuckle. Applejack smiled up at her friend.

"Yeah for Scootaloo and the rest, Ah know we will find them so let's get going!" The Stetson wearing pony said with a tip of her hat.
"yeah! for them!" Rainbow Dash said with a smile as she put the necklace back in her saddle bag.
“Are you trapped in quicksand or are you just not quicker than a turtle?” Zecora yelled from a distance. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked over and saw her waving at them.
“Coming!” They both yelled in union as they dashed after their zebra friend.
“Hehe looks like Zecora knows about Tank?” Applejack said with a chuckle as she ran side by side to her friend.
“Hey leave Tank out of this besides he's a Tortoise!” Rainbow Dash yelled back laughing as the two ran into the forest, in the hope of finding the three lost filly's. the hope that they would find them safe and sound keeping there spirits up as they ran.

Author's Note

ok sorry this took so long, but RL sucks AND it was part of a 20k story that isent even close to being done yet but since people complained about the length of my other one i decided to cut it down a bit X3 this is a small part of that!