The mare’s hooves pounded hard into the ground and her sides burned as her lungs gasped desperately trying to gain more oxygen, while she ran from the monstrous beast that chased her through the moonlit night. Trunks and branches blurred past her as she weaved in and out of the randomly placed trees, hoping she could throw it off her trail, but it only seemed to gain more ground. The frightened mare glanced all around, hoping to find something. Anything that could aid in her struggle to run or die, but all she found was nothing but trees, leaves and dirt.

She glanced over her shoulder to stare at what was chasing her, only to see it bare its ragged razor teeth at her. Her head snapped back forward while she reached deep within her to pull out the last bit of strength she had to kick her running into another gear. Every breathe shot cold air into her overworked lungs. She almost wanted to fall over and let it end. She could imagine all her suffering being cured by simply collapsing and accept her fate. She could stop, but fear pushed her onwards. It drove her, possessed her, reminded her that the cost of death was not worth leaving her life. A faint light appeared through the web of trees in front of her as she neared the town of Ponyville. The creature roared behind her as her vision began to blur with tears filling her eyes.

Her heart was pounding in her chest she thought to herself, “I can make it, just keep RUNNING!” The sight of safety revived a spark of energy with her. She used that spark to ignite a reservoir of energy deep in her aching body, adrenaline pumping through out, fueling the need to live. The opening in the forest grew closer and she could make out a few buildings in the town. A lone stallion was walking in the streets under a street lamp, unaware of what was going on in the forest.

She looked back again, managing to see the creature reach out with a long crooked arm, jagged branch-like fingers reaching out to grab her hind legs. With one swipe the creature missed, but the foolish pony forgot to pay attention to where she was going and tripped just on the inside edge of the forest. It reached down and picked her up in its wooden like hand. Gripping the frantic pony with in its cold grip, forcing open her jaw as it slid one of its fingers inside.She tried to scream, only to have it cut short while she choked and gagged as saliva trickled from her throat, and ran down her matted sweaty fur. Her eyes slightly bulged while tears ran down her stained cheeks before rolling in the back of her head as she blacked out from the lack of oxygen. Her body went limp as the finger crawled down her throat and into her stomach. The tip pulsed and wiggled before it excreted a small fleshy sac in her belly.

The creature quickly retracted its finger and dropped the mare to the dirt. It let out a jagged hollow roar into the forest. It glanced down at its newest victim and turned around. Walking into the darkness of the forest. Disappearing into Princess Luna’s now peaceful night.

The sun peered in through the window as Applejack’s eyes slowly opened to the invading light. She let out a grunt before she rolled over away from the unwelcome light. Her head was pounding at the back of her eyes, like a bass drum on repeat. Muffled through the wall Applebloom was complaining about something to Big Mac. Applejack squinted her eyes shut and brought both hoofs to her head to try and relieve the pressure building inside her skull. With a sigh she rolled out of bed onto her hooves and made her way to Applebloom’s room.

“But ah don’t wanna muck the pig pen. Ah wanna go out with Sweetiebelle.” Applebloom was stomping her hooves and pacing in place as she whined to her Big Brother. Applejack had only been awake for a few minutes, but she was already tired of hearing her sister’s high pitched voice.

“Now Applebloom, it’s too early in the mornin’ for me to be a hearing you whinin’ about yer chores. Now go muck the pens, then ya can go run amok with yer friends.” Applebloom started to pout while she opened her mouth, but Applejack cut her off before a word could come out of her mouth. “Ah don’t wanna hear it, now get. Before I get Granny Smith after you.” Applebloom retreated after hearing the threat of her grandma coming after her.

Big Mac made his way to Applejacks side shaking his head as he watched his little sister run off. He turned his attention to Applejack who is holding her head and tightening her face.
“I’m not feelin’ to well off this mornin’ big guy. Ah think Im goin’ to visit Fluttershy, maybe she’ll have somethin’ to help out with this awful headache. Can you cover for me?”

Big Mac gave a nod along with an, “Eeeyup.” Applejack shot her brother a smile, and made her way to the front door.

Normally Applejack enjoyed the walk over to Fluttershy’s cottage, but this morning was a different story. The pounding in her head was only getting worse and tried as she might, she couldn’t ignore it. Every time she made a step she could feel her body vibrate through her eyes, which pulsated but felt like they were bulging out of their sockets. She tilted her hat down to try and block out the morning sun, but it hardly helped.

As she neared her marefriend’s house she could hear the singing of multiple birds, and the various noises of other animals. But even through all the noise, Applejack could still hear to soft subtle voice of her beloved arguing with her pet bunny.

“Angel that is not very nice. Give the nice birdie her seeds back.” The rebellious bunny shook his head from side to side in protest. “I’ll give you a nice crunchy carrot if you do.” The Bunny looked up at Fluttershy and crossed his tiny little arms while stomping his foot. He shook his head a second time.

Applejack had made her way closer to the Yellow Pegasus and the stubborn bunny. She made her approach from behind the timid mare and placed a kiss right between her wings; which in turn caused her to jump in fright at the sudden presence of lips on her back. As Fluttershy turned around to met her attacker she could tell by the look on AJ’s face that she had one of those nasty headaches again.

“How bad is it today?” Fluttershy gave AJ a concerned look as she waited for her friend to answer.

“Ahh shucks sugarcube, it’s not all that bad.” Applejack gave Fluttershy a cheeky smile. But Fluttershy wasn’t having any of it.

“AJ? Don’t lie to me, miss element of Honesty.”

“Alright, ya got me. It hurts like an apple tree fallin’ on yer head, while being rammed into a stone wall.” Applejack winced as a rooster crowed to single the start of the day. Fluttershy frowned has she watched her friend wince in pain.

“Well, we’re going to have to go into town. I don't have enough supplies to make another herbal tea for you, besides, I need to do some shopping anyway.” Fluttershy looked at AJ waiting for a response, but all she got was a head nod and a groan.

“It’ll be quicker than Rainbow Dash drinking her apple cider.”

Applejack looked up at Fluttershy with a slight smile, “Naw, don’t worry ‘bout me. I’ll managed. Somehow.” Fluttershy walked up to AJ and nuzzled the underside of her jaw, before turning to her cottage.

“I have to go get my saddle bags and then we will get going. Ok.” With a soft smile and turn Fluttershy walked through the door. Applejack looked down to the annoyed looking bunny who was give her an evil glare.

“Seriously? Yer gunna do that again? Ya know that ya can’t have her all to yer-self, right?” Angel turned up his pink little nose at her. Applejack just chuckled to herself wondering why she was even having a mild disagreement with a bunny. But then again this was Angel she was talking to. Fluttershy emerge from the Cottage with her saddle bags on her back. She walked back over to AJ and Angel with a few carrots in her mouth. She bent her head down and dropped them next to Angel.

“Now, I want you to look over the house while I’m gone ok? And please do try to get along with the other animals. Applejack and I should only be gone for a shot while, ok.” Angel sighed and picked up his carrots, hopping off to the back of the cottage. Fluttershy looked back over to Applejack and the two started walking down the dirt path into town.

“Why does that bunny always have somethin’ to be annoyed over?” Applejack glanced to her side looking at Fluttershy. For a brief moment she hid behind her long pink mane as her cheeks turned into a nice crimson color.

“Well, when he was just a baby he was the runt of his litter so I tried to compensate. I might have overdone it.” Applejack chuckled at Fluttershy’s remark.

“Just a little?” Applejack reached over and nudged the yellow pegasus’ shoulder. Which in turn caused her blush to deepen in color even further.

“Well, I-I guess maybe just a little more than a little. He’s not taking it to well now that I’m trying to put my hoof down. It doesn’t help that between you and Discord my attention is divided.” Fluttershy glanced down and stared at her front hooves moving as they walked. Her brow furrowed as guilt started to set in. Applejack noticed it, and got Fluttershy’s attention again.

“Hey Flutters, you don’t need to feel bad for wanting to branch out more. If Angel can’t deal with it, then he’ll figure it out. And I know that you look forward to you and Discord’s weekly tea visits.” Fluttershy glanced over to Applejack and thought about what she said for a moment. A slight smile came across her muzzle.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right Applejack.”

Off in the distance both Fluttershy and Applejack could hear Pinkie Pie being, well, Pinkie Pie. Up ahead Sugarcube Corner was coming into view, along with an Orange colored mane mare clinging to Pinkie Pie, gagging on something that the two couldn’t see from this far away.

The sun beat down on a sleeping mare on the edge of the forest. She opened her eyes to have the sun start melting her sockets. She brought up her hoof to block out the light and tried standing up. The jarred mare staggered like a newborn deer and felt sick to her stomach. She coughed up a little bit of blood and started to panic. She started off with a heavy limp but eventually was able to keep a steady trot and hobbled her way into town.

The distressed mare was able to make her way into town screaming and occasionally coming to a halt from the cramps in her stomach and writhing in pain. Eventually she came across a bubbly pink pony bouncing along in front of a bakery. She looked up to read the sign that said “Sugarcube Corner”. The pink blur bounced past the frantic mare, pausing mid air. Before the pink pony could do anything else the mare grabbed her and shook her.

“You gotta help me! Please! I don’t know where I am or what is going on! It hurts. Oh Celestia, it hurts so bad..” The pink pony looked down at the frantic mare.

“What do you mean silly?” Pinkie Pie paused so she could giggle before she continued, “How do you not know where you are or whats going on? You're in front of Sugarcube Corner, duh. We make delicious goodies and treats. Ohhhhh I know! Here take this.” Pinkie Pie pulled a cupcake from her frazzled mess of a mane and shoved it into the mare's mouth. The yellow mare stood with a mouthful of cupcake. Frosting slapped across her face and fell to the floor.

“See cupcakes makes everything all better. Wait a minute.” The Pinkest of pies stared at the now frightened mare. Her eyes popping out of her head as she examined the mare in front of her. “I don’t think we have met before, no we haven’t. I know ALL the Ponies in Ponyville. I’m Pinkie Pie, what's your name?”

The yellow mare coughed out the cupcake and swallowed what little remained. “Golden...Harvest…”

Pinkie Pie grabbed Golden Harvest’s hooves and began to shake them rapidly, shaking Golden Harvest's whole body in the process.

“Well nice to meet you Golden Harvest! Here have another cupcake!!!” Before Golden Harvest could do anything Pinkie Pies arm turned into a pink blur as it reached once more for her frazzled mane and produced yet another cupcake, shoving it into the poor mare's mouth.

Golden Harvest held onto Pinkie and began to gag on the new cupcake shoved into her gob. Suddenly the cupcake exploded in a mess of frosting and various chunks. All over Pinkie’s face. More of the previous cupcake found its way out of her mouth, followed by yellow bile and unknown red liquid. Her entire body spasmed as she grasped onto Pinkie. Golden Harvest started to grunt and groan clenching her chest. Blood splattered from her mouth landing on Pinkie Pie’s muzzle. Golden Harvest’s eye rolled into the back of her head as her legs buckled from underneath her, causing her to collapse onto the ground.

“OH MY CELESTIA I KILLED HER!”

Fluttershy and Applejack rushed over to where Pinkie Pie was standing to see what all the commotion was about. Pinkie began to have a full blown panic attack, while violently bouncing in place. Fluttershy looked both at Pinkie and Golden Harvest trying to figure out what Pinkie was screaming about this time.

“Um, Pinkie, why do you, uh think you...k-killed her?” Fluttershy looked back and forth between the spasming pink pony and the yellow mare grasping onto Pinkie for dear life.

“Because here we were talking and having a good time getting to know each other and I shoved a cupcake in her mouth right after I did that she puked all over me before spitting up blood and her eyes went white and then she fell on the ground.” Pinkie paused and sucked in a hugh breath of air and resumed her run on of a sentence. “And, ewww, it got in my mouth.” With a pout she looked back to her friends.

“Uh, Pinkie, ah don’t think you killed her with um. What?” Applejack scratched her head as she looked at the yellow pony still grasping onto Pinkie Pie’s leg. She watched closely for a few moments and noticed that her chest was still moving. “Pinkie, ya do know her chest is still moving. Right?”

Pinkie shook off Golden Harvest as she bounced in place. Her stomach still moving and gurgling. Applejack looked closer at the odd movement of the passed out mare’s stomach. It wasn’t the normal breathing, it looked like something was squirming inside. Before anypony could react, Pinkie became showered in a spray of broken ribs, blood and small bits of flesh. Golden Harvest let out a gut wrenching scream as chunks of flesh hung from the gaping hole in her chest and blood splattered across Pinkie’s face. Pinkie’s brain finally registered what was going on and she started to scream, which allowed some blood and flesh to go into her mouth. Everypony stared at Golden Harvest to see a creature protruding from her rib cage, or what was left of it.

The creature was the most foul being the ponies have ever seen. It was a mix of what looked like wood and globs of glowing orange slime. The slime seemed to have a pulse and red veins ran over the wood and connected globs. The abomination had a single tiny red eye that scanned the ponies. Its mouth opened to reveal tiny serrated crooked fangs that went in every direction like wild sharp roots. It hissed at the ponies and wriggled around to look at its host.

Golden Harvest looked down at her hell spawn as it stared back at her. It crawled up her chest and was inches from her muzzle. She gave a delirious smile at her newborn as blood trickled down from between her teeth. The monster tilted its head for a moment before opening its mouth and releasing a horrendous ear piercing screech and lunging into her eye.

A thick stream shot from her socket and coated the newborn in a shower of its mother’s blood. It thrashed in her eye socket and crunched her eye like a gum ball. It chewed on the deflated ball and ripped it to shreds. It slurped up the juices and nibbled at her eye. It turned back to see three horrified ponies staring at the horror scene that laid out before them.

Fluttershy and Applejack screamed, forgetting for the time being of the pounding in her head, and held onto one another while Pinkie stood staring at herself covered in blood, guts, flesh and vomit. A faint smile was still on Golden Harvest’s face with her eye as wide as a saucer, while her other eye socket remained a mess of blood and tendons.

Golden Harvest’s body finally gave way and fell backwards. Her limp body sprawled across the ground, blood pooled beneath the now lifeless body as her heart did one final beat. The newborn fell out of her eye and slithered away into a nearby storm drain. Leaving the three ponies, as well as any bystanders who witnessed the whole scene, to sit in their pools of fear and despair over the death of an innocent pony.

Pinkie will still unresponsive staring at her blood and bile covered hooves. Applejacks eyes were pin pricks as she scanned the scene and the bloody mess that was an earth pony before her, only muttering one thing.

“We’re gonna need Twilight.”

Author's Note

This is the nonedited version of Chapter one. Once my editor gets to them I'll repost the edited version