Monster of the Everfree

"Ah can go on mah own, Applejack. Ah know th' trail real well," said Applebloom.

"It don't matter if ya know th' trail. It's Timberwolf season. Ah ain't lettin' ya go in th' forest alone," replied Applejack. Her face showed there were no negotiating.

Applebloom sighed, "Fine..."

While most ponies would take some sort of weapon into the forest, Applejack had two built in into her: Bucky McGillycuddy and Kicks McGee. It was noon when they left. Applejack glanced at her sister while they walked, "Whatcha need from Zecora anyways?"

"Potion supplies," Applebloom said simply.

Applejack's eyes narrowed, "Ya ain't makin' 'nother love potion again, are ya?"

"N-no...It's fer congestion."

"Ya have a sinus infection?"

"...it's...not for my nose..."

Applejack blinked, not understanding for a moment. Then it hit her like a sack of bricks, "O-oh...well....good luck wit' that..."

"C-can we not talk 'bout it?"

"Agreed," Applejack said quickly.

They entered the forest and Applejack immediately sensed something was wrong. She looked at her sister, "AB, do as Ah say in here, alright?"

Applebloom too noticed something was wrong, "O-okay..."

Applejack gulped but pressed on. The forest was abnormally quiet. Applejack looked around as they walked, head on a swivel. She expected to see the glowing eyes of Timberwolves. She saw none. She chewed her lip. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Still, Applejack wanted to help her little sister's...problem. And to do that, she needed to go to Zecora's. No matter how unnerving it is. They made good time, wanting to get this over with and get out of the forest.

Applebloom stopped, "Is that Zecora? Why's she lying down?"

Applejack looked and sure enough, there was Zecora lying on the ground in front of her hut. She squinted. There was red stuff around the zebra. Was that...?

"'Bloom, close your eyes, now."

"Wh-what? Why?"

"Do as yer told!" Applebloom reluctantly nodded and did so. Applejack gulped and walked to the fallen zebra. Her breath hitched in her throat. Zecora was dead. Definitely dead. Nopony could survive having her side split open. Amazingly, no scavengers had picked at her body, despite her liver being out of her and entrails showing. She didn't look like she had been dead for a while.

Sweet Celestia, have mercy. Zecora had her back to Applejack. Applejack stopped, putting a hoof to her mouth. The back of Zecora's head was gone. Applejack could clearly see the brain. Or what was left of it. It looked like something took a bite out of it. That did it. Applejack bent down and voided the contents of her stomach.

Applejack swayed on her hooves. She needed to tell somepony. She needed to tell the Royal Guard. That's when she smelled something. Something awful. A sickeningly sweet smell. And it wasn't Zecora. That unease that bothered her while they walked through the forest increased tenfold. Applejack gulped, looking around.

Something moved in the corner of her eye and she looked. There were two orange dots in the thick bushes. Applejack squinted. They looked like...eyes.

"Applebloom! Run! Now!" Applejack twirled around and dashed back away from the zebra's corpse. Applebloom moved to run. Applejack heard something move behind her and she looked back. What she saw would haunt her dreams for the next few years.

It stood on all fours, like a pony. But it wasn't a pony. It wasn't a Timberwolf, Manticore, or Cockatrice either. Applejack didn't know what it was. Whatever it was, it stood as tall as Princess Celestia. She could see muscles under its scales and fur. And it looked right at her. And then it ran at the two ponies.

It was fast. Dear Celestia, was it fast. Faster than Rainbow Dash on the ground. Within seconds it reached Applejack. It's claws sank into one of her flanks. Applejack gave a cry of pain as she was brought down by the beast. Her fight and flight instincts kicked in. Fueled by adrenaline, she bucked as hard as she could at the monster. The claws were torn out of her as the beast was sent flying backwards.

Applejack pushed through the red fog and got back up. She looked up to see Applebloom staring back at her with wide eyes behind her. Applejack's ears folded back as she looked behind her. The beast was back on its feet. It was looking at Applebloom now. It stalked at the two ponies. Applejack gritted her teeth.

She stood between between the approaching beast and her little sister. Applejack was shaking. She was scared. Utterly terrified. She knew she was about to die. But she would die before it got to her sister, "R-run, Applebloom. Now!"

"B-but-"

"NOW!" Applejack heard Applebloom gallop away. Now she was alone. Now it was just her and this monster. She doubted she would survive. Suddenly, fast as lightning, it charged. Before Applejack could react, she felt its claws sink into her chest. She was toppled backwards on her back. She looked up at the beast with wide, terrified eyes. The monster bared its teeth. Applejack coughed. At least Applebloom was safe. She could see its face now. It was odd. It had a large forehead and a muzzle with a prominent nose. And its eyes...All she saw was hunger in those eyes.

The beast suddenly froze. It sniffed the air. It looked to the side, growling. Applejack heard thumps, unsure if it was her heart or something else. The beast withdrew its clawed hand from her and got off of her. It stared at the side of the trail before dashing away, leaving Applejack gravely wounded but alive. For now.

Applejack struggled to her hooves. Her chest and flank was on fire and it hurt to breathe. She staggered back towards the direction she came from. She developed tunnel-vision. Just...gotta make it out of the forest.

She pressed on, despite her weakening state. For what seemed like hours she struggled to walk. Eventually she made it out of the forest. As soon as she passed through the tree-line she collapsed. The last thing she saw before loosing consciousness was something blue moving to her...