Apple Bloom looks at the ticking clock of the class room biting her lip as the second hand seemed to slow down to a stop.
"Come on hurry up already!"
The air seemed stiff as one by one the fillies, and colts held their breathe as 3 O' clock came closer by the second. Cheerilee kept her eyes locked on the bottom drawer of her desk. Only a couple more seconds until she could open it. This year had been especially stressful, and her little friend hiding inside was going to help her relieve her stress. Filly eyes grow wide as the second hand hits the 11 mark.
"5...4....3...2...1!"
"SUMMER BREAK YAY!!!!!" Apple Bloom screams into the air as she throws papers into the air just like every pony in the room. Well Except for Cheerilee who immediately opened her drawer, and pulled out a jug of 150 proof moonshine, and a shot glass. By the time fillies started heading out the door Cheerilee was already on her third shot!
"So girls any plans for the summer?" Apple Bloom asks as her, and her friends Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo walk out of the classroom.
"Well I'm actually supposed to be helping Rarity with an order," Sweetie Belle states with over zealous enthusiasm.
"What is mismatched limbs in fashion now?" Scootaloo asks as she rolls her eyes. Teasing Sweetie Belle about her former attempts at being a seamstress.
" Ha, ha very funny. No, the clothes are already done she just needs me to help her pack, and go with her to Manehattin to deliver it to her store there,"
"Oh that sounds cool Sweetie Belle. What about you Scootaloo do you have anything planned?" Apple Bloom asks.
"Yeah Rainbow Dash promised to take me to the Wonderbolts Academy to show me the ropes! She's also going to take me to Rainbow Falls for some private lessons. What about you Apple Bloom?"
" I'm just gonna be working on the farm. Aj needs muh help with the trees,"
" Oh well I'm sure it wont be too bad," Sweetie Belle says trying to comfort Apple Bloom
"Bad? Who said it'll be bad? I always have fun helping muh big sis, and brother on the farm. I just wish we could hang out is all,"
"Yeah but don't worry Rainbow, and I will only be gone for about a two weeks,"
"And I should be back from Manehatin around the same time. So we can still hang out for the summer. We'll be back before you'd even notice!" Sweetie Belle says as she jumps into the air.
" I guess, but it'll still feel like forever without ya girls around,"
The girls had come to the fork in the road. One leading into town, and the other to Sweet Apple Acres. The girls look at each other with sad eyes as they say their farewells.
" Well...I guess...this is it," Apple Bloom says.
" Yeah...," Sweetie belle replies.
"See you girls in a couple weeks," Scootaloo says.
They give each other one last group hug before heading their separate ways. Apple Bloom gingerly walks down the path towards the farm. Yes, she was looking forward to having some quality time with Apple Jack, but still she was going to miss hanging out with her friends. With thoughts focused on her friends Apple Bloom had failed to notice that she had wondered off of the path, and was heading deep into Whitetail Woods.
Apple Bloom trudged through the wooded area as if she was still on the path home. Its not like Whitetail woods was dangerous, or anything. Unlike that of the Everfree Forest Whitetail was home to mostly butterflies, squirrels, sparrows, an other small woodland creatures.
The sun was starting to set as the light was just barely above the tree line. If it weren't for a butterfly landing on her nose breaking her thought Apple Bloom would have wondered deeper into the woods for who knows how long.
" What!? Hey my nose is not a flower," Apple Bloom shakes her head forcing the butterfly to fly off back into the brush.
"hehe off ya go,"
The sound of cracking wood startles Apple Bloom.
"Wh...what's going on!?"
She looks down at her hooves to realize that she was standing on an old rotting log. Looking over its edge she looks down below her. Her eyes shrink to mere prim pricks. It wasn't how far to the bottom that scared her. For it was only a couple feet maybe somewhere between five, and six feet to the bottom. No, what terrified her was what was at the bottom. It wasn't a pile of bones, or jagged rocks. Nor was it some kind of horrid beast that had wondered in from the Everfree. It was something that most ponies would not even think twice about, but for her it was something she had to.
"No, not bees," Apple Bloom whispers to herself.
Yes, at the bottom of the pit were several beehives clinging to the small trees that lined its edge. In the center were several colorful flowers, and just above them were hundreds if not thousands of bees. Apple Bloom takes a shaky gulp as she slowly backs up. The last thing she wants is to be stung. With no pony around to help she would be in serious trouble if she did. The epi pen at the bottom of her saddlebag wouldn't help her here either. If she fell that's it game over.
"Bees why did it have to be bees! Why not butterflies!?"
` The log begins to crack, and shake as bits of it fall into the chasm. A piece hits one of the hives sending it to the ground. The sound of agitated bees fills the air as the swarm becomes frantic looking for the cause of the intrusion. Apple Bloom whimpers as she desperately clings to her foothold preying that she'll make it out of this alive. When the sound dies down she carefully begins to walk backwards again. Tears fill her eyes as she looks over her shoulder. Every couple of steps the log shakes more violently.
She was only a foot or so away from the edge she only needed to make it to the edge, and then she'd be safe. The massive swarm of bees are in a frenzy as more bits of the log rain down above them. Apple Bloom can barely see as her eyes have nearly shut because of the tears. She had almost made it just a few more steps. The log drops a foot making her scream.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!! AJ HELP ME!!! I DON'T WANTA DIE!!
The log begins to splinter along the edge causing long twisted cracks to tear their way across its length. The log begins to plummet into the chasm. Apple Bloom leaps into the air frantically clawing at the edge. Clawing for some kind of grip Apple Bloom desperately climbs over the edge. She manages to pull herself up. With heavy breathe she looks over the edge, and down into the small valley. The log had crushed several hives. The bees were now in an all out frenzy! They were searching for whatever had destroyed their homes, and they would not be merciful. Apple Bloom lets out a victorious sigh as she thanks Celestia that she had managed to avoid the bees.
" Haha Take that you stupid bees,"
Apple Bloom turns around head held high in triumph as she begins to trot away. However her journey is short lived as a buzzing noise whizzes past her ears. Her eyes lock onto the insect that had caused it. A single bee lands on her nose. She panics as its legs tickle her nostrils. She tries not to move, but with the bee tickling her nose its impossible. She scrunches her nose, and tries to shake it off. In response it stings her nose. She rears up in pain causing her to fall over the edge.
Landing atop the bed of flowers Apple Bloom begins to thrash about as the angry insects attack her. Swarming her they sting her mercilessly. Bright red welts quickly form as her body swells, and tears. Her cheeks become impossibly engorged as the venom enters her body. A mixture of horrid screams, and angry buzzing of wings echo throughout the woods.
