Day's 1 & 2: "Dream is Collapsing"
"And out of darkness came the hands that reach thro' nature, moulding men."
Theme Song for the Chapter
"Dear Princess Celestia, I write to you personally because I have learned no new lessons about friendship since my last report, but would like to instead ask you a query. Ponies have been appearing in the Everfree Forest out of thin air for the past few days now, they say they can't remember anything before they awoke in the hospital, only that they were sent by a 'Harmonious Voice'. I'm not quite sure but I think that these ponies are hiding more than they are letting on. I know it sounds ridiculous, but i'm confused and ask for your personal wisdom on this troubling topic."
Your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.
~~Three Days Prior~~
Humming could be audibly heard from the cottage that sat on the border of the Everfree. The weather was pleasant as always and their wasn't a single animal in sight that wasn't satisfied with the love and affection being received from their benevolent pegasus caretaker.
Well, all except for one particularly distraught bunny rabbit, angrily pounding a front paw on the door to Fluttershy's cottage.
To Angel's dismay, the humming of the pegasus did not let up. If anything it only grew slightly louder. Almost as if his caretaker were ignoring him...
Angel decided that the logical course of action was to break in through through the window. Picking the lock open with a spare carrot, Angel Bunny entered the now spotless cottage. He had to admit, for a pony Fluttershy was pretty good at cleaning.
"Oh, hello Angel, do you need something?" Was the response from Fluttershy.
Angel grabbed Fluttershy by her forehoof and proceeded to drag her out the front door towards the forest. Sadly, the pegasus would not comply.
"Please Angel, I know you're hungry but I have to finish cleaning the cottage first. Besides, you want it to look nice and clean don't you?"
Angel had to show Fluttershy what he had discovered, but the mare could be so...stubborn at times. This was important though.
Continuing his fuzzy assault on Fluttershy, the bunny was gaining little ground in the battle to force Fluttershy out the door and into view of his discovery. It had become time for drastic measures.
The bunny hopped up onto the couch, then over to a night stand and waved his paws in Fluttershy's direction. Once he was sure the mare was looking at him Angel took action by kicking over a nearby lamp.
Feeling victorious the bunny looked up towards the now disappointed Fluttershy, hoping that she would pursue him out into the woods for his felony.
Angel wasn't a gambling hare, but if he were, he would be correct if he bet Fluttershy was...most displeased.
"Angel just what was that for? You come here right now and pick up this mess," Scolded Fluttershy as she trailed Angel Bunny out into the Everfree. Living on its border hardened her to most of the things that would have scared off other ponies.
Angel ran deeper into the woods towards the discovery he had made not more than a few minutes ago, the amber glow of dusk settling in on the vibrant canopy of the Everfree forest.
Finally coming to a stop in a luminescent grove, Angel had finally reached his destination. Now all he had to do was let his caretaker take action...
"Finally you stopped running, now listen here, if you think you can just knock...over..." Fluttershy stood agape at the sight that lay before her. Laying down and..sleeping? Was a minty green pegasus stallion who seemed like he had just fallen from the sky. He seemed fine on the outside but Fluttershy was just an animal caretaker, and most certainly not a doctor.
Just to be sure the stallion was alive, Fluttershy walked up next to the semi-conscious stranger and, with a stick, poked him with in the belly.
Much to her benediction, the pony of the forest stirred solemnly, almost as if her prodding influenced a dream he was currently occupying. It was clear to her that the pony had undergone at least some sort of trauma and was in need of medical attention.
"Oh, my...this poor stallion needs help quick. Angel, could you help me gather up the other creatures of the forest? Whatever happened to this poor soul, he needs to get to a hospital."
With that, the caretakers assistant was off into the forest. Angel ran in between trees as fast as he could until he reached the border of the Everfree. Angel thumped his foot to alert the animals under Fluttershy's protection that she needed help. And plenty of it.
Fluttershy stayed by the colt's side watching as a fair amount of rabbits, birds, and other small creatures of the forest entered the Everfree to assist her. She was surprised that this much assistance had showed up in the first place. None of the animals that now accompanied her were from the Everfree and feared it more than she did. She would have to make it up to them somehow, but for now, the transport of this stallion to safety was her top priority.
"Okay everyone, I know it's getting dark but I need you to get this weary stallion to the Ponyville hospital. He needs all of your help to make it there safely, so please be careful. I don't know whether he is hurt or not, okay?"
The animals gave a quick salute to their caregiver and proceeded to hoist the barely conscious pegasus above their heads. Having been through Fluttershy's training program for the hurricane, they knew that they did indeed have the strength to handle the job at hoof.
With a slight struggle the creatures managed to get the pegasus above their heads, and began to walk, flap, and crawl their way towards Ponyville's hospital in what looked like a procession of woodland denizens, headed by the caretaker they loved. Although it would be quite the journey from the heart of the Everfree to Ponyville, the animals wouldn't let Fluttershy down.
After a harsh hour and a half walk through the Everfree, Fluttershy and her procession of animals bearing a semi-conscious pegasus finally managed to get to Ponyville's borders.
Fluttershy led the animals through town towards the hospital without a hitch, but attracted quite a few sets of curious eyes. The sight of a new pony in town being carried in on the shoulders of woodland critters was a little out of place, even by Ponyville's standards.
The group arrived at the hospital shortly after sundown, but the ponies who were still out and about got word out and a small crowd formed around Fluttershy's parade.
Thankfully the staff at the hospital were always on duty during the week, and a group of nurses rushed outside to see to the situation, asking for the crowd of about twenty to disperse. Two earth ponies rushed to take the pegasus pony off of the panting woodland critters shoulders, glad that their task was finally completed.
Fluttershy leaned in to whisper to the critters that had so graciously lent a paw wind and a leg to get the stranger to the hospital.
"Don't you worry, Fluttershy here will be sure to thank each and every one of you later, but right now I've got to see if our friend is okay. Run along now, i'll be home shortly."
All the animals left but Angel Bunny, curious as to what caused this pony to end up in the forest. Climbing up onto Fluttershy's back as Spike would Twilight, the two followed the doctors and nurses inside.
That very next day...
"Spike, did you re-organize the articles on otherworldly deities yet? I'm just about ready to head out the door."
Having heard about the new arrival in town not more than fifteen minutes ago, Twilight Sparkle was eager to meet the mysterious pony who apparently was brought in on the shoulders of woodland critters.
"Almost Twilight, but these books are hea-hea-heah-" Spike managed to say has he lost his balance on the flimsy ladder he used to replace tomes higher up on the book shelves.
With a a series of smaller thumps and one large one, Spike's falling to the floor would have been funny, but the tomes he had dropped were priceless and were already losing their bindings.
Twilight rushed to her assistant's side, hoping that he was okay.
"Spike! Are the books okay?" Were Twilight's first words to Spike. They were meant as a joke for sure, but Spike took it a little too seriously.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Thanks for asking Twilight." Spike said reprehensibly, not hearing the sarcasm in Twilight's voice.
"Easy Spike, it was just a joke. We can clean this up together later, but for right now let's go see the new pony in town. I'm pretty sure that the last new-comer to Ponyville was Cranky Doodle Donkey, and other than that nopony new has showed up other than us since."
"Yeah, I heard that Fluttershy led him into town on some sort of animal parade. Half of the town was even there to prove it."
Spike had clambered up onto Twilight's back as the mare walked out the door of the library and headed in the direction of the town's hospital.
The two walked slowly through the town, taking in their surroundings. Even though it had been such a long time since they had first moved to Ponyville, it was still pleasant to recognize the craftsmanship of the ponies who had founded the town. From the decadent smells of the locale cafe's to the architectural design of the buildings.
It was like they were in a perfect world...
Now fast approaching the hospital, the two companions noticed no crowd at the door like Twilight had expected. Instead, only the hospital staff were busily going in and out of the doors like they always were.
Thinking nothing of it, Twilight walked in and headed towards the wards section. Every door was open but one at the end of the hallway. Twilight remembered it to be Rainbow Dash's room when she injured her wing some time ago.
At the door there was a small cadre of ponies dressed in white forming a small perimeter around the door to the inside of the room. Twilight figured it would be the mystery pony's room, so she headed towards the guards hoping she would get in.
"Hello everypony, I was wondering if I could get a chance to talk to the pony that was brought in from Fluttershy yesterday and-"
"Sorry Miss Sparkle, but nopony is allowed to enter." Came from the guard to the left of the three.
"Well why not?" Said Spike as he hopped off of Twilight's back. He had wanted to meet the new pony as much as Twilight.
"He is currently in a coma, and needs his rest. Our doctors are trying their hardest to find out why he's-"
"Why he's what?" Said an unfamiliar voice from behind the guards.
All five pairs of eyes turned towards the doors of the Ponyville hospital. Under it's arches stood a minty green pegasus stallion who, other than a few bandages, seemed completely healthy.
"Wha-huh?"
"How did he..."
"He was asleep only a few minutes ago..."
The crack team of guards were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the stallion and responded with a jumble of nonsensical phrases.
Spike managed to stifle a chuckle as the guards turned to face the stranger, and Twilight was studying him much like a hawk studies a rabbit. Something about the pony seemed to rub her the wrong way.
"Don't worry everypony, i'm not going to attack. Although I am really hungry. Where's the cafeteria around here?"
"Sorry sir, but you'll have to go back in your room for now. We still don't know why you were in a coma in the first place."
Two of the guards tried to prevent the stallion from leaving the room, but to no avail. The pegasus was stronger than they had thought and easily brushed them aside.
"Sir please, you might be ill and-"
"I'd know if I were sick or not, and I feel fine. All I do feel is hunger."
Twilight watched from the sidelines as the scene unfolded in front of her. The pegasus seemed completely fine other than his brashness in wanting to eat something.
In the back of her head a voice was whispering to her, quietly sensing that something strange was ahoof. Twilight couldn't place it now, but something was wrong with this mystery pony. She could feel it in her bones.
After a two minute struggle, the guards finally realized that the stallion was indeed fine and decided that the stallion could go free.
"Okay, it's apparant that you can clearly handle yourself so you can go. Just remember that if you feel anything, and I mean anything, that you come back to the hospital. Now get out of here, the mess hall is down the hallway and to the left." Admitted the guard, hoping that he wouldn't have another run in with the minty stallion.
"Finally, and don't worry gentlecolts, I won't start any fires while i'm out." Concluded the stallion, heading in the direction of the mess hall.
Twilight was... perturbed, at the rapid recovery that the pegasus stallion underwent. Only being in the hospital for fourteen hours and already on your hooves was quite the marvel. She needed to find out more about this mysterious stallion, and there's no time like the present.
"Hey! Wait! I want to ask you some questions!" Shouted Twilight, not noticing how the pegasus was already rounding the corner to the cafeteria.
Fortunately, the stallion stopped and looked back at Twilight, then beckoned for her to follow.
"Twilight, is this really a good idea?" Said Spike in a reprehensible tone. Running off with strangers was never really his favorite activity.
"Relax Spike, i'm sure our...friend here has plenty to tell us."
A few moments later...
"I've got nothing to tell you."
"Wha-huh? What do you mean nothing to tell us? You were found on the verge of unconsciousness in the middle of the Everfree Forest. How do you not remember getting there?"
"I told you, I can only remember a prismatic funnel cloud whisking me away and then nothing. When I awoke in the hospital bed ten minutes ago I had a terrible headache, but it went away as fast as it came upon me," The stallion took a bite of his dandelion sandwich, looking up at the curious Twilight. "Oh, I don't think I've told you my name," The stallion got up from the bench he was occupying and curtly gave a nod of his head. "I am Frost Finder. And yourself?"
"Twilight Sparkle, and this is my assistant Spike. Say hello Spike."
"Hello Spike." Was Spike's response, trying to lighten the mood.
Twilight gave Spike a glare, but knew he was just trying to mitigate the uneasy atmosphere that seemed to have surrounded the table.
"Hah, your assistant is pretty funny Twilight." Said Frost Finder.
"Yeah, he can really be a knockout at times. Right spike?"
"Sure am Twilight!" Exclaimed Spike, genuinely happy.
"So, Mr. Frost, do you really not remember anything before you woke up in the hospital?" Asked Twilight, examining the stallions cutie-mark. It was a saffron colored pair of wings, surrounded by a white halo. Twilight took note of the mysterious design as she thought how it fit in with his name, but couldn't come up with a good reason.
"Actually, now that I really think about it, there was this harmonious voice I heard in a dream that I was having. She spoke to me like a mother did to a child. She said something about...her children being in trouble? I'm not really quite sure."
"Spike did you get that?" The revelation was startling, and Twilight wanted to be sure she had all of the information that Frost just revealed on paper.
"You betcha Twilight," Said Spike as he rolled up the scroll and tucked it away. "It's all right here for future reference."
"Good, now is there anything-"
Twilight was cut short when an alarm went off down the hall, and the nurses in the hospital headed towards the exit.
Getting up, Twilight and Spike flagged down the nearest nurse to find out exactly what was happening. Fortunately, it was nurse Redheart.
"Nurse Redheart, what's going on here? Is there some sort of fire?"
Spike, overhearing Twilight's mention of disaster, immediately jumped to the conclusion that it had to be something bad.
"Is it a flood? Is it Changelings? Is it...is it...zombies?"
"Thankfully both of you are wrong. The alarm means that there are ponies being transported here from outside of town. This particular alarm means...Everfree District? I wonder..."
Nurse Redheart looked in the direction of Frost Finder, wondering if more newcomers were on their way.
"Anyway, I've got to be at the edge of town when they arrive. Me being on the trauma team and all..."
Twilight and Spike took the hint and let nurse Redheart pass. Taking off at a gallop, the nurse was out the door in seven seconds flat.
"Okay Spike, let's get out of here with Fro-" Twilight looked back for Frost Finder, only to see a now completely empty cafeteria.
"Huh, he must'ave left while we weren't looking." Pointed out Spike, retaking his place on Twilight's back.
"Guess so..."
The two headed out the side doors of the hospital and into the mid-mourning sun, just in time to see three more ponies being carried into the hospital. From their positions, Twilight and Spike could tell that they were all mares, one of each different tribe. All three had their heads limp, but still stirred as the doctors and nurses carried them inside. Behind all of the doctors and nurses was a worried looking Fluttershy, atop her was Angel bunny with a stoic expression.
"Hey Twilight, isn't that Fluttershy over there?"
"Yeah, I think it is. Maybe she's the one who found these ponies again."
Teleporting, Twilight and Spike were instantly upon Fluttershy and Angel.
"Hello Fluttershy!"
The sudden appearance of her friend made Fluttershy's heart skip a beat, and Angel had fallen fallen off of her back and onto the ground.
"Twilight! Oh..dear...you really scared me there..." Managed Fluttershy, still breathing heavy from the recently appeared Twilight and Spike.
Angel Bunny was regaining his footing after his dramatic fall from his caretaker's back. Now on his feet again, Angel looked up at the two mares that stood before him, frowned, then remounted Fluttershy.
"Well, Angel seems fine now. Anyway, did you see those mares being brought inside the hospital just now?"
"Actually yes, I found them in the Everfree forest again this mourning. Angel here brought me back to the same grove that I found the stallion in yesterday."
"Well that's peculiar," Said Twilight, taking mental note to talk more about the grove later. "But you say you found them in the same spot? How did you alert the town if you were way out in the woods?"
"The woodland creatures that helped me out yesterday barely got one pony to town, never mind three. I wasn't sure what to do, so I ran back to the edge of the forest and got the attention of some weather team cloud-kickers. Nopony believed me when I said I found three ponies unconscious in the woods."
"Then how did you alert the town?"
"Actually, one gray and yellow mare believed me and said she would tell the others in town to come right away. It's a shame I can't remember her name though, Ditzy, Derpy, something like that. But apparently she got the attention of most of the town because several ponies showed up to help the strangers out of the forest and towards the hospital."
"Wow, and just in time too. Look at those clouds in the distance!" Said Spike, pointing a claw at the mass of clouds gathering in the distance.
"Those clouds look...ominous." Stated Twilight, looking at the mass of swirling red and orange clouds over the Everfree forest.
"They've been there since yesterday mourning, just sitting there." Added Fluttershy, also taking in the sight.
"I've never seen anything like it before," Whispered Twilight, looking at the swirling red vortex over the Everfree. "Something is definitely wrong..."
Not more than a few seconds later a colorful lightning bolt shot out of the vortex and into the Everfree. The four stood agape as the sight shook them. The sound of distant thunder could be heard even from the far distance they were at.
"Oh my, that's the fifth time it's done that." Whispered Fluttershy as they watched the clouds.
"Yeah...Wait, did you say fifth? As in this happened four times already?"
"Yes, but you don't think that..." Fluttershy put the pieces together as she realized exactly what Twilight was saying.
"It's at least worth checking out. Spike, get ready. We're going on a nature walk."
"What?"
