“Unbelievable.” Rarity muttered to herself. “Absolutely, unbelievable.”

A cool breeze rattled through the dense canopy of the Everefree forest, drawing a shiver from Rarity as it cut through the thin fabric of her costume like a well sharpened knife.

“Come on, Rare. I bet Zecora is dying to have people come by, tonight.” she mimicked.

She could hardly believe that she had fallen for that. Just an excuse to go to one more house for their little competition.

Then they had the gall to start counting. “Won’t take more than’a minute, Rare. Ah’ promise.”

She had let Sweetie Belle and her friends sneak back to town while it was still bright out, but not her. No. She stayed until it was already halfway dark before she finally gave up and left them to their little game, and her reward? Getting lost in the forest.

With even the moon blocked out by the converging branches and trees overhead, she could rely only a tiny ball of bright blue light to guide her. The only sounds to be were those of leaves crushed underneath her feet with each step.

It would be a miracle if she made it back to Ponyville in time for any of the festivities. The thought of her arriving too late to show off her costume left her blood to boil.

Sure, a cheerleader wasn’t the most original idea, but she wore it to perfection.

The top and skirt were just mini enough to show off her tummy, legs and rear without causing a scandal. Her twin tails were playful, but expertly curled, and even the pompoms that dangled at her sides were the perfectly fluffed.

But at this rate, none of that would matter.

The blue aura that hovered above her hand began to flicker. The fashionista redoubled her focus, but found the light only got dimmer, a grim panic taking hold of her as it soon ceased to exist entirely, plunging her into total darkness.

Or so she thought.

Off in the distance, she saw them. An orange glow, two of them, in fact, hovering, well above the ground looking almost like stars at the in an otherwise empty expanse.

“Hellooooo!” She called out through cupped hands. “Yoohoo! I seem to have gotten myself lost!”

She heard no reply, but began to run in the direction of the light, the sound of the leaves, crunched beneath her feet taking on a steady rhythm and filling the silence around her.

“Would you, by any chance, happen to know the way back to Ponyville?”

Drawing closer, the lights grew larger, but only slightly. She wondered how far off the pair must have been for their light to grow so little yet still reach her, but got her answer only seconds later when she slammed into something warm and soft, and fell backward onto the ground.

“Ughhhh…” Rarity groaned, looking up at the glowing orange orbs that now floated overhead even as the figure to which they belonged remained shrouded in darkness. “I - I’m sorry, dear.” She said, returning to her feet and dusting herself off. “I guess, you seemed further away. Oh, but, how rude of me, my name is Rarity.” she curtsied, offering her hand. “What, may I ask, is yours?”

Her outstretched hand was met by another, taking hold of her. “We are disciples of The Grand Pumpkin.”

“I’m sorry, I must have misheard you, did-” The grip on her hand grew tighter, and was joined by the unfamiliar feeling of something slithering along her forearm. “What’s going on?”

An attempt to pull back was thwarted, the orange orbs drawing lower, until they sat immediately before her, revealed to be eyes, rather than the projections she had assumed.

“Pinkie Pie?” She asked, the glowing light revealing only the faintest bits of her friend’s visage. “Is that you?”

She felt her other hand taken hold of, the same slithering sensation beginning, even as the first continued its way further upward.

“Who’s there?!” she shouted in the second hand’s direction. “I demand to know this instant!”

Something shifted in the darkness, another pair of eyes revealing themselves to her, and with them, Fluttershy’s blank, emotionless expression. “It will be your honour to serve The Grand Pumpkin.”

Rarity’s struggles turned more aggressive, kicking up dirt as she tried her best to pull away, only to fall backward for a second time, even as her arms were entirely cocooned by the ever expanding vines upon them.

To her side, she heard something skitter along the forest floor, and soon after, felt a third set of vines clinging to her as something heavy attached itself to her back and began to climb.

“Applejack!” she shirked, as the object made its way up to her shoulders, more vines sliding their way beneath her top. “Rainbow Dash!”

The vines around her arms pulled her closer, the vacant expressions of her friends coming back into view, their unknowing eyes staring back at her as she kicked about until her legs were bound. “Somebody! He-”

The object to her back had come above her head, and slid into place, a flash of orange light silencing her and leaving her to fall limp in the darkness as the vines molded themselves around her.

Author's Note

Am. Gonna. Finish. This.