Left behind-GREEN

Chapter 4: Missing Pages and Hidden Secrets

Twilight Sparkle and Spike were seated in the Golden Oaks Library, surrounded by stacks of books and scrolls. The once orderly library was now a chaotic mess of papers, evidence of their exhaustive search for information. Twilight, her brow furrowed in frustration, flipped through another book and sighed.

"This doesn't make any sense, Spike! There should be something here about Bad Apple—anything! But it’s like he never existed," Twilight exclaimed, her voice tinged with irritation.

Spike, perched on a stack of books with a newspaper in hand, looked up thoughtfully. "Yeah, it’s really strange, Twilight. You’d think with a big case like that, there would be at least a few records or mentions in the library. But it's like somepony went out of their way to erase him."

Twilight nodded, her eyes scanning the shelves as if hoping for a hidden clue. "Exactly! But why? What would be the point of covering up something like this? And who would even have the power to do it?"

Spike scratched his head, his face contorted in confusion. "Maybe somepony really didn’t want anypony else to know about what happened. But… who could do something like that?"

Twilight frowned, deep in thought. "I don’t know, Spike. But this is more than just frustrating—it’s suspicious. I’ve never had this much trouble finding information on anything, not even ancient magic."

As Spike flipped through another newspaper, something caught his eye. "Twilight, look at this!" He hurried over, holding the newspaper up to her.

Twilight took the newspaper, her eyes widening as she read the headline: "Smuggling Ring Uncovered Near Ponyville: Dead Bodies Found, Mysterious Attack Linked to Young Stallion." Her heart skipped a beat as she scanned the article.

"Spike, this is it! This is about Bad Apple!" Twilight exclaimed, her voice a mix of excitement and concern.

Spike peered over her shoulder. "It says here that an illegal smuggling ring was busted near Ponyville—something to do with Diamond Dogs. But it sounds like they got tipped off before the guards could get there. They found some… bodies and other illegal stuff, but it doesn’t say much more."

Twilight nodded, reading further. "And the only pony they arrested was Bad Apple… He was just sixteen. But it doesn’t explain why he was involved or what happened after. The story just… ends."

Spike frowned. "That’s so weird. Why wouldn’t they explain what happened next? You’d think there’d be more follow-up on something like this."

Twilight folded the newspaper, her mind racing. "Exactly, Spike. Something about this whole thing feels off. We need to dig deeper, but the records here are either missing or incomplete. Maybe Mayor Mare or some of the older ponies in town remember something."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "You really think they’ll want to talk about it? I mean, this sounds like something everypony’s been trying to forget."

Twilight sighed, standing up and putting the newspaper into her saddlebag. "I hope so, Spike. But it’s the only lead we have right now. We have to try."

Spike hopped off his stack of books, ready to follow her out. "Okay, but don’t you think it’s a little strange that there’s hardly anything about this in the library? What if somepony’s hiding something? Like, maybe a dark secret?"

Twilight rolled her eyes with a small smile. "Spike, you’ve been reading too many comic books. But… maybe you’re right. There’s definitely something strange going on, and I intend to find out what it is."

As they stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun, Twilight glanced around at the familiar streets of Ponyville. But today, something felt different. The town, usually so welcoming and open, seemed almost… distant. Twilight couldn’t quite place the feeling, but it lingered at the edge of her awareness, gnawing at her curiosity.

"Come on, Spike," Twilight said, shaking off the unsettling feeling. "Let’s start with Mayor Mare. If anypony knows about what happened back then, it’s her."

Spike nodded, falling in step beside her. "Yeah, and if she doesn’t, maybe we can ask some of the older ponies. Somepony’s gotta know something."

Twilight took a deep breath, determination settling in. "Let’s hope so, Spike. Let’s hope so."

Twilight and Spike made their way to the Town Hall, the quiet murmur of administrative work filling the air as they entered the building. They approached Mayor Mare’s office, and Twilight knocked politely on the door.

A moment later, the mayor’s assistant opened the door, nodding in greeting. "Twilight, Spike. The mayor will see you now."

Mayor Mare looked up from her desk with a warm smile as they entered. "Well, if it isn’t Twilight Sparkle and Spike! What can I do for Ponyville’s favorite problem solvers today?"

Twilight returned the smile as she stepped closer. "Mayor Mare, we’ve been doing some research on an old case involving Bad Apple, and we’ve hit a few... snags. We thought you might be able to help us find more information."

At the mention of Bad Apple, Mayor Mare’s smile froze, her eyes widening in surprise. "Bad Apple?" she repeated, her voice carrying a note of unease. "That’s a name I didn’t expect to hear again. Why the sudden interest?"

Twilight hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Actually, Mayor, he’s back in Ponyville."

Mayor Mare’s eyes widened even more, and she visibly stiffened. "Back? As in... back in Ponyville?" Her usually composed demeanor faltered, replaced with a flicker of fear. She quickly recovered, trying to maintain her calm. "I... I wasn’t aware of that."

Twilight picked up on the shift in Mayor Mare’s tone but pressed on gently. "Yes, he is. I’ve been looking through some records related to his case, but it seems like some of them have been... misplaced or removed."

Mayor Mare’s surprise morphed into a look of concern as she stared at her desk. "Removed? That’s... unusual, Twilight. I don’t know why that would be." Her voice carried a tone of feigned surprise that didn’t escape Twilight’s notice.

Spike, picking up on the tension but keeping the mood light, quipped, "Smells like a mystery to me! Maybe somepony’s hiding something!"

Mayor Mare forced a smile, clearly trying to downplay the situation. "Oh, Spike, always the detective. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for this."

Twilight, her voice calm but firm, leaned in a bit. "Mayor, I was hoping you could direct me to some of the older residents who might remember what happened. Maybe they could help fill in the gaps where the records are missing."

Mayor Mare hesitated, her eyes darting slightly before she answered. "Well, Twilight, it’s just that... a lot of ponies who were here back then prefer not to talk about it. It was a dark chapter for Ponyville, and most have tried to put it behind them."

Twilight frowned, understanding the mayor’s reluctance but not willing to give up. "I understand, Mayor Mare, but this is important. I need to know what really happened."

Mayor Mare sighed, the weight of the past clearly pressing on her. "Twilight, I’m not sure how much help I can be. The ponies who lived through that time... well, they don’t like to revisit it. But if you’re set on finding out, I suppose you could try asking a few of the older residents. Just... be gentle, okay? Some wounds haven’t fully healed."

Twilight nodded, sensing that the mayor was holding something back but not wanting to push her too hard. "Thank you, Mayor. We’ll be careful."

As Twilight and Spike turned to leave, Mayor Mare’s voice softened as she called after them, "Twilight, some things are better left in the past. Please... be careful."

Twilight glanced back, offering the mayor a reassuring nod before stepping out of the office. Once they were outside, she sighed, the weight of the mystery settling on her.

"Spike, I think we’ve stumbled onto something bigger than we thought," Twilight said, her tone serious.

Spike, ever the optimist, grinned and rubbed his claws together. "Well, if there’s a mystery, we’re the perfect team to solve it! Let’s get to work, one pony at a time!"

Twilight smiled at Spike’s enthusiasm, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that this investigation was leading them into deeper, darker waters than either of them had anticipated.

Twilight and Spike ventured out of Town Hall with a determined purpose, but as they made their way to speak with the local ponies, they quickly realized that getting information about Bad Apple wasn’t going to be easy.

They approached several ponies in the market square and even a few older residents they recognized, but the responses were frustratingly vague. Some ponies avoided the topic entirely, brushing off Twilight’s questions with excuses or claiming they didn’t remember much. Others gave conflicting accounts that only added to the confusion.

One older stallion insisted, “I heard he was involved with smuggling Diamond Dogs into the town!”

But another mare shook her head and whispered, “No, no, he was hiding out in the Everfree Forest, practicing dark magic. That’s what I heard.”

Spike frowned, clearly puzzled. “Dark magic? Smuggling? This is all over the place, Twilight.”

Twilight sighed, nodding in agreement. “I know, Spike. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle with all the pieces mixed up.”

Another pony, one of the few who would talk to Twilight at all, insisted that Bad Apple had been wrongly accused, his voice wavering as if he wasn't sure whether he believed it himself.

Twilight’s patience was wearing thin. Every story she heard seemed to contradict the last, and no one was willing to give her a straight answer. As she continued her inquiries, Twilight began to notice something strange. Ponies were giving her looks—sideways glances and whispered conversations that trailed off whenever she approached. The warmth and friendliness she had always felt in Ponyville seemed to evaporate, replaced by an uncomfortable tension.

“Twilight,” Spike whispered, his voice low as they walked away from yet another unhelpful conversation, “is it just me, or are ponies acting weird around us?”

Twilight nodded, her brow furrowed. “You’re right, Spike. It feels like they don’t want to talk about Bad Apple at all, almost like they’re afraid. I’ve never felt like this in Ponyville, not even when I first arrived.”

Spike looked up at her, concern written on his face. “You don’t think... maybe there’s something they’re trying to hide?”

Twilight gave him a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t know, Spike. It feels strange, but I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Maybe it’s just that whatever happened was so bad that they’d rather not remember.”

As they reached the edge of the marketplace, Twilight spotted Rarity and Fluttershy walking together, chatting quietly. Relief washed over her, and she hurried over to them, Spike following close behind.

“Rarity! Fluttershy!” Twilight called out, her voice tinged with the strain of her fruitless search.

Rarity turned, her expression brightening when she saw Twilight. “Oh, Twilight, darling! You look like you’ve been through the wringer. Whatever is the matter?”

Fluttershy gave her a concerned look, her gentle voice full of worry. “Twilight, are you alright? You seem... troubled.”

Twilight sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “I’ve been trying to find out more about Bad Apple, but it’s been nothing but dead ends and rumors. Nopony seems to want to talk about it, and the few who do have completely different stories. It’s like everypony in town has a different version of what happened.”

Spike chimed in, “Yeah, and they’re all totally different! One pony said he was smuggling Diamond Dogs, and another said he was practicing dark magic. It’s like nopony knows what really happened.”

Rarity frowned, her brow furrowing delicately. “Bad Apple? Oh, I’ve heard that name before, but I wasn’t even in Ponyville when all that happened. I only know that I managed to buy my boutique for a pittance after whatever... incident... took place, but I had to rebuild it myself.”

Fluttershy nodded, her eyes wide as she remembered. “I wasn’t in town either when it all started, but I came in afterward. I saw him... Bad Apple, I mean. He was being dragged away by the royal guards. At first, I thought he was some sort of wild animal in distress, the way he was struggling and fighting against them. But then... I saw his eyes.”

Fluttershy shuddered at the memory, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “He looked at me with such... such anger. It wasn’t just anger—it was like he hated everything, everyone. It scared me so much that I ran all the way back to my cottage.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Whoa, that sounds intense.”

Rarity laid a comforting hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, her expression softening. “That sounds absolutely dreadful, darling. No wonder you were frightened.”

Twilight frowned, processing this new information. “So you both weren’t here for the start of everything, but you were around for the aftermath. Do either of you remember anything else? Maybe something that could help me understand what really happened?”

Fluttershy shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I just remember that one moment... But, you know who might know more? Pinkie Pie. She was around back then, wasn’t she, Rarity?”

Rarity nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, Pinkie’s been here longer than I have. If anypony knows what happened, it’s her. And you know how she is—always in the middle of everything, whether she means to be or not.”

Spike perked up at the suggestion. “Yeah, Pinkie’s bound to know something. She’s got a nose for secrets!”

Twilight sighed in relief, feeling a glimmer of hope. “Thanks, girls. I’ll go talk to Pinkie. Maybe she can help me piece this together.”

Rarity smiled, though her expression was still tinged with concern. “Good luck, Twilight. And do be careful. It sounds like you’re poking at a beehive with all this.”

Fluttershy nodded, her eyes soft with worry. “Yes, please be careful. We don’t want you to get hurt.”

Twilight smiled at her friends, appreciating their concern. “I will, don’t worry. I just want to get to the bottom of this.”

With that, Twilight and Spike set off toward Sugarcube Corner, the weight of the mystery still heavy on their minds, but now with a renewed determination to uncover the truth.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike made their way through the streets of Ponyville, the warm afternoon sun casting long shadows as they approached Sugarcube Corner. The quaint bakery was buzzing with the usual activity, the sweet scent of freshly baked goods wafting through the air. As they stepped inside, the bell above the door chimed, and Pinkie Pie, ever the embodiment of energy, bounced out from behind the counter.

“Hi, Twilight! Hi, Spike! What’s up? Are you here for some super-duper, extra-frosted, double-chocolate cupcakes? They’re fresh out of the oven!” Pinkie beamed, her curly mane bouncing with every word.

Twilight managed a small smile, though her mind was clearly focused on the task at hand. “Hey, Pinkie. Actually, we need to talk to you about something… important.”

Pinkie’s energetic demeanor softened slightly as she noticed Twilight’s serious tone. “Oh, important? Like, super-secret-party-planning important? Or maybe top-secret-mission important?”

Spike rolled his eyes playfully. “More like ‘we’re digging into a mysterious past’ kind of important.”

Pinkie’s ears perked up, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Mysterious past? Ooh, sounds like a real doozy! Who’s the mystery pony?”

Twilight took a deep breath before responding. “We’re trying to find out more about Bad Apple, and we’ve been hitting a lot of dead ends. We were hoping you might know something, especially about what happened with him years ago.”

At the mention of Bad Apple, Pinkie’s usual bounce seemed to deflate a bit, her expression becoming more thoughtful. “Isn’t that the pony you were talking about who used to live here? The one named Apple?”

Twilight gently levitated a newspaper out of her saddlebag and unfolded it in front of Pinkie Pie. “Take a look at this, Pinkie. This is an old news article about Bad Apple.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened as she focused on the picture in the article. “Wait… this looks just like Apple! The pony I met when I first came to Ponyville.”

Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise. “Apple? He went by the name Apple when you met him?”

Pinkie nodded quickly, still processing the revelation. “Yeah, he just called himself Apple. He never mentioned anything about being called Bad Apple. I had no idea they were the same pony! I knew him for only about a week, but he seemed pretty nice. He even helped me get a job with the Cakes. But now that I think about it, he did ask me a lot of questions about my rock farm and how we broke rocks. It was kinda odd…”

Twilight shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t realize he had changed his name like that… or maybe he was hiding his true identity. It makes sense now why you didn’t recognize him when I first mentioned Bad Apple.”

Pinkie blinked a few times, her mind racing as she connected the dots. “I had no clue! He was just Apple to me… How could I have known?”

Pinkie then added thoughtfully, “I always thought he was a little weird. He’s the only other pony that’s ever asked me about my rock farm and how we broke rocks. Nopony else ever found that interesting!”

Twilight placed a comforting hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “You couldn’t have known, Pinkie. Without the picture, it would have been impossible to connect the two.”

Twilight leaned in, her attention fully on Pinkie now. “Anything you can tell us would be helpful, Pinkie. We’ve been hearing a lot of conflicting stories, and we’re trying to piece together what really happened.”

Pinkie Pie nodded, her blue eyes taking on a rare seriousness. “Alright, but I gotta warn you, Twilight, it’s not a fun story. It all started when two strangers came into town…”

Spike, ever curious, piped up. “Strangers? What did they want?”

Pinkie tapped her chin, recalling the events. “They came into town saying all these awful things about Bad Apple. They told everypony that he was doing really bad stuff in the woods—things like smuggling and hurting others. They even said they had proof, but I never saw it myself. Whatever they said, it got everypony really scared.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “Scared enough to form a mob?”

Pinkie nodded, her mane seeming to lose a bit of its usual bounce. “Yeah, a mob. Everypony was so scared and angry… They wanted to find Bad Apple and make sure he didn’t hurt anypony else. But when they found him, he was with the royal guards. He wasn’t doing anything wrong, just walking with them.”

Spike tilted his head, puzzled. “So what went wrong?”

Pinkie sighed, the memory clearly weighing on her. “One of the guards said something really mean about his family. Bad Apple just… snapped. He hit the guard so hard that he flew into a building! After that, the other guards tried to take him down, but he fought back. He was covered in all these scars, like he’d been through a lot, and seeing him so angry… it was scary, Twilight. Really scary.”

Twilight listened intently, her mind racing as she tried to connect the dots. “And what did the townsponies do when they saw this?”

Pinkie’s expression darkened further. “They didn’t help. They started throwing things at him, trying to stop him, but that only made him angrier. He went on a rampage and destroyed a lot of buildings. It was like he was a different pony—so full of anger and hurt.”

Spike shuddered. “That must have been terrifying.”

Pinkie nodded slowly. “It was. And after everything happened, those two strangers who started it all just… disappeared. Nopony saw them again. It was like they were never here.”

Twilight shook her head, still slightly irritated but also grateful for the new information. “I’m going to write a letter to Princess Celestia to get copies of the information from that time. If the records were removed, there has to be a reason, and I’m going to find out what it is.”

Spike, ever the loyal assistant, nodded eagerly. “I’ll get the parchment and quill ready.”

As Spike began preparing to write, Twilight looked back at Pinkie Pie, her expression softening. “Thanks, Pinkie. I know this wasn’t easy to talk about, but it’s really important that we figure this out.”

Pinkie smiled, her usual cheer returning. “You’re welcome, Twilight! And hey, if you need help, I’m your mare. Just say the word!”

Twilight nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “I think it’s time we gathered the girls and talked to Applejack. She needs to know what we’ve found out so far.”

With that, the three of them left Sugarcube Corner, each step taking them closer to uncovering the truth about Bad Apple.