the magic island surrounded by mist

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, filly," remarked a stallion at his outdoor fishing stand, his appearance and markings clearly showing he was from that creepy town. "Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend setting sail on your own. Don’t know what happened but the fog rolled in out of nowhere, and from personal experience, it’s a nightmare trying to cross the waters in fog like this," he said as he shifted in his stand, glancing at the filly.

"Yeah, but… sir, I was told someone would give me one. Don’t you know who? I’ve been looking for like an hour now…" she pleaded, causing the stallion to sigh and point to his right, seemingly gesturing at nothing.

"Look, Salt Woods should be over that way, but I’m warning you, he’s not gonna let you buy or even step on a piece of wood, especially not a filly like you," he said with certainty, inspecting one of the fishing rods like it was something he did regularly.

"Thanks si—ouch!" her gratitude was cut short by a sudden bump, making her hop a few inches from where she stood. She quickly gathered herself and turned to see it was just a local from the village.

"Oh, sorry, didn’t see ya through all this… fog," the villager commented automatically out of courtesy.

"It’s fine. Now, thanks again, sir," and with her thanks complete, Applebloom started walking off, carrying her things. Though the path was hard to see, the lanterns around helped guide her, but she still had to dodge a few grown ponies who didn’t seem to expect a little filly.

After a few minutes of walking, the yellow filly reached a shop near the sea with ship symbols and text. She squinted her eyes and barely managed to read, ‘Best Boats and Ships for Sale in Town.’ Without hesitation, she walked in.

Inside, Applebloom was greeted by a dark and somewhat gloomy atmosphere. The place smelled of damp wood and salty sea air, with old shelves full of ship models and fishing nets piled up in a corner. The windows were covered in a layer of dust and salt, barely letting any light in, which made the interior feel even more somber.

The wooden floor creaked under her hooves, and a faint light from a couple of hanging lanterns barely illuminated the counter. Behind it, a shadowy figure seemed to be waiting in the dimness, making the small space feel a bit intimidating.

"I think this is the place," the filly murmured, swallowing nervously. As she approached the counter, the shadowy figure came into view: a stocky unicorn in his forties, reminding her of her brother but older, with a light blue coat and white hair. "Uh… do you sell boats here?"

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "And they’re for rent… Who sent you?" he asked, suspicion lacing his tone. The outsider was giving him a bad feeling.

"Well..." the filly fidgeted with her front hooves, glancing briefly in another direction. "Lately, I’ve been having dreams about an island, and in them, I was told that to get there, I’d need to ask someone for a boat. And since you’re the only one who, you know, gives out boats..." She made eye contact again, smiling with a goofy little laugh.

The shopkeeper let out a slow but heavy sigh, closing his eyes before looking back at the filly. "Look, kid, I don’t know where you got the idea that I give away boats, but I swear by Celestia, if I had a coin for every time some crazy pony with a story like yours came in here asking for a free boat, I’d have like, eight coins, maybe more," he said, lightly tapping the counter, making the young red-maned filly nervous. "Besides, I wouldn’t give a boat to a kid, especially not when it’s this foggy, and even less so to someone who’s not from here. Got it?" he finished, narrowing his eyes in annoyance. Applebloom swallowed hard.

"O-okay sir, I’ll go. Sorry for the trouble." She let out a nervous laugh before backing away and exiting the shop. Once outside, she sighed... now she was out of leads, out of help, alone. Is all this just for a cutie mark? she thought as she started walking aimlessly. That pull, those dreams… is it just me or… Slowly, before her eyes even noticed, she was closer to the sea, the sound of the waves giving it away. She took a few more steps and found the edge. It looked like she was standing at the edge of the dock, exhausted. That’s when she decided to sit down on the very edge, gazing at the little bit of water she could see.

"This place stinks," Applebloom muttered. "It’s not like I can’t go back, but… everyone would be mad because I ran away, and I’d be known as the dumb kid who ran off in another stupid attempt to get a cutie mark." Regret, guilt, and frustration welled up in her chest.

"What’s a filly like you doing at the edge of the harbor?" asked a weak, trembling voice—a voice that almost reminded her of her grandmother. Applebloom quickly turned around, a bit alarmed, and saw the source of the voice: an old mare. She wore a gray coat, and her hair was white with age, just like most of the elderly ponies Applebloom had come across since she left. She had a frail build and seemed to urgently need something to help her move.

"Just… trying to figure out what brought me here," Applebloom stood up, still unsure of what to do as she looked at the old mare.

"Don’t you know what brought you here, young lady?" the old mare asked, her voice curious.

"Yes and no… it’s just that… I needed a boat, but no one wants to give me one, apparently."

"Uh-huh?" The old mare raised an eyebrow at the filly’s words. Then, she rubbed her chin with her hoof, her leg trembling slightly as she did. "What exactly for?"

The mention of that question made Applebloom look directly into the old mare’s eyes for a moment. Her mindset was shifting, and it didn’t take long for her to open her mouth and start spilling the details like a bird singing.

"Well, I’ve been having these really… vivid dreams about an island. And on that island, I met this… sphere? And it started talking to me about how magical and special it was. In the end, it invited me to go there and gave me instructions on how to get there. Only thing is…" she paused, unsure if the old mare knew that she was supposed to be the one to give her the boat. Finally, she sighed, acting a bit. "I don’t have a boat," she finished, though part of her wondered if all of this was just an illusion.

After hearing the brief but strange story, the old mare just chuckled to herself a little. Then, she looked at the young filly with a kind expression. "You’re in luck, young one. I have a boat that can take you there."

"Are you serious?" Applebloom asked, her heart racing a bit at the offer. When the old mare nodded, Applebloom couldn’t help but throw her arms around her and exclaim, "Thank you!" in a loud tone, earning a soft groan from the elder pony. "Oops…"

"Don’t worry… you’re not the first to forget I’m an old lady," the mare said with a smile as she stretched her back a little, making it crack. "Alright, young one, follow me."

And so the old mare led the filly through the docks, barely needing any light, as if she knew the path by heart. They arrived at what seemed to be a pier with boats, likely belonging to the locals. Some were in better shape than others, at least from what little Applebloom could see.

"Oh wow, which one is yours?" Applebloom asked, glancing at the boats, some wider and in better condition than others.

The old mare slowly raised her trembling hoof and pointed to an old boat that was gently swaying in the water next to the dock. It was small and worn, with most of the paint peeled off, revealing the dark wood underneath, which had turned grayish over time. The mast was barely standing, and a few ropes hung loosely off the sides, clearly showing signs of having weathered many storms.

"That’s the one," the old mare said with a faint smile. "It may not be the prettiest, but it’ll take you where you need to go."

Applebloom stared at the boat, a mix of uncertainty and wonder in her eyes. It wasn’t exactly what she had imagined when she thought of a boat to take her to a mysterious magical island, but… she was already here, and going back home without even trying to find what had been calling to her in her dreams was unthinkable.

"Are you sure it’s safe?" she asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.

"This boat has carried many travelers, and now it will carry you. Get on, young one. You’ve come this far, haven’t you?"

Applebloom stood still for a moment, eyeing the boat with a bit of distrust. Part of her wanted to turn around, head back to the train, and forget all of this, to return to Sweet Apple Acres, to her family. But… she had come so far. And she knew she couldn’t go back without answers, without knowing what was calling to her from that island.

Finally, she swallowed hard and took a step forward.
"I'm already here… there’s no point in turning back now," she muttered to herself, as if trying to convince herself.

She stepped onto the boat carefully, feeling the gentle sway of the water beneath her hooves as she placed her stick with her few belongings in a safe spot. The cold harbor air surrounded her, and the sound of the waves was the only thing breaking the silence. The old mare, still smiling, approached slowly, helping Applebloom get settled.

"Good choice, little one," the old mare said as she untied the ropes holding the boat to the dock. "And don’t worry about steering. This thing will take you where you need to go without any rowing. And don’t bother returning it either—it always comes back."

Applebloom glanced down at the floor of the boat, then looked back up at the old mare. "Thank you, ma’am," was all the filly could manage to say, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude.

"No need to thank me. Just make sure you don’t do anything foolish on your journey. It’ll take you about… three hours."

With those words, the old mare gave the boat a gentle push into the water. Applebloom watched as the dock and the town slowly began to fade into the fog...

Applebloom carefully settled herself into one of the seats, and in the midst of the silence, she grabbed an apple from what she’d brought from home. She took a bite as she waited to reach the island.

Meanwhile, in the nearly abandoned Castle of Friendship, in the meeting room…

"There’s no such place as Calm Tiades," a purple alicorn declared, floating too many maps in the air—maps of all kinds. There was an undertone of unease in her voice. "The intelligence service hasn’t found it, and no map lists that coastal town..." With her magic, the alicorn showed all the maps to Applejack.

"But it has to exist, Twilight! Applebloom wouldn’t have done something this stupid without thinking it through! Isn’t there an old map? Don’t Celestia or Luna know something?" Applejack said in desperation. If her friend, the princess with access to all the information in Equestria, didn’t know where that 'cursed town' was—as Applejack had dubbed it—what hope was there?

"I'm waiting for their answers. You need to be patient, Applejack. Getting worked up won't help here," Twilight replied, trying to calm her friend. "Whatever happened, your sister is brave, Applejack. She’ll come back..."

The farm pony fell silent, taking a moment to look at her friends, who were all gathered there. "...I'm sorry..." she finally said, lowering her head.

"Why, Applejack?" Rainbow Dash replied quickly, being the first to step closer to her friend.

"For... all of this. My desperate attitude and... this whole situation..." Slowly, her nose started to run as her eyes began to well up with tears. Dash quickly wrapped a wing around her, trying to comfort her.

"It's okay, Applejack. We're here," the rainbow-maned pegasus said, gently trying to soothe her friend.

In the quiet that followed, Applejack wiped her tears away with her hoof and looked at the rest of her friends. They gave her a reassuring smile, and to her relief, she managed to smile back.

…

Meanwhile, somewhere in Ponyville…

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle walked in silence toward the train station, their hooves echoing on the streets of Ponyville as the sun slowly climbed toward midday. They had spent the entire morning asking every pony who worked with passengers, hoping to find some clue about where Applebloom might have gone. The Ponyville train station was their last stop.

"I wish we had a better idea of what to do," Sweetie Belle said, breaking the silence as she glanced sideways at her friend.

Scootaloo didn’t respond right away. Her expression was dark, and her wings were tucked tightly against her body, a sign of the discomfort she was feeling. Finally, she let out a long, heavy sigh.

"I think it’s our fault," Scootaloo mumbled.

Sweetie Belle frowned in confusion and stopped, making Scootaloo halt as well.

"Why would you say that?" she asked, tilting her head in concern.

Scootaloo avoided her gaze, kicking a small stone down the path as she struggled to find the right words.

“It’s just… I think maybe she left because we already have our cutie marks. You’ve got your shining musical note, and I’ve got my scooter,” Scootaloo said, pointing to her flank. “But Applebloom... she still hasn’t found hers. Maybe that made her feel... less, or like she didn’t belong.”

Sweetie Belle blinked, surprised. She knew Scootaloo was worried, but she hadn’t imagined her friend was carrying so much guilt. She stepped closer and placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder, trying to comfort her.

“Scootaloo, if Applebloom left because of that, it wouldn’t make any sense,” Sweetie Belle said softly. “You know she’s not good at hiding her feelings. If she’d been upset or jealous, we would’ve noticed. And the truth is, she wasn’t. Sure, she seemed a little strange the past few days, but not angry or anything like that.”

Scootaloo stayed quiet, staring at the ground. Sweetie Belle continued.

“And besides, remember what Rainbow Dash said?” Sweetie Belle added, trying to lift her friend’s spirits. “Applebloom’s been having those weird dreams, and Dash thinks that’s why she left—to follow whatever those dreams were showing her. It has nothing to do with us.”

Scootaloo let out a sigh, still not fully convinced, but nodded slowly.

“I guess you’re right. I just... I hope Rainbow Dash is right, and it wasn’t because of something we did.”

They kept walking in silence until they finally arrived at the Ponyville train station. The small ticket booth was dimly lit, and the clerk inside was busy looking over some papers. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stopped in front of the booth, exchanging a glance before stepping forward to ask their next question.

The two fillies approached the tiny window of the ticket booth. The clerk, a tired-looking pony, sat behind the counter, completely absorbed in a magazine. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood there for a moment, waiting for him to notice them, but the pony didn’t look up, too engrossed in what he was reading.

Scootaloo frowned and, with a bit of impatience, knocked on the glass with her hoof. The sound echoed loudly, making the clerk jump a little, dropping his magazine to the floor. He looked around, confused for a moment, before finally noticing the two young fillies standing in front of him.

“Oh, uh… didn’t see you there,” he said with an awkward smile, scratching his head. “How can I help you, girls? Looking to buy tickets?”

Sweetie Belle shook her head.

“Actually, we wanted to ask you a question. Do you remember seeing a filly younger than us this morning? She has a red bow and she’s yellow. Her name’s Applebloom."

The ticket clerk leaned forward a little, squinting like he was trying to remember.

“Hmm… This morning, you say?” he asked, still confused.

“Yeah, it was really early,” Scootaloo added, sounding anxious. “She was probably alone and had some luggage.”

The pony thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“Well, hang on a second. Let me see if anyone else remembers. Hey, Mild Storm!” he yelled, calling another pony from the back office.

A younger pony, wearing a train cap, came up to the counter, looking at the two fillies with curiosity.

“What’s up, Quick Eye?” Mild Storm asked, throwing a quick glance at the girls.

“These two are looking for a filly who came through here early this morning. Red bow, yellow coat… Ring any bells?”

Mild Storm frowned and, after a quick exchange between the two of them, finally turned back to the fillies.

“Yeah, now that you mention it, I think I do remember a filly like that,” he said, scratching his chin. “She paid the exact fare for a ticket. What was the name of that town again? It was…” He paused, trying to recall. “I don’t really remember, but it was one of those small towns, somewhere by the coast.”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged a look, a mix of hope and anxiety on their faces.

“Could it have been Calm Tiades?” Sweetie Belle asked.

The pony raised an eyebrow, then snapped his hooves.

“Yes, that’s it! Calm Tiades. I sold her a ticket there early this morning. She seemed pretty determined to go.”

Scootaloo swallowed, feeling a mix of relief and worry. At least now they knew where Applebloom was headed, but they didn’t have time to waste. “Okay, thanks a lot!” she said before turning and taking off at a gallop. Sweetie Belle, a bit confused, hesitated for a second but quickly followed her friend.

“What are you doing?” the white unicorn called out to her.

“We’re gonna tell the others. This might be useful!” Scootaloo shouted, racing straight toward the Castle of Friendship.

Applebloom sat alone in the boat, surrounded by the stillness of the calm sea. There was no wind, no strong waves, only the thick mist wrapping around her like a blanket, hiding everything from view. She could feel the boat slowly moving forward, but impatience was beginning to grow inside her. She was eager for answers, desperate to understand more about the island and why she felt such a strong pull toward it.

Her eyes darted back and forth, trying to spot something through the fog, but everything stayed the same—gray, heavy, and empty. Until, suddenly, she glimpsed a vague figure in the distance, barely visible in the mist. At first, she wasn’t sure what it was, but it was coming toward her fast.

Before she could react, her boat collided with the object ahead. Applebloom lost her balance and, with a startled cry, fell to the floor of the boat. At the same time, she heard another yell from the direction of the mysterious figure, followed by a loud thud as they crashed together.

Dazed and her heart racing, Applebloom sat up, rubbing her head as she tried to process what had just happened. In front of her, in a small boat much like hers, was something she had never seen before: a bipedal creature with hands. It wore a tattered fisherman’s hat and dull, weathered clothes that looked like they had braved the salty sea breeze for years. Its worn leather boots creaked as it moved, and a scruffy beard framed a face marked by the sun and the sea.

The man leaned slightly toward her, observing her with an amused smile. Then he chuckled softly when he noticed her alarmed expression.

“You alright, little one?” he asked in a deep, friendly voice, as if he was used to calming those who stumbled upon him for the first time.

Applebloom, still stunned and her heart pounding in her chest, could only manage a shaky nod. Her words came out hesitantly, tripping over themselves.

“What... what are you?” she murmured, her wide eyes studying him in disbelief.

The human straightened up and smiled at her, clearly entertained by her reaction but without a trace of arrogance.

“You can call me Tom,” he replied casually, as if that was a question he often received. “And you… are you headed somewhere called Mistwatch?”

Applebloom frowned, her confusion growing with every word. She had never heard of such a place, not in her dreams or otherwise.

“Mistwatch?” she repeated, searching her mind for any connection. “What is that?”

Tom leaned slightly to the side, pulling an old-looking compass from his pocket. The compass wobbled slightly as its needle sought its north.

"It's a small town on an island not too far from here," he said, vaguely gesturing through the mist. "Just a few minutes away, according to my compass."

Applebloom's heart skipped a beat. An island. That was exactly what she was looking for! She immediately stepped forward, unable to contain her excitement.

"That's where I need to go! Because..." she started but trailed off when Tom raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile on his face.

"The island called to you, didn't it?" he asked, his tone suggesting he already knew the answer before he asked the question.

A chill ran down Applebloom's spine. How did he know? It was as if this strange fisherman had been expecting her.

"Yeah..." she admitted, hesitating. "How do you know?"

The fisherman chuckled again, though this time his laugh was softer, almost conspiratorial, like he was sharing a secret.

"You're the first one to come in a long time," he said, leaning on an oar as the fog thickened even more around them. "The last one moved there about three years ago."

"Moved" was the word that briefly echoed in Applebloom's mind, but she decided not to dwell on it. She was too focused on her own mission to worry about the details.

"Could you take me there?" she asked, her voice full of urgency, though she tried to sound polite.

Tom nodded without hesitation, a smile forming on his weathered face.

"Hop in." He motioned with his arm for her to jump into his boat. "I'll take you."

With a small leap, Applebloom landed in Tom's boat. As soon as she touched it, the boat she'd been in before started drifting backward. Without any warning or help, the small boat that had brought her here was sliding away, slowly disappearing into the thick fog.

"The old mare wasn't lying..." Applebloom murmured to herself, remembering the words of the elderly pony who had helped her earlier.

Tom began rowing with smooth, steady strokes, mastering the waters with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime at sea.

"Mistwatch has a bit of everything," he commented as he rowed. "Ponies, zebras, griffons... even the occasional dragon. Don't be surprised if you see something you weren't expecting."

Applebloom looked at Tom, feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. If the island was full of such a variety of creatures, what else could she expect to find? But before she could ask anything, Tom muttered under his breath:

"It’s always the same. Ponies always get scared when they see a non-pony..."

Applebloom chose to ignore the comment, focusing instead on what awaited her in Mistwatch. The thick fog surrounding the boat only added to her curiosity, and a faint sense of nervousness.

Still a bit unsettled by everything, Applebloom couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked:

"So, what were you doing out here, in the middle of nowhere?"

Tom, with a calmness that seemed unshakable, replied without stopping his rowing:

"Fishing. It’s what I do. I catch fish and sell them in town or, if there’s no buyers, I trade them for what I need. It’s simple."

As he spoke, the fog that had wrapped around them began to slowly lift, revealing a landscape Applebloom hadn’t anticipated. What was once a vast, mysterious open sea was now a river winding through a swampy area. The banks were lined with gnarled trees, their roots jutting out of the water, and the surface was dotted with floating leaves and aquatic plants that gave off a thick, earthy smell.

The air grew heavier and more humid, and the sound of the calm waters echoed among the low-hanging branches. Applebloom could hardly believe that just minutes ago, she had been in the open sea. Everything seemed to shift and change constantly in this strange place.

Noticing her gaze, Tom broke the silence:

"When we get there, they’re gonna ask you some questions. Best thing is to be honest and give them whatever they ask for. They don’t much care for secrets around here."

Applebloom looked at him with a hint of unease.

"And what about you?" she asked, worried that things might be more complicated than she thought. "Do they ask you questions too?"

Tom chuckled softly, shaking his head with a carefree smile.

"No, little one. I’ve got free access by now. I’ve been coming and going for years. I’m the town fisherman, everyone knows me." He paused, glancing at the narrowing river. "But newcomers... well, they like to make sure you’re not bringing any trouble."

As they moved a little farther, Applebloom and Tom spotted a dock slowly emerging from the mist in the distance. The wooden structure, though not impressive in size, seemed to signal the end of their journey.

The dock served its purpose clearly as a port. Just behind it, a wooden wall stood a few steps away. It wasn’t tall or particularly menacing, but its function of guarding what lay beyond was obvious.

What stood out the most were the lamps lining the dock and the wall. They shone with a warm, steady glow, doing what the rest of the place couldn’t: partially dispelling the thick fog. While the air remained cloudy, the lights created a small refuge of clarity in the midst of the gray, misty surroundings.

As the boat finally touched land, Applebloom hurried to step off, feeling a slight nervous flutter in her stomach. Barely had she set hoof on the dock when two figures materialized almost instantly from the gloom. They were guards: one, a bulky, dark-coated pony, and the other, a zebra whose stripes seemed even more defined under the lamplight.

Both were dressed in formal yet archaic attire. Their outfits, though simple, exuded authority. They wore buttoned-up jackets with wide lapels and metallic adornments on their shoulders that gleamed under the light. Their low-brimmed hats concealed part of their expressions, but the spears they held firmly in their hooves made it clear they were no ordinary civilians. Together, they appeared dignified and watchful, as if always prepared to defend the place from any threat, but without resorting to intimidation.

One of the guards, the pony, stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Applebloom.

"The filly?" he asked in a deep voice, more of a statement than a question.

Tom, still maintaining his usual calm, leaned slightly toward them as he secured the boat.

"Found her sailing this way," he replied, gesturing to Applebloom with a subtle nod.

The guards exchanged glances and nodded solemnly, as if this were part of a familiar routine. After a few moments of silence, the pony spoke again.

"Follow us."

The zebra, who hadn’t spoken until now, motioned with her hoof toward the path they should take. Applebloom swallowed hard and did as she was told.

She followed the guards down a short hallway until they arrived at a small room. The atmosphere shifted completely; the air was heavier, and a faint smell of ink and paper surrounded her. The walls were decorated with maps of the area and various fishing tools hung in the corners. In the center was a worn wooden table with two chairs on either side.

The zebra sat in one of the chairs, casually setting her spear aside. She pulled a paper from a drawer and a quill, ready to write. She glanced up at Applebloom, who remained standing, feeling a slight nervousness build in her chest.

"First, your name," said the zebra, her voice deep and methodical.

"Applebloom," she answered, trying to stay calm while the zebra wrote it down.

"Age."

"Uh... I'm eleven."

The zebra nodded as she scribbled, then asked the next question.

"Do you have your cutie mark?"

Applebloom felt a small knot in her stomach, and with a sigh, she answered sadly, "No, I don't have a cutie mark."

The zebra continued writing, her expression serious, but her eyes showed a hint of understanding as she went through the paperwork.

"And how did you get here?"

Feeling a little vulnerable, Applebloom explained, "Through dreams. They led me to a coastal town, and there an old mare gave me a boat."

The zebra jotted down more notes, her face still composed, though her gaze softened slightly. Then she asked a question that made Applebloom pause.

"What happened before you felt like you had to come here?"

Applebloom went quiet for a moment, feeling emotions welling up in her chest. She remembered the sadness of being the only one in her group of friends without a cutie mark, but she didn't want to let that hold her back.

"I just... felt different. My friends all have their cutie marks, and I don't, but it's not something that haunts me. I just wanted to... satisfy my curiosity," she said, trying to sound confident.

The zebra tilted her head, considering her words before making another note.

"Well, maybe that's what brought you here. You never know what the island needs," she said thoughtfully, scribbling down the last bit of information.

Finally, she looked at Applebloom and said, "Now, I need you to give me all your bits."

Applebloom hesitated for a moment but knew it was part of the process. She took out her small pouch of bits and handed it over.

"Don't worry, we'll give you the equivalent in francs, the currency here," the zebra reassured her, making sure Applebloom understood she wouldn’t lose her money.

"Alright, now we'll take you to our mayor. He’ll be happy to talk to you while we figure out where you'll stay and what you’ll be doing here," she said as she stood up and grabbed her spear, walking to the door and opening it, allowing Applebloom to exit first.

"Welcome to Mistwatch, Applebloom."