the magic island surrounded by mist

Applebloom followed the zebra guard outside the small base, her heart racing with a mix of nerves and curiosity. As soon as she stepped out, the humid air wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, clinging to her fur. The environment was unlike anything she had ever seen in Ponyville. The ground was dotted with murky puddles, and in the distance, the landscape stretched out into a swampy terrain, with small wooden bridges connecting the different parts of the town.

The houses in Mistwatch were made of dark wood, old but sturdy, similar to those in Ponyville but looking much more rundown and damp. Moss covered the rooftops, and the windows, many fogged over from the moisture, barely gave a glimpse of what lay inside. There were shops scattered here and there, with faded signs, but unlike Ponyville’s cheerful bustle, everything here felt dull and somewhat gloomy.

As they crossed one of the wooden bridges, Applebloom noticed how the boards creaked beneath her hooves, and the swamp water below barely stirred. All around her, the town was full of life, but something about the townsfolk made her feel out of place. Griffons, zebras, and ponies moved through the streets, but as they passed her, Applebloom could feel their stares—some subtle, others more brazen. Their eyes reflected surprise, as if they'd never seen a new face in this corner of the world before.

Some whispered among themselves, their voices low but filled with curiosity. "Who’s she?" one murmured. "Is she the new one? She looks familiar…" another said, trying to hide his interest.

Applebloom lowered her gaze, trying not to look uncomfortable, but she couldn’t help noticing how familiar the locals were with each other. There was a sense of closeness between them, and the arrival of someone new, especially an outsider filly, seemed like a rare event.

The zebra guard led Applebloom to a building that, despite the town’s humble nature, stood tall, suggesting this was where important matters were handled. The structure looked better maintained than the rest of the village, with less moss on its walls and an air of formality that Applebloom couldn’t ignore.

When they reached the door, the guard knocked firmly, and shortly after, a voice called from inside. "Yes?" someone asked, their tone curious but authoritative.

The zebra peeked inside, exchanging a few words Applebloom couldn’t quite make out. Finally, the response came. "Let her in and return to your post. Good job."

The guard turned to Applebloom with a calm expression and gestured for her to go inside before quietly walking away. The door remained open, and with her heart racing from anxiety, Applebloom took a step forward and crossed the threshold.

The room’s interior was surprisingly dry, considering Mistwatch's swampy surroundings. There was a cozy warmth to the place, which seemed well-kept and organized. The walls were decorated with framed photographs, showing the faces of ponies, zebras, griffons, and even a dragon. Each picture had birth and death dates, sending a chill down Applebloom’s spine, as if the room held a story she wasn’t yet meant to understand.

As she studied the images, a friendly voice broke her train of thought. "Over here, young one, have a seat."

Applebloom turned toward the source of the voice and saw an elderly griffon seated behind a tidy desk. His feathers were gray, showing signs of age, with a few white ones crowning his head.

"Don’t be afraid," the griffon added with a soft smile. "I just want to talk. Please, sit."

Still a bit nervous but curious, Applebloom walked over to the chair in front of him and sat down.

"So... welcome to Mistwatch!" the griffon exclaimed, letting out a light laugh that echoed through the room. "We haven’t had a new member in years—three, to be exact. The last one was a unicorn." He accompanied his words with gentle motions of his claws, as if trying to keep the conversation light.

"Uh... sir..." Applebloom began shyly, glancing around the room as she tried to remember his name.

"Tusk," he interrupted in a calm tone. "Call me Tusk. Or, if you prefer, you can call me mayor." He paused briefly, tilting his head with a smile, attempting to ease the mood.

Applebloom frowned, still confused by something that had bothered her since she arrived. "Why do you keep saying 'new member'? It’s the second time I’ve heard that someone thinks I came here to stay…" she asked, her voice reflecting her bewilderment as her eyes nervously drifted to a corner of the room.

The atmosphere shifted suddenly. Tusk, who had been relaxed and cheerful up until now, let his smile fade. His eyes darkened slightly as he sighed, lowering his gaze as though burdened by something difficult to share. He shifted his posture, resting his talons on his beak in a thoughtful gesture, and remained silent for a moment, seemingly searching for the right words to deliver bad news.

After a few seconds of palpable tension, Tusk lifted his gaze toward Applebloom, his expression now heavy with seriousness.

“What’s your name?” he asked softly, his voice low but not harsh, seeking empathy in his words.

“Applebloom…” the filly replied, almost whispering, her heart starting to race a little more with each passing second.

Tusk nodded slowly, looking at her with a mix of compassion and sorrow.
“Applebloom…” he began, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but those who come to the island… can’t leave.”

The silence that followed was almost tangible. His words hung in the air, settling over Applebloom like a weight, trapping her in a reality she didn’t yet know how to process.

Applebloom let out a nervous laugh at the mayor’s words. At first, she couldn’t take him seriously, thinking maybe it was some kind of strange joke or that, somehow, she was misunderstanding things. But the heavy silence that followed, and the fact that Tusk’s beak remained still, not even attempting the faintest smile, quickly snuffed out her laughter. The weight of the truth hit her, making her feel small and trapped.

“No… that can’t be,” Applebloom said, shaking her head as her heart began to beat faster. “That can’t be true!”

Tusk kept his gaze on her, his eyes filled with deep compassion, but there was no room for lies or empty hope in his expression.
“It’s true, Applebloom,” he repeated, his tone gentler but firm. “When the island calls someone, it’s to protect them from something. It’s not a punishment, it’s a form of refuge.”

“I don’t care about that!” Applebloom cried, her voice breaking as she felt tears starting to rise in her eyes. “I have family out there! Friends! I have a life! I can’t stay here!”

The mayor let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before continuing. He had known this moment would come, as it had so many times before with others. Each time it was the same, but never any less painful.

“I know, little one…” Tusk said in a low voice, almost as if speaking to himself. “All of the first generation feels the same.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Those who came here from outside, like you. They had lives too, loved ones.” The griffon shifted in his chair, his expression filled with regret. “Though I was born on the island, I’ve heard those stories many times… the pain of leaving everything behind. I share it, though I didn’t live it. But I understand.”

Applebloom, with tears streaming from her eyes, struggled to grasp what she was hearing. The pain was tangible, like an invisible hand squeezing her chest. Her mind kept searching for an escape, some way to undo what had happened, but Tusk’s calm voice brought her back to reality with every word.
"Don’t worry," the mayor continued, trying to offer a glimmer of hope. "Here in Mistwatch, everyone finds their place, something to do. There will always be a community for you. It may not be what you expected, but you’ll have a purpose here."

Applebloom shook her head, unable to process the truth Tusk had revealed. The tears flowed freely, soaking her face as she tried to hold back the sobs tearing at her chest. The mayor, without saying another word, got up from his chair and sat beside her, silently watching as the filly crumbled under the weight of despair.

Applebloom began cursing her instincts between sobs, blaming herself for everything.
“If I’d just gotten my cutie mark…” she muttered through clenched teeth, filled with powerless anger, "I wouldn’t have left home… I wouldn’t be so stupid… and now… now I’m alone…”

Tusk let her speak, his expression calm but attentive. He knew there was no soothing her with mere words at that moment. Then, in a soft, almost paternal tone, he said,
"That’s not true, Applebloom. Something out there, in your life, brought you here. You may not see it now, but the island doesn’t call just anyone. I know this seems like a tragedy—and in many ways, it is—but there will always be someone willing to give you a home here. You’re young, and you have a life ahead of you. We won’t abandon you."

With those words, Mayor Tusk carefully wrapped his wings around her, his rough but warm feathers enclosing the filly in a comforting embrace. At first, Applebloom tensed, but the hug was sincere, offering warmth in the middle of her pain. Something inside her gave way, and with a flood of emotions, Applebloom returned the embrace, clinging to the mayor as though he were the only anchor in a world crumbling around her. She held him tight, almost desperately, as her sobs began to fade, turning into quiet gasps.

She wasn’t crying as much anymore—just sniffling, her face still wet—but the storm of emotions she had felt moments before was slowly subsiding. The embrace didn’t solve everything, but it gave her a small reprieve.
The room was silent, broken only by the sound of Applebloom’s uneven breathing. Tusk, without saying a word, waited patiently, giving her the space to process what she’d just learned. The filly, still trembling, thought of her family, of what she was about to lose. The feeling of loneliness became overwhelming. Everything around her seemed so desolate, so foreign.

Suddenly, a memory pierced through the darkness of her mind:

The day had been long and exhausting on the farm, but one of those days where everything seemed in harmony. The sun was low in the sky, and shades of orange and pink painted the horizon as the Apple family prepared for dinner. Applejack, with her hat tipped back, gazed out at the hills from the porch, enjoying the sunset after a day’s work. Applebloom, on the other hand, was keeping her company, but mostly because something was eating away at her curiosity.

“Applejack…” she called softly, almost as if she didn’t want to bother her.

“What’s on your mind, Applebloom?” Applejack replied, turning to her with her usual calm smile.
Applebloom hesitated for a few seconds, nervously fiddling with her hooves.
“Do you think I’ll have to leave one day?” she asked, her eyes still fixed on the horizon, though her tone was full of uncertainty.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled “Leave? Leave where?”

“Like Mama and Papa…” Applebloom whispered. The silence that followed was heavy, and it took Applejack a moment to process the question.

Applejack sat down beside her sister on the porch, removing her hat and gently placing it on the little filly’s mane.
“No, sugarcube” Applejack said, carefully choosing each word as she looked at her tenderly. “That’s not something you need to worry about. It doesn’t just happen like that, you get what I’m saying?”

Applebloom stared at the ground, her big yellow eyes full of doubt. “But… what if one day you have to go, like they did?” she insisted, her voice trembling. “What if I’m left all alone?”
Applejack let out a long sigh, knowing the right words were important now. Finally, she lifted her hoof and gently placed it on Applebloom’s chest.

“Look, sugarcube… If the day ever comes where I’m not here physically, where I have to leave for some reason…” She paused, making sure Applebloom was looking directly into her eyes. “You’ll still have me right here.” She gave a soft tap to Applebloom’s chest. “Right here’s where I’ll always be. As long as you’ve got a little piece of me in your heart, you won’t ever be alone. Not for a second.”

Applebloom, still a little confused, placed her own hoof where Applejack had touched her.

"But... how will I know you're still there?" Applebloom asked, her voice cracking just a little, still afraid of losing her.

Applejack smiled with that familiar warmth of hers, leaning over to give her a playful nudge on the shoulder.

“You’ll know because you’ll always remember how much I love you, how I’ll always be here for you. When you feel it in your heart, you’ll know I’m with you, even if you can’t see me. And no matter what happens, your family will always be with you.”

“Thanks, Applejack…” Applebloom murmured, clutching the hat with both hooves, feeling a little more secure.

“You’re welcome, sugarcube,” Applejack replied with a smile, wrapping her hoof around her, as the evening shadows wrapped them in a warm sisterly embrace.

That memory felt so vivid, so warm. Applebloom placed a hoof on her chest, mimicking her sister’s gesture, but this time, with a deep ache. Even though her siblings weren’t here and the emptiness was overwhelming, there was a small comfort…

“Come on, Applebloom, we’ll get you a little place to stay while you get settled,” Tusk said as he moved to the door, grabbing the handle before opening it. The filly let out a heavy sigh, and as if her hooves were weighed down, she slid off the chair and followed the mayor...

In the bustling Ponyville train station, the Mane Six, Big Mac, and Spike gathered at the ticket booth. Twilight was in charge of purchasing the tickets. The pony behind the counter, slightly distracted, eventually handed them over, saying, "Train will be here in about 15 minutes his majesty."

As the group moved to the benches to wait, Pinkie Pie, with her usual boundless energy, broke the silence. "You know, Applebloom is *really* good at hiding! I mean, I even lifted up a few houses thinking maybe she was hiding under there!"

Big Mac raised an eyebrow at that, but before anyone could comment, Fluttershy softly added, "Oh... I went for another walk in the Everfree Forest to look for her. This time, Discord came with me to help." Her voice was gentle, but the mention of Discord caused all eyes to turn to her.

Fluttershy blinked at the sudden attention, shrinking slightly. "D-did I say something wrong?"

Twilight smiled reassuringly, shaking her head. "Not at all. But, Fluttershy... why didn’t you ask Discord to just bring Applebloom back?"

A look of realization crossed Fluttershy’s face, and she gasped softly. "Oh my... I didn’t even think of that!" Quickly, she called, "Discord?"

In an instant, the draconequus materialized in the middle of the station, striking a grand pose. "At your service, Fluttershy!" he declared with a dramatic bow.

Fluttershy gave him a warm smile. "Could you bring Applebloom back here, please?"

Discord gave a confident grin. "Ah! A simple task!" With a snap of his fingers... nothing happened. His grin faltered, and he snapped again. And again. And again. Still nothing.

Applejack’s face started to pale, and her heart pounded at the lack of results. "What’s goin' on, Discord?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "Is—"

Discord raised a paw to stop her before she could continue. "No no, Applejack, relax. She's not... uh, gone," he said, avoiding the heavier words, his tone more serious. "I can sense her, but something's blocking me. It’s like she’s under a blanket I can’t lift."

Rarity, with her flair for practicality, tapped her chin. "Couldn’t you just *go* to where she is, darling? See what’s going on directly?"

Discord brightened. "Now that’s an idea!" With a snap, he vanished.

The group waited in tense silence until Discord reappeared, but this time he was different. His usual confidence was gone, and he had a faraway look in his eyes, like he had just seen something unsettling.

"Discord? What happened?" Twilight asked, concern creeping into her voice.

Without a word, Discord floated over to Fluttershy, wrapping his mismatched arms around her tightly. "I’m never doing that again," he murmured, still clutching her, as everyone looked on in bewilderment.

After Discord's confusing failed attempt to bring Applebloom back, the group continued waiting silently for the train. Fluttershy, ever attentive, sat beside Discord, gently consoling him while Spike and Big Mac tried offering supportive words. Discord, however, remained mostly quiet, his usual energy replaced by an uncomfortable silence.

Twilight stood nearby, her gaze lost on the horizon as her mind raced, trying to piece together what could be going on. Finally, she let out a sigh and murmured, "This is going to be harder than I thought..."

Applejack, standing closest, overheard and approached with resolve. "It will be," the farm pony admitted, "but when I set hoof in that coastal town, I won’t leave a door unopened until I find answers."

Twilight looked at her with a mix of understanding and caution. "Applejack, violence isn’t going to get anyone talking," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Especially if they’re as secretive with outsiders as the little I could gather from the sparse information suggests."

Applejack frowned but didn’t argue. She knew Twilight was right, though the frustration of not knowing where her little sister was ate at her.

Minutes passed, and still, no train. Growing impatient, Twilight approached the ticket booth again and asked the clerk, "Is there a problem? You said the train would arrive in 15 minutes."

The pony behind the counter nodded with an apologetic expression. "There was a small issue at the previous stop. It’ll be about 30 more minutes."

The group sighed, resigned to waiting. After the half-hour dragged by, they were still sitting on the platform when, finally, the train arrived. Without wasting a second, the Apple siblings were the first to board, nearly bumping into one of the train staff in their rush. Big Mac, embarrassed, quickly apologized with a simple, "Sorry," while Rarity, who followed behind, added with grace, "Forgive them, they're very... focused."

With everyone on board, it seemed the train was finally ready to depart. Or so it seemed. Just as the engines were supposed to start rumbling, everything stopped. A staff member appeared with a frustrated look and announced, "Sorry, but we’re having a technical issue. We’re not sure when we’ll be able to get moving."

Everyone in the carriage froze. It was as if bad luck were following them… or was it something else?

It was a gray, cloudy morning in Mistwatch. The fog covered much of the island, creating an almost ghostly atmosphere that enveloped everything. At the dock, Tom, the human fisherman, was adjusting the ropes on his boat, preparing for what seemed to be another routine day of fishing. The sound of his boots echoed against the wooden planks when suddenly, the boat rocked slightly.

“Whoa!” Tom exclaimed, grabbing the edge of the boat to steady himself. He quickly turned his head and saw Applebloom, who had snuck up on him silently. The filly looked a bit nervous.

“Sorry,” Applebloom quickly said, lowering her ears in apology.

Tom, still recovering from the shock, let out a soft laugh. “You gave me quite the scare! Don’t usually see a filly this early around here,” he said with a smile, setting aside his initial fear.

Applebloom looked up at him and replied, “Well, at this hour, I should already be eating breakfast... but…” Her voice wavered for a moment before she pulled herself together. “Actually, I came because I had a question.”

“Oh yeah? Well, fire away,” Tom responded while continuing to adjust a net.

“I wanted to know…” Applebloom looked out at the fog-covered horizon before continuing. “What happens if someone wants to leave here, from the dock, and go back to the outside world?”

Tom’s expression shifted slightly. He lowered his hands from the ropes and turned to face her. “Leave? Never tried it,” he said, scratching his beard. “But I’ve seen some who did.”

Applebloom frowned, intrigued. “And what happened?”

Tom paused before answering, as if searching for the right words. “From what I heard, if you try to leave, the fog catches you. You can row or sail for hours and hours, but you always end up right back where you started. It’s like the island won’t let you go.”

Applebloom stayed silent, absorbing what she’d just heard. The idea of being trapped there with no way out made her heart sink a little more. “What about you?” she asked suddenly, looking at Tom intently. “How did you get here?”

Tom stopped moving altogether, as if the question had hit him in a deep place. He stared at the fog for a long second before replying. “Truth is… I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?” Applebloom looked at him in disbelief, waiting for him to explain more.

The fisherman sighed. “All I know is one day I woke up on this dock, with the same fog all around me. I have no idea how I got here or what happened before I passed out… It’s like everything before that day is a blurry dream. But when I woke up, I knew one thing: I knew how to fish. I knew how to tie knots, handle the boat… basic stuff. Not much more.”

Applebloom looked at him, both confused and surprised. “You don’t remember anything about your life before this?”

Tom shook his head. “Nothing clear. Just fragments, and none of them make sense.”

Tom sighed deeply and, with a somewhat forced smile, said, “Doesn’t matter, though, it’s fine.” He shook his head, as if brushing off any attempt to dig deeper into his own story, and added as he gathered his things, “I’ve got to go. The sea doesn’t wait.”

He climbed onto the boat, giving the bow a few friendly taps, like he was talking to an old friend. “I’d recommend heading to the community hall. They serve some pretty good apples there, just right for a pony like you.”

Applebloom, still processing what she had just heard, nodded slowly. “Thanks, Tom.”

“See you,” he said, lifting his hand in a wave before rowing off into the fog, leaving her alone on the dock.

The filly stood in silence, watching as the boat gradually disappeared into the thick swamp mist. Thoughtful, Applebloom looked down, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling inside her. She turned slowly, heading in the direction of the community hall. She knew she had a lot to do, a lot of questions to answer, but first things first: she needed to fill her stomach and maybe clear her head a little.

Applebloom walked through the village, observing as the locals went about their daily lives, lost in their routines. The townsfolk were a mix—some sold food for the various species that lived there, others offered clothing and accessories, and some specialized in tools and construction equipment. One of the latter caught Applebloom’s attention, as she found herself staring at the sign, intrigued by what seemed to be a carpenter’s shop.

Just then, without realizing it, she accidentally bumped into a young zebra, who looked a couple of years younger than her. The small zebra was carrying some planks on her back and had a makeshift pack of nails. She wobbled a bit but quickly recovered, letting out a playful giggle before apologizing with a carefree smile.

“Oops! Sorry, I didn’t see ya,” the zebra said, her cheerful attitude shining through as she continued on her way, balancing the planks as she trotted off.

Applebloom didn’t give the encounter much thought, though for a brief moment she wondered if that zebra had also arrived because of the island’s call. Shaking her head, she refocused on her goal and kept walking.

She finally arrived at the “community hall,” a simple building with wooden tables and a humble but welcoming atmosphere. The place was fairly empty, except for a few older ponies and a couple of injured ones who seemed to be recovering from some accident. Applebloom felt a slight knot in her stomach, not just from hunger, but from the strange, slightly melancholy vibe that filled the air.

Taking a seat at one of the tables, she watched as an older pony served apples on a plate in front of her, offering a kind smile. Without saying much, Applebloom began to eat…

After finishing her meal, Applebloom stood up from the table with a strange feeling in her gut. The apples had tasted familiar, like the ones she ate at Sweet Apple Acres, but there was something slightly different about them—maybe it was the island’s soil or the climate that affected the quality. Still, they filled her hunger, and that was enough for now.

As she walked through the streets of Mistwatch, heading toward her temporary home—a small house the mayor had assigned to newcomers—she thought about how she was going to adapt to her new reality. It was a simple place with three rooms, each reserved for those who had just arrived. For now, she was the only occupant, which only deepened her sense of loneliness.

When she was approaching the entrance of the house, Applebloom heard a male voice breaking the usual silence of the area. It sounded anxious, filled with worry and desperation.

“What do you mean you don’t know where she went?” The voice was desperate, as if he had been searching for someone for hours.

Applebloom stopped, hiding behind the corner of the main entrance, and peeked just enough to see the scene. In front of the door, a pony was speaking with the housekeeper in the main hall. He had a similar coat pattern to hers, but she couldn’t make out the details clearly. He was looking at the mare who supervised the temporary house, her expression calm but tired as she gently shook her head, not appearing too concerned.

“I’m telling you, I don’t know,” the housekeeper replied in a steady voice. “She left early this morning, but she didn’t tell me where.”

That’s when Applebloom stepped into the room. “Were you looking for me, sir?”

As soon as she finished the sentence, the stallion turned to face her. His green eyes, the same shade as her sister’s, locked onto her, and he froze, staring at the filly. The corners of his lips trembled for a moment before he finally spoke.

“My little girl…”