Illuminating The Stars: Prologue - That Fateful Night

It was a cold and still night in the forests outside Baltimore, inside a campsite with members of the travelling wing and an Indigenous group of bat ponies. The campsite was filled with members attending errands around the grounds and playing with the young foals. As dusk slowly neared, they would move to warmer climates at the beginning of winter tomorrow and find better lands at nightfall to sustain their people.

As the campfire raged, a beacon of hope and a makeshift square for the people of the tribe, the spire of the flames danced off the tents and wagons nearby. Two young foals sat near the warm fire, one brunette with snow-like fur and another sitting opposite in front of them with dark bluish grey fur and pitch black mane. The soft crackling filled the stillness of the air, the relaxed breeze flowing through the campsite. They would have a relatively large pile of flowers between them as they would craft small bracelets, necklaces, and other small floral jewellery to a pile opposite and place it to the pile opposite.

A simple life and a simple night to live.

Then, a grey mare with a Snow White mane approached the two, looked towards them as they sat down, and spoke softly.

"How many of these bracelets have you two made so far?"

The mare asked, raising a friendly yet inquisitive brow to the foals as the fire burned brightly, softly illuminating the small pile of jewellery before her. Then, the smallest spoke.

"Hi, mum! … hmmm six- no seven- I think Illuminate keeps hogging all the daisies."

The dark-maned foal spoke and pointed a playful yet accusative hoof towards Illuminate, the Snow White mare pointing back playfully.

"Yeah, but Auroris keep hogging all of the tulips!"

The three of them would laugh playfully, but suddenly, something would grab their attention, rustling as a few other ponies spoke in their native tongues. They'd turn their direction to the soft, illuminating light on the nearby horizon.

The softly dimmed light gradually glowed brighter and brighter, and the soft murmuring in the distance grew louder and louder as voices and ponies began to show themselves.

As the light grew from the bottom of the hill, shadowy figures began to emerge—ponies, but not the friendly Baltimore ponies they had passed briefly on their way here. There was something wrong with them. Not quite ponies, but not quite changelings either... Their shapes flickered like shadows, moving with an eerie, unnatural rhythm.

A hushed whisper spread through the camp, the sudden panic palpable as the bat ponies exchanged wary glances, their bodies tensing. Their usual calm was shattered by an instinctual fear that couldn't be ignored. And then, the rain began. It came suddenly, almost as if summoned by the dark figures themselves—cold, heavy drops, each feeling like an omen. It smothered the campfire's warmth, making the air sharp and biting.

Illuminate and Auroris stood up in confusion, eyes wide, looking at their mother as the growing light bathed the campsite in an unsettling glow.

"What's happening?" Auroris asked, her voice shaky with alarm.

"Why's everyone panicking?" Illuminate echoed, her head swivelling back and forth as she tried to make sense of the situation. Their mother's voice, once soft and reassuring, now spoke sharply, the fear in her tone clear.

"You must flee. Run to the woods; do not stop until the light fades entirely. We will find you."

The urgency in her words was unmistakable. The cold rain lashed at their coats as they exchanged glances, nodding before bolting into the trees behind them. The muffled sounds of the camp, now filled with hurried whispers and cries, faded as they sprinted more, plunging into the dense forest, the heavy rain obscuring their vision and making every step harder.

The trees grew tighter around them, the shadows thickening with each step, but the incessant rain made the air feel even more oppressive as if the very forest itself was closing in on them. Auroris, panting heavily, slowed her pace, casting a nervous glance behind her as the noise from the camp was swallowed up by the towering trees.

"Come on!" Illuminate urged her voice tight with fear. She was forced to slow, too, as the slippery mud beneath her hooves made moving harder. The rain hitting the canopy of leaves above drowned out everything else, and a sudden sharp shriek tore through the air.

"ILLUMINATE! STOP!"

She turned in panic to see her younger sister, Auroris, stumbling, her eyes wide with horror. At that moment, Illuminate caught sight of a massive rock blocking their path, the drop of a dark ravine just beyond it. Her heart raced as she tried to stop, but the mud beneath her hooves betrayed her. Her hooves slid out from under her, and she crashed into the rock with all her weight.

With a sickening jolt, Illuminate was sent flying forward, her body hurtling through the air before she plunged into the black abyss below. The cold, harsh water smacked into her with brutal force, and for a moment, everything went silent except the rushing sound of water in her ears, the rain now pounding relentlessly above.

Illuminate quickly breached the top of the water, confused as to where she was. She looked around and fell back into the water due to the current. She violated the surface yet again, calling out to her sister. She swiftly noticed a log to grab onto.

"Auroris!"

She called, looking to the top; any sign of her sister? As she looked around, a sign as she saw her sister above, chasing her as she floated down the ravines' current. She called out to her again, a desperate, scared plea.

"Auroris! Help!"

The brunette batpony called as she noticed her raven-maned sister fall behind. As though tired, her sister answered her plea.

"I'm coming!"

Her voice, though heard, was drowned by the crashing water and unforgiving winds as the rain picked up. Just as her luck would have it, the log became stuck on two large rocks. She would tiredly and sluggishly pull herself onto the top of the log, sore all over from the initial impact of the water and the unforgiving sting in her right front leg. She lay there for a moment, trying to regain her breath, still and unmoving.

"Sister, I'm coming!"

Auroris in a fearful tone as she tried to swiftly find a way down on the ravine's edge, slowly climbing down as a creaking sound began to come from below. Illuminate lifted her head up slowly, terrified as she looked from below. Knowing all too well that sound was coming from.
Illuminate clung desperately to the log, her limbs trembling with cold and exhaustion. Her heart pounded as the water surged violently around her, the force nearly pushing her off. She glanced back at her sister, Auroris, desperately finding a path down the ravine side to reach her. The two were so close now—just inches apart.

The sight of her younger sister struggling sent a surge of adrenaline through Illuminate. She called out again, but the storm swallowed her voice. Auroris was coming down the ravine's edge, her hooves slipping as she desperately climbed, trying to reach her sister.

"Auroris! Get back!" Illuminate screamed, her throat raw. It was almost not a caring plea but a desperate command to persevere in her sister's life, but her sister didn't hear her or perhaps didn't understand. The rushing water and the thrashing rain drowned out everything, and Auroris was almost at the log, just a little closer.

Then, something changed in the air. The creaking of the log grew louder, the wood bending with the weight of the water, and a sickening sound of cracking rang through the night. The water surged against the rocks, pushing the log further toward its breaking point. Illuminate heart sank as reality set in.

She could feel the log beginning to splinter beneath her, the moment of inevitable destruction coming with unparalleled speed.

She tried to hold on, but the log wouldn't last. The water, the wind, and the current were collapsing around her.

Auroris was almost there, her young face a mask of fear as she stretched a hoof toward Illuminate. The desperate hope in her eyes nearly broke Illuminate's heart, but she knew what to do.
She looked at the log and then at her sister. A thought—a cold, painful thought—pierced her mind.
If Auroris was still on the log when it broke… both would be lost.

In that moment, Illuminate made the most difficult choice of her life. The log was going to snap, and she had to act quickly.

With all the strength she could muster, she pushed off the log, her hooves digging into its wet surface, and with a swift motion, she shoved Auroris away.

"Auroris! NO!" Illuminate screamed, her voice breaking and sore as she shoved her sister off the log with all the might she could muster, sending her tumbling on the rocks.

Auroris cried out in shock and pain as she landed on the rocks away from the water, but Illuminate didn't stop to check if she was okay. She couldn't. Her eyes darted back to the log as she saw after every passing millisecond, the cracks of the log pushed it further and further inwards, but Illuminate was too weak to even try to fight it… as she looked up to her sister. Defeated. Auroris would make one last attempt- indeed, she had enough time to do so-

And then it happened. Like a flash of lighting, the log broke.

For a moment, everything went silent.

And the sound followed afterwards. But not the sound of the log. The sound of a petrified mare.

"ILLUMINATE!!!"

Her younger sister watched as she reached out to her.

Her sister was just a few yards away—so close—yet impossibly far.

Auroris's shriek echoed through Illuminate ears, a sound so filled with desperation and terror that it sent chills down her spine. Her heart felt like it stopped, a sickening weight lodged in her chest as she watched helplessly.

Then, the violent force of the water hit.

Illuminate was thrown violently against the rocks, her body battered by the raging current, but her mind was focused on one thing—Auroris. She could still hear her sister's cries over the roar of the water as if Auroris muted the world so they would listen to her mournful screams. But they were becoming fainter and fainter as the distance between them grew.

The world rang silent. As she was dragged, her ears still rang, the sound of Auroris's voice fading into the distance.

The cold hands of her captor gripped her, pulling her away and dragging her across the unforgiving stone. Her body was limp, battered, and broken from the collision with the rocks. She reached out with a trembling hoof, fingers grasping at air in futile desperation. The cold, brutal reality of the moment hit with such force that Illuminate could feel her body faltering, her strength slipping away like sand between her hooves. As she was dragged, her ears still rang, the sound of Auroris's voice fading into the distance.

Then, as the earth swallowed her whole, falling into the darkness of the ravines' inner layers, Illuminate's own body was flung against the rocks, the harsh impact sending a wave of pain through her limbs. The cold water pulled at her, the current relentless, dragging her deeper into the cavernous depths.
Suddenly, the pull stopped.

She was yanked out of the water with shocking force, her body thrown onto a cold, jagged platform of stone, where she lay, drenched, aching, and breathless.

Her chest heaved with exhaustion. Her hooves were sore, her head spinning. She could only lie there for a long moment, her body too tired to move, her mind too overwhelmed to process.

The cavern around her was dark and cramped, the air thick with cold and dampness, like the depths of an unforgiving tundra. The silence pressed in on her, heavy and suffocating. She shivered uncontrollably, but there was no warmth to be found.

She blinked her eyes open, the darkness around her shifting in the dim glow of the faintest light. The cave walls loomed around her like towering giants, closing in on her as if the very earth had decided to keep her trapped.
Alone.

Soft, ragged pants filled the cave, each breath trembling through Illuminate's body. Her eyes clenched shut, her face twitching as memories of her family and sister played through her mind—warm, comforting, yet taunting and mocking in their absence. A lump caught in her throat as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"I'm… sorry…" she whispered.

Then, she woke—again. She thought it was the same dream, with the same ache in her chest—like all those dreams before. As she awoke from the shock of coming to, she discerned what was accurate and what was not.

After briefly settling herself, she looked towards her cosy hillside cave, a place she has called home, small, yet homely, at least to a bat pony of her standards, as she noticed golden rays quietly dance from the bottom of the curtain to the entrance of her home.

With a quiet groan, she rolled onto her hooves, carefully keeping her injured foreleg raised, avoiding the pain of putting weight on it. Limping toward the rock-coloured drapes that shielded her cave from the outside world, she nudged them slightly open. Sunlight tried to spill in, making her wince. As she hissed, she looked away, not in pain but from annoyance.

Noon. Again. Fantastic.

Her ears flattened in irritation as she let the drapes fall back into place. Muttering under her breath, she turned and shuffled back toward her nest of hay, her head hung low with annoyance.

"Flippin' stupid sun…" she grumbled, hissing several more obscenities before collapsing onto her makeshift bed. The most comfort to this day illuminate had known as she flopped herself carefully yet exhausted.

Clutching her stuffed bunny, she buried her face into the worn fabric, sighing heavily. It was another restless day, another dream that refused to let go from her mind, even years after this event, as she rolled over in annoyance.

"I'll be lucky if I can even get back to sleep before nightfall at this rate…"

Meanwhile, while Illuminate wrestled with the remnants of her dream, the town of Ponyville was already alive and bustling on this bright Sunday morning. Among its residents, a particular alicorn sat at her desk, sipping her morning coffee as she carefully arranged a stack of neatly folded newspapers. Twilight Sparkle had heard strange rumours about mysterious figures appearing all over Equestria. She adjusted a small yet dainty pair of reading glasses, preparing to analyse the reports with her usual thoroughness.

Twilight, an alicorn who always ensured she had all the facts before making plans, needed to figure out what they were dealing with. However, her duties at the School of Friendship took up much of her time, leaving her unable to thoroughly investigate.

But she thought that getting the facts through the papers could help get some headstart on these shadow ponies as she'd never heard of anything like them.

First up: The Daily Tooter, the most dramatic of the bunch. Twilight sighed before turning the page, bracing herself for whatever nonsense its lead columnist had conjured up today. Though as much as she hated reading what mind-numbingly absurd twist they're they were putting on the situation.

SHOCKING! SHADOW PONIES IN LEAGUE WITH EVERFREE SHADOW?!

THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING—AND IT'S TERRIFYING!

Written by: Jotter Jonah Jameson

They're a stalker, a creep, a public menace! For years, they've been lurking at the edge of Ponyville—never showing their face, never saying a word—watching us from the darkness and vanishing in the blink of an eye! A regular pony of standards wouldn't hide like that! A pony with nothing to hide wouldn't slink around in the dead of night, refusing to step into the light!

And yet, we're expected to believe they're just some harmless wanderer? Some poor, misunderstood soul just passing through? WAKE. UP. PONYVILLE! The timing is TOO PERFECT. These shadowy figures appear all across Equestria—EVERYPONY is talking about it. And who's been right here, in the shadows, ALL ALONG? The Everfree Shadow! Coincidence? HA! THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK!

I'll tell you what's REALLY happening: this Everfree Shadow isn't some passerby. They aren't some lost traveller. They are the masterminds! The puppet master pulling the strings! For years, they've been studying us, observing us, learning our routines—waiting for the PERFECT moment to make their strike! AND NOW, IT'S HAPPENING!

Ponies vanishing.

Dark figures appearing across the land.

Reports of eerie eyes watching from the trees, the alleyways… AND EVEN IN THE COMFORT OF OUR OWN HOMES!

What's the common link? THE EVERFREE SHADOW.
And what are our so-called leaders doing about it? NOTHING!

Princess Twilight Sparkle, our so-called "Princess of Friendship," refuses to act! The Royal Guard? Sitting on their flanks! They tell us to "stay calm" while the Everfree Shadow lurks outside our homes, planning who-knows-what!

And let's not forget Celestia—oh wait, THAT'S RIGHT! She RETIRED! LEFT US TO DEAL WITH THIS MESS!

WE ARE UNDER SIEGE, PONYVILLE!

From Manehattan to Las Pegasus, from Canterlot to right here in Ponyville, ponies all over report the same eerie sights: tall, dark silhouettes standing just at the edge of the light, watching, waiting… scheming. And who's been here all along? Who's been lurking, spying, and vanishing into the night?

THE EVERFREE SHADOW.

One Ponyville local, Junebug, described her encounter as follows.

"I was coming home late from a friend's house when I saw something out of the corner of my eye—tall, dark, and it moved too fast for me to make out. I turned to get a better look, but it was already gone by then! It was like it knew I saw it!"

Ponyville, it's time to demand ANSWERS! It's time to demand ACTION! We need the Everfree Shadow UNMASKED! EXPOSED! Brought before the public and held accountable for their actions!

No more shadows.

No more hiding.

Twilight nearly spat out her coffee, staring at the paper in disbelief.

"five bits… five bits for this?" she muttered. Money not well spent. If she wanted to deal with this level of crazy talk, she would've spent the day with Pinkie Pie instead.

With a frustrated sigh, she folded the Daily Toot and tossed it onto the table's far side, shaking her head. This was the last time she wasted her money on that paper.

Still, despite how utterly ridiculous the claims were, there was a nagging thought in her mind. These mysterious figures—they were real. Ponies from all over Equestria had seen something. It wasn't just wild speculation.

"No. Stop it, Twilight." She shook her head, grabbing her Equestrian Observer instead. "Let's stick to facts, not conspiracy theories."

She took another sip of her slightly colder coffee and turned the page. But there was just something about it; she had seen the ever-freeever-free shadow herself. Though it started small, it grew over the years, and she did worry, if even indirectly.

THE SHADOW PONIES AND EVER FREE SHADOW? THE PROOF IS NOT. IN. THE. PUDDING.

By Steady Quill, Investigative Journalist for The Equestrian Observer

This unique publication is special to disprove the daily toots' claims

For weeks, The Daily Toot has stoked the flames of panic, pushing a sensationalist narrative that shadowy figures are appearing across Equestria, Equestria and worse—tying these mysterious sightings to the so-called "Everfree Shadow." Their latest article, penned by Jotter Jonah Jameson, claims that Ponyville is under siege by an unknown force, with no evidence beyond hearsay, conjecture and paranoia.

So, let's set the record straight.

The Observer has spoken with Royal Guard officials and Mayor Mare's representatives to clarify what's being done to address these concerns. Captain Steel Aegis, a ranking officer in Canterlot's defence force, had this to say:

"We are fully aware of the reports and have been investigating them thoroughly. There is no credible evidence of any widespread threat to Equestria's citizens. Our patrols have seen no hostile activity linked to these so-called 'shadow ponies.' However, we encourage any pony who feels unsafe or has seen something just isn't quite right to report their concerns through the proper channels—NOT through unverified sources, further stirring public fear."

Additionally, Mayor Mare's council reassured citizens at a public hearing. What steps are, in fact, being taken to study these anomalies rather than jump to conclusions. An official statement from her office reads:

"Equestria has always encountered the unknown; fear should not be our first response. We are working closely with scholars and local authorities to determine the nature of these sightings. Baseless accusations and misinformation will only cause unnecessary distress. And cause further widespread paranoia, please rest assured, ponyville, that we are working round the clock to assure that all of you are safe and will remain so."

As for the Everfree Shadow? The local legend that 'haunts' and 'stalks' the residents of Ponyville?

Over the past few weeks, a few of our investigative journalists have asked the locals. All came to the same exact conclusion, which was shared by many.

For years, Ponyville locals have spoken in hushed tones of the cloaked figure seen near the Everfree Forest. Most regard it as harmless—a solitary pony, withdrawn but never dangerous. They observe from afar like a watchful guardian (as some ponies say). While some ponies, like Carrot Top, recall spotting them, the overwhelming sentiment is curiosity rather than fear.

"Oh, everyone's heard about the Everfree Shadow. I saw 'em once—sort of. Just a hooded pony watching the market before slinking away. The first time I saw them was outside of the everfree forest. It gave me the shivers at first, but I don't think they were doing anything wrong. Just… watching. Like they wanted to be part of things but were too afraid. It was like a small child on their first day of school, shy, unsure, and maybe even a little afraid." — Carrot Top, Ponyville resident.

Additionally, the claims of 'ponies going missing' are a staggering zero in Ponyville, and connections across Equestria have concluded that there is, in fact, no correlation between the shadow ponies and missing ponies during this high number of sightings of such abnormalities.

The Daily Toot would have you believe this mysterious figure is the mastermind behind a grand conspiracy—an accusation with zero proof. Fear sells papers, but it does nothing to inform the public responsibly. Until evidence surfaces, The Everfree Shadow is a shadow. Unofficially connected to several travellers who were most likely passing through.

So, to Jotter Jonah Jameson and the rest of The Daily Toot's editorial team, we say this.

Hysteria is not journalism.

The proof is not in the pudding. It's in the facts.

We kindly request that they reintroduce their hoofs to their quills because they've clearly been writing out of their caboose.

Twilight sighed in relief as she sipped from her half-drank cup of coffee and wrote a few notes down her alicorn. The aura around it was glowing wavy, dancing her dark blue mane as she spoke gleefully.

"Thank you, equestrian observer, for spewing reason back into this town", she'd laugh as she sighed in relief, glad that she wasn't the only one to see a reason in this current time of uncertainties and not follow suit just for a quick bit. As she wrote down a few more notes, she'd turn to the large glass window opposite her, pondering questions yet no answers. She'd know soon enough she'd have to turn to the library and begin searching for any semblances of these creatures after correctly figuring out what everyone else seemed to know, but she couldn't help but wonder maybe if by any chance there was something to connect with this everfree shadow, that is if she was to believe rumours as factual.

But she couldn't help but wonder if, by any chance, there was something to connect with this everfree shadow, that is, if she was to believe rumours as factual.

She sighed as she spoke to herself, "Even if they were real. Why Ponyville of all places? And the evergreen forest?" she questioned herself, to which she had no answers to her annoyance as she continued her work. Nightmare night was tonight; a lot of ponies would be out. What if somepony was to get hurt during the event? That would be something that Twilight wouldn't be able to live with herself. Finding an answer or a solution to this problem couldn't come sooner.

Meanwhile, on the east side of Ponyville, a spoken yellow and pink-haired pony walked calmly with a bucket of feed in its mouth as it went about its daily activities. As she hummed merrily, Fluttershy, the nightingale to many of the animals that resided in her sanctuary, though ever kind and ever shy, assured that no animal, big or small, would be unattended to her care and seen to their exact needs.

Though as she'd trot along unbothered, that would soon change as a zip of an ever-loyal light blue and rainbow-haired pony would come to her.

"Hey Fluttershy!"

The bucket-holding pony would jolt as she made a quiet yet swift "eep" sound and turned to the pony that had snuck up on her.

"Rainbow Dash, please… don't sneak up on me."

She spoke nervously as she put down the bucket and turned to talk to her friend. Dash let out a small chuckle as she landed in front of her as she spoke. Something caught her eyes from the rocks behind the waterfall, appearing to be some type of smog. She then blinked as she looked again. It disappeared…

"Hello? Flutters? You there? I was wondering if you were coming to the nightmare night party in the square?"

Fluttershy eyes widen as she looks towards the mare before her, not wanting to appear rude. She shakes her head and blinks again.

"Oh- yes… yes- I'm sorry… something caught my eye."

She spoke embarrassedly as she looked towards the rainbow-haired mare. She apologised, unsure what she saw, curious if that was the shadows that ponies had talked about earlier that morning.

"What was it? Oh! Was it the everfree shadow?" what is it?"

Rainbow Dash's attention immediately turned to the nearby forest. She swiftly flew forward and up a few feet, carefully surveying the forest's edge. Looking for the rumoured shadow that stalked the everfree forest, Fluttershy was nervous about speaking at first as Rainbow Dash would make a few swift jolts side to side as she spoke up.

"Oh- no, it was probably just my imagination- I know you're obsessed with that funny little paper you've been reading-"

Fluttershy would laugh slightly. She didn't fully understand the Daily Toot; she thought it was some sort of joke magazine, thus the name "Toot. "However, Rainbow Dash would just so happen to ignore the words' silly paper 'and most likely reiterated them as 'totally rad and awesome paper'.

"Horse apples…"

Rainbow Dash would mutter in annoyance as she landed, kicking the dirt. She looked down at the small dust pick up and flew away in the breeze.

"And yeah, because it's true! I mean, C'mon, Fluttershy, you and I have seen it. Heck, who hasn't seen it from the shadows of the everfree! And I want to be the first pony to find them and stop all this shadow pony nonsense! Later tonight!"

Rainbow Dash pointed to herself as she arched her torso proudly, closed her eyes, and lifted her chin, proud of her noble mission to take care of this problem single-handedly.

"Oh…, Well, what if they don't want to be found?"

Fluttershy asked the question softly, barely a whisper, as she spoke, looking towards the stoically posed rainbow-maned mare. Her right eye opened as she looked, raised her brow, and asked.

"Come again?"

Rainbow Dash kept her brow raised to the question and simple yet compelling idea that Fluttershy had put forward. However, in Rainbow Dashes' stubbornness, she looked onward, confused at the question proposed by the kind-hearted pegasi, keeping the same pose, more or less.

"Well- what I mean is- what if they just want to be left be? Remember how I was when we first met in flight school?-"

She smiled awkwardly as she said that, a slight smirk growing. She was not trying to harm her friend's feelings as suggested, though Rainbow Dash would point her hoof back onto the floor as her brow raised higher.

"Well yeah- but- flutters… you weren't some creepy hooded pony that's been staring and watching everyone for the past what? 16 winters? And besides, I know for a fact not even Zecora has seen her, especially from what Skootaloo has told me. And honestly, I wouldn't expect Skoots to lie to me like that."

Rainbow sighed as she looked towards Fluttershy, put a hoof on her shoulder, and smiled, knowing she did just mean well. However, these were uncertain times, and they needed to be prepared for the worst, as Fluttershy hated to admit.

"I know you like to look for the best in every pony, especially those like Discord, but sometimes, some ponies aren't meant to be trusted. I do see where you're coming from, but I'm just worried that if we sit idle, things might get worse; I mean, think of the animals and how much trouble they could be across Equestria when they migrate or even ponies travelling from far and wide! It could be awful for them if we don't start getting answers soon."

Fluttershy nodded slowly as she looked at the animals in her care and back. Despite how passive the ever-free shadow was, she wanted the best for her animals, though she'd want to talk with this shadow to see if they were right. She had seen the shadow turn to leave and seemingly limp away almost every time, which made her concerned for their well-being, even if they didn't know it.

"I do suppose you have a point-"

Fluttershy spoke as she sighed, only agreeing partly due to her worrying about the well-being of the animals that would be affected in Equestria.

"See, I knew you'd come around! Anyway, I can't wait to see you and the others tonight! See ya!"

Her expression would turn from an inquisitive stare to a softer, more friendly look as she would extend her light blue wings and hover before turning to leave and dashing off towards an unknown destination. As Fluttershy sighed again, unsure why there was such a pony for all we knew, she just wanted to be left alone; she had heard stories of every pony brave enough to enter the evergreen forest only to be terrified of what they saw inside. If she knew animals as well as ponies, this could very well be a pony that wanted to be left be. A pony with a history of being cast away even? A pony who wished to just simply be.

Accepted..

Though it was indeed not her place to start conspiracies over, she never enjoyed the unfair stories and rumours that kids made of her back when she was a foal, especially from the kids in flight school, as she'd continue tending to her animals as she always did, minding her business.

Meanwhile, in Ponyville, on sweet apple acres the a, the people hard aware of working as the day slowly ended, the sun slowly setting on their peaceful orchard as an old lime coloured maritime-coloured out in a shaky tone "Is that barn do, neet? Quite the storm that was last night, I ain't quite seen nothing like that."

They called, poking their head out of the Apple family home. A young light-orange mare glanced back, wiping the sweat from her brow before removing her Gus-style Stetson, its worn brim and gaping front crease telling the story of long days in the orchard. Her golden hair blew gently in the soft evening breeze.

"Almost don' granny smith! Won't be much longer!"

The orange mare spoke with a gleaming smile as she rested her head again and looked towards the lime-coloured mare, though her gaze would turn.

The sun had fallen lower over Sweet Apple Acres as the sun would now be covered mainly by the nearby Terrain, and the repairs were well underway. After a short break a short while after, the trio were ready to finish the job. However, Applejack returned only to be looking for something. With a look of confusion

"What's wrong, sis?" A slightly smaller yellow-coated foal with a soft red mane tied back in a pink bow trotted up to the orange mare, her curious eyes wide with concern. Applejack didn't respond immediately, scanning the supplies as if trying to find something misplaced.

"Oh—hey, Apple Bloom. You didn't move the nails, did you? Dang, things have gone missin'. Could've sworn I put them here not even twenty minutes ago."

She let out an exasperated sigh, looking down at her sister with a soft, inquisitive expression. Apple Bloom shook her head firmly.

"Nope. I've been inside helpin' Granny Smith prepare supper. Sorry, sis."

Apple Bloom apologised as a large red stallion with a blonde mane joined them. The stallion was carrying two paint cans—one soft red and the other pale white—their labels obscured by how they were handled in their jaws as they spoke.

"What's goin' on?"

The stallion glanced down at Apple Bloom, who quickly responded to the question from them.

"Applejack lost the nails."

Apple Bloom pointed to her sister with a teasing smile, and Applejack plopped her head on her head.

She pushed her head down playfully, speaking as she chuckled.

"No, I didn't, ya little goof, Big Mac; you didn't move them, did you?"

Applejack looked at the big Mac as she raised a curious eyebrow, hoping that he knew where they were so they wouldn't have to spend tomorrow doing a chore that should definitely been completed today.

Big Mac's ears flicked slightly as he walked up, his broad hooves thudding against the dirt path. His steady demeanour never faltered, even with the light streaks of paint dotting his coat and the faint scent of sawdust clinging to him. "Eeyup, I did," he admitted with a calm nod. "I spent a little extra time on the barn when I noticed some of the wood was startin' to rot where the paint came off during that storm last night. They're inside the far right corner. Sorry 'bout that—I left 'em there when I went to grab the paint."

Applejack gave a satisfied nod, her earlier tension easing. She placed a hoof on the barn's edge, letting her gaze sweep across the orchard as the sun dipped lower, casting long golden shadows over the apple trees. Turning to Apple bloom, she softened her tone. "Be a doll and fetch the nails, would ya? We'll need 'em to finish up. And please be careful—walk, don't run."

"Sure thing, sis!" Apple Bloom chirped, her hooves trotting her toward the barn. Her pink bow fluttered with each step, and the evening breeze played lightly with her mane as she trotted into the just as she disappeared as she turned into the barn. As she did so, she immediately surveyed the area, looking for the nails, and scanned the inside of the right of the barn.

"Alright, far right corner… where are you, nails?" she muttered cheerfully, stepping deeper inside.
Her hooves tapped softly against the wooden floor until she froze.

"Apple Bloom…"

A soft and feminine voice called her name from the darkened corner ahead. It was distant yet oddly familiar, unlocking a memory from the depths of her earliest foal hood.

Her breath hitched. She stopped in her tracks, ears swivelling as the barn's quiet suddenly felt suffocating. The breeze outside seemed to whisper a warning, sending a chill down her spine. Slowly, she turned to where the voice had come from.

Her eyes widened, confusion and dread flooding her face as the word escaped her trembling lips.

"M-Ma?"

Her heart raced. The name felt foreign and familiar all at once.

Apple Bloom took a cautious step toward the voice, her legs trembling. She squinted into the shadows, desperately trying to understand what she saw—or thought she saw. The air in the barn thickened, and a sudden gust of wind howled through the cracks in the walls. It whipped her mane wildly, knocking her bow askew before blowing her hat clean.

She turned around to grab it, but as her hoof reached for the hat, the darkness behind her shifted—alive, waiting. Apple Bloom froze. Her breath hitched as two piercing, pale-blue eyes emerged from the gloom.

A shriek tore from her lungs. The sound echoed through the barn as she stumbled back, her hooves slipping on the dirt floor. She fell hard onto her back, clutching her hat. Scrambling, she crawled away, eyes locked on the terrifying sight before her.

Just as she got to her hooves and turned to run, the barn doors slammed shut with a deafening bang. The force splintered the freshly painted wood, shaking the entire structure.

Outside the barn, Applejack and Big Mac stood by the fence, enjoying the view as the sun painted the sky gold and purple. Their conversation drifted to the storm from the previous night.

"That was one heck of a storm," Applejack said, leaning against the new fence she'd built that morning. "I wonder if somethin' happened' with the pegasus weather ponies."

Big Mac shrugged. "Nah, a clue. Could be."

Applejack smirked. "Honestly, I just hope Rainbow wasn't tryin' out some new trick that whipped up that storm." She chuckled, shaking her head.

The light-hearted moment faded as Applejack glanced toward the barn. "Y'know, it's unbelievable seein' the young mare Apple Bloom's become. I remember all those winters ago when she was just a little filly, tryin' everything under the sun to find her cutie mark. Oh, where does the time go?"

Big Mac gave a quiet nod, his expression softening.

But their reminiscing was cut short by a blood-curdling scream.

Applejack's ears shot straight up. "What in tarnation?"

They both turned toward the barn.

"Oh, for Pete's sake. I told her to walk, not run,"

Applejack muttered as she started toward the barn. Before she could take another step, the barn doors slammed shut with such force they buckled inward. A second scream followed.

" NO! STAY AWAY! I DON'T WANNA GO!"

Applejack broke into a full gallop. Something was clearly not right.

The shadows thickened Inside the barn, swirling into a dark cloud covering every escape. Tendrils of inky darkness slithered across the floor toward Apple Bloom, wrapping around her hooves. She banged on the barn doors with all her might.

"LET ME OUT! APPLEJACK! BIG MAC! SOMEPONY HELP!"

No answer came. The only sound was the hiss of the shadows creeping closer. The glowing eyes stared straight into her soul, cold and unrelenting.

Outside, Applejack reached the barn and bucked the doors with all her might, more brutal than she had ever bucked anything in all her years. In her rush of adrenaline, the doors exploded inwards. The wood splintered under her hooves, and the doors burst open just in time for her to see her sister dragged into the cloud.

Apple Bloom's tear-streaked face turned toward Applejack, eyes wide with terror.

"Help…"

The dark cloud swallowed her whole.

"No!" Applejack lunged forward, but the smog shot through an open window, taking Apple Bloom.

Applejack's hat tumbled to the dirt as she raced after the shadow. She burst into the orchard, eyes darting frantically as she searched for any sign of the cloud.

"Give me back my sister!" Applejack roared.

The shadows melted into the darkening sky, leaving only silence. She refused to let her sister be taken by the monsters she had heard about into the paper as she lost it for a minute. Her eyes darted around the orchard, and she gave a desperate cry.

"Apple Bloom!"

No reply came.

"Apple Bloom!"

Again… no reply

Applejack's breathing increased as her eyes darted controllably for a sign… any sign—that her sister was okay. She looked around and began searching everywhere, behind every tree, every crevice in the orchard. A panicked and tearful expression swallowed her whole as she tried to find anything… a sign… a noise… a hoof print… nothing…

It wouldn't be until she searched one last spot, the old apple-pear family tree, a symbol of her family's unity and overcoming the odds, though as she was about to give up with no sign of her sister, she noticed a loose piece of fabric…

Apple Blooms bow!

Applejack would rush over as she listened for something, anything, as she would call out, practically a wail, a warcry of swearing she would kill who stole her sister.

"APPLE BLOOM!"

Tears would stream down her face, a river of sorrow and agony, mourning the possibility that her sister might be gone forever. Nobody knew anything about these shadow ponies, and Twilight hadn't found anything yet to discern what these things were.

“Please… celestia… why…”

Applejack would fall to her knees, crying into her hooves, and look up to see a figure standing in the darkness, pink eyes staring at her from a nearby hill as she saw it tilt its head to them…
Everfree shadow…

Applejack froze, her body trembling, as she locked eyes with the figure standing atop the hill. The moonlight outlined the shadowy form, its darkened cloak highlighting the years of wear and imperfections. Two Pink eyes gleamed with an eerie glow—watching... or waiting?

Applejack's sorrow twisted into raw fury.

"You!" she roared, voice cracking. "What did you do with my sister?!"

The figure didn't respond, but the faintest twitch of its ears betrayed it had heard her.

Without thinking, Applejack charged. Her hooves pounded the earth as tears blurred her vision. All she could see was that shadow—the one she blamed for every moment of terror, every nightmare coming to life.

The one that had stolen her sister.

The shadow turned to flee as she saw the enraged pony rush towards her. It tried to escape as quickly as it appeared, but an enraged Applejack grabbed onto it. They threw them down the hill, the shadow tumbling into the apple-pear tree. They thudded against the bark of the tree. They were dazed and tried to stand. She looked up to see the enraged mare standing in the moonlight above her.

Applejack would punch the tree, her hoof only inches away from the shadowy figure's face as she spoke with thunderous authority. The impact shook loose leaves and scattered the fruits above them into the night air, swiftly falling to the ground. This would be the same action this shadow would face if they tried to do anything that angered the mare that stood over them.

"Where is she?!" Applejack's voice was hoarse with rage and grief. "Where's Apple Bloom?!"
The shadow did not answer. It looked back at her with glowing pink eyes, unmoving and frozen beneath her.

Applejack's breath was ragged as she loomed over the figure, her chest heaving with the weight of panic and fury. The moonlight caught the stranger's pink eyes—wide, fearful, and glinting like shards of glass in the darkness. Every muscle in its body was taut, like a cornered animal waiting for the final blow.

"I said—where is she?!" Applejack's voice cracked, trembling with grief. She slammed her hoof into the tree again, splintering bark. The sound echoed through the orchard like a gunshot, scattering leaves and petals into the night air.

The figure remained still. No growl. No attack. Its gaze stayed locked on Applejack's, unflinching but haunted.

Applejack's mind was a storm. Every second passed without a response was another second Apple Bloom could be slipping further away. The Daily Toot had spoken of a monster that stalked the ponies of Ponyville—a shadowy figure said to be the mastermind behind recent disappearances. Rainbow Dash had referred to the creature with disgust and suspicion. Applejack had no reason to believe this wasn't one of them.

But something didn't sit right.

Why didn't it fight back? Why hadn't it run further? Why did it just… stand there? Why didn't it say anything? Why hadn't it made some sort of struggle or resistance?

Tears welled up in Applejack's eyes again, but it wasn't just rage this time. It was helplessness. Desperation. She had come so far, fought hard, and now… silence.

The figure trembled and slowly tried to stand, favouring one leg like it was injured. Instinctively, Applejack's hoof shot out, pressing against its shoulder to pin it back down.

"Don't you dare move," Applejack growled. But her words were hollow—more plea than command.

"Please… just tell me where she is."

The shadow's ears twitched, and its breathing was shallow and uneven. But it remained silent, not out of defiance but from something more profound.

Fear.

Not a fear of Applejack.

The fear of what ponies would do if they knew it existed.

The orchard was deathly quiet, save for the sound of leaves settling on the earth and Applejack's soft, anguished sobs.

Then, the shadow did something unexpected. Slowly—tentatively—it reached out a trembling hoof. Not as an attack. Not even as a defence. But as if it wanted to say something and didn't know how.

Applejack flinched at the movement, her heart racing. But there was no aggression. Just… sadness.
And then, suddenly, Applejack heard a voice she needed to hear more than any other right now.

"Applejack?"

Apple Bloom's voice rang out through Applejack's mind. She snapped around to see—nothing. Applejack whipped her head back towards the Everfree Shadow, but the figure had disappeared into the night. Only the faint rustle of disturbed leaves remained in the night air. The only trace left behind was her now missing sister. Apple Bloom's bow was still clutched tightly in Applejack's hoof.

Applejack let out a terrible wail. Her wail tore through the orchard, carrying every ounce of anguish she'd tried to hold back. The trees trembled in the night air, but there was no answer—only silence. It carried with it all her anguish, all her fear. And as the sound faded into the night, only a singular question remained on her lips.

"Why…?"

Author's Note

my first time ever writing an mlp fanfiction, i have alot of plans for this story, i really hope i actually did a good job and didnt just butcher the show so hooray id love to know what you guys think!

edit: re-edit bc i noticed some repeats and stupid af mistakes

note to all writers: dont frickin write and do edits at like 3 am lmao