Chapter 1: The Forest

It was night in the Everfree forest and silver beams of moonlight shone through the treetops lighting the area and casting shadows throughout. Apple Bloom burst through the shrubbery as she ran through the forest, panting while her red bow bobbed as it tried to escape from her mouth. A chorus of growls emerged from behind her and her legs picked up speed catapulting her faster through the woods. Her lungs burned and screamed as she ran, begging her to slow down.

Taking a quick look back, she saw a set of eyes in the darkness. Fear and terror came into her mind, imploring her to find an exit. Spotting a large tree, she made a sharp right turn and barely managed to hold onto the edge of her bow. There was a small thud as something rammed into the tree and let out a very disgruntled growl.

She congratulated herself for that small achievement before diving into a thick bush ahead, scrambling through. She refused to stop for anything, even the thorns. Exiting the bush, she ran to the center of the clearing and stopped. She had never been this far out before; with each movement she felt more and more lost.

As she surveyed her surroundings, checking every inch of them, she could not find any hint of her pursuers. Then the bushes directly behind her faintly rustled and her head whipped around to spot dark shape glide across her field of vision before disappearing. Spitting out her bow, she started to challenge whatever was in there with her.

"C-Come on out now, I can handle ya'll in a fight." Apple Bloom fearfully shouted as she backed up in an attempt to spot whatever was watching her. She froze in place feeling her blood turn cold when she felt her flank make contact with something that was warm and furry. "EEEEEP!!!" She screamed in hysteria as her small legs flew behind her in an attempt to hit the frightening thing behind her.

Her hoof made a loud thump as it made contact and sent the thing to the ground. "Now get away from me ya big bully!" She turned to see what stood behind her and came face to face with two large topaz eyes. "Eeek, don't hurt me!" She pleaded covering her face with her arms while tears streamed down it, hoping what came next wouldn't be too painful.

The pain she expected never came, and she unfurled her arms to spot a green stallion in the shadows with a bag slung over his side and a long mane that was a crisp orange and bark brown atop his head. He kept looking at her calmly; for some reason it felt like he was evaluating her.

Making a decision on whatever he thought, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small bundle of grass bulging in the middle. He made a shrill whistle that snapped her out of it and stared at her for a moment more before he threw the bundle to her and sat down.

"Ya want me to eat… this?" Apple Bloom, poking the small bundle once before it unfurled and revealed a small piece of rainbow colored candy that glittered in the moonlight. She looked at it in surprise. The way it captured the moonlight it looked delicious and begged to be eaten. She fought the urge inside and pushed it away "Mah big sis always told me I shouldn't take candy from strange ponies."

At the word ‘strange’ flames burst in his eyes and he looked at her furiously, causing her to gulp in fear. Not a moment after he let out a saddened sigh before he rushed over and shoved the candy violently into her mouth while she struggled fruitlessly. What was in this, this candy must be, must be…. Apple Bloom let her body hang loose as it hit her tongue and exploded in a shower of bliss. She relaxed as the wonderful treat washed away her worries.

Apple Bloom thought she could catch a smile on his face as she was placed onto the ground. The Stallion started to circle her, eyes lost in thought as he started to think. "Was that zap apple flavored? Do ya know my family?" That had to be the only way he could have gotten the ingredients for the candy in the first place. She hung onto that hope with all her life, if he knew them she was safe.

He silently shook his head in response before picking up her red bow. She let out an indignant squeal as he pushed his head onto her small body forcing her forward. "Ya want me to follow you?" Apple Bloom froze for a moment at the thought of that, this pony could do unspeakable things with her if he got the chance. He congratulated her with a pat on the back before putting a hoof over his mouth urging for silence.

He started to trot off leaving her along in the clearing as she stayed glued to the spot. Would this really be a good idea? He was part of the Everfree and found her while she was being chased. A squeal escaped her as a nearby howl sent her ten feet in the air. “Wait for me.” She scurried off as fast as she could to trot by his side.

Maybe since he was doing all of this he wasn’t such a bad pony. Everypony kept talking about Zecora badly but they had never talked to her. As the pair got further into the woods Apple Bloom couldn't help but edge closer to him as they went further. The sound of the bugs and unseen beasts were not making it any easier. “Mister, how do you live out here?” There was no response from the stallion. He wasn’t very talkative, she trailed a hoof in the dirt. A tiny smile formed, it reminded her of home and her brother.

Small tears started to come back down her face as she faced the thought of having to face those wolves again. There was a sigh from the stallion before he lifted her up and placed her on his large back. He eventually came to a stop in front of a small orchard of trees that had orange fruit and plentiful ready for the harvest. There was a hissing from the branches and small orange lizards emerged with large fluid sacs on their backs, clearly not happy with the intruders. "C-can we go back now? Those things don't seem happy with us bein' here..." Her head disappeared into his brown and orange mane.

Shooing her off the stallion dragged forward over the mushy ground in the area, giving the lizards a death glare that scared them off as he went. "What are ya doing? They're gonna hurt us!" Apple Bloom wrapped around him even tighter, looking up with wide open eyes. He turned his head to look at her straight in the eyes.

With what she could see he looked mildly amused, she really couldn't tell though in the darkness. A wave of his hoof made the lizards back off and go deep inside the trees and went to sleep. While she was left with awe he went to the Oak tree that lay in the middle of the orchard and bucked it hard. This new pony had new many things that she had never seen back home. To Apple Bloom’s surprise, the bark swung open and darkness waited for them to enter.

“Is this where ya live?” He nodded and tapped on the old trunk of the tree before letting them both be covered by the gently darkness. It was black for a good minute before a bluebell on the walls began to glow. More Bluebells light up one by one banishing the lurking darkness from the room. A army of plants and experimental items appeared along with a plethora of plants.

She was left speechless as she looked over the room; the entire area was filled with plant life she had never seen before. Apple Bloom rolled off his back to fondle a tiny little apple tree in the corner. It looked like it was treated with the utmost care and attention to detail. Applejack would have been jealous of the sapling here. A grin crossed her face and she jumped for joy. “Hey, where did ya get the apple tree?” She turned to spot void the only place void of plants, a small station filled with glasses and beakers. An orange and brown tail bobbed underneath it as small items were moved around.

The tail quickly disappeared and up came the stallion she saw earlier, her breath left her body as she saw him clearly for the first time. "Ya got stripes all over your body, mister." He gave her a disappointed stare that spoke Oh really? before depositing the assorted arrangement of flowers he had in his mouth into a mortar and pestle. "Wh-Who are you?"

"I AM," He turned around arms stretched in the air, "BATMA-I mean Forest. How many times have I told you to stop doing that when I'm trying to talk!!!" Reaching under his workspace he grabbed a spherical cactus and deftly threw it across the room impaling it into the wall. She couldn't help but let out a laugh at his flustered face and his introduction. “You’re funny.”

He resorted to panting before he took a deep breath and resorted back to his stoic face. There was a small flash of pink as he mixed powder into what he was doing and began to grind away at the plants. "Why are you in this frightening place, and what foe did you want to outrace?" He asked in a much calmer voice that did its best to calm her.

The entire situation finally hit Apple Bloom and she began to cry again as relief and frustration overtook her. "I was *sniff* just running after my bow and then these big-" She stretched out her small arms to demonstrate, "-wolves came out of nowhere and I was so scared." She shivered in fright, their eyes looked like they would devour her.

He grunted, acknowledging her words, before grabbing a green vial off the shelf with his tail and dumped the powdered flowers into it before whirling it around three times in the air. Small snake like things swam around and made attempts to break themselves free. He gave it a quick sniff and nodded to himself now approaching Apple Bloom.

"Now this may hurt a bit, but please stay quiet and do not split." Apple Bloom had no idea what was going on, but if it was from him it must be for her own good. She stayed absolutely still as he poured what was now a bluish paste out of the vial and onto his hoof. Her nose upturned at the pungent stench that wafted into her snout. It smelled like something had just died.

While she debated what it smelled like he touched her wound and she gave off a tiny scream. Her wound roared in defiance and pain burned through every fiber of her being. She bit his hand and started to flail away. "It burns, STOP IT!!!" Tears came into her eyes as she pleaded, just make the pain stop. In response he pushed a hoof onto her back pinning her to the ground, rendering her completely still.

After the pain finally subsided her legs hit the ground with a thud. Her vision was a swirl of red and bright lights. He released his grip and gave a content sigh before returning to his work station and grabbed different vials off the shelf and dropped them into the medicine bag on his back.

"I am sorry that you were restrained, trust me - there was much to be gained." He consoled her; tying the bow to her mane he opened the door to the Everfree.

She backed up into the wall and curled up still trying to cope with the pain. “I-I’m not following ya out there. Ya’ll are worse than the wolves.” What he had done hurt a lot, and there was no reason.

Forest raised an eyebrow to this and muttered silently before taking out a thick vine from one of the nearby walls. Very slowly he looked between her and the vine before placing in his mouth. Apple Bloom had enough sense to realize what he was planning on using it for. It wasn’t her sister behind the lasso though, and she would be the one sought after. She took a nervous gulp before leaving the house. Now outside, her captor stopped silently asking her which way to go. "I live in Ponyville, the big town nearby."

Thanking her for the advice, he gave her a smirk before walking past the orchard with her and back into the Everfree’s depths making sure she kept close by his side. After a long walk, they finally got back to the clearing where they met earlier. The zebra pawed the ground for a moment before he stared forward intently and quickly shoved Apple Bloom behind him.

Quick to learn his body language, she stayed quiet and peaked out from under his tail. There was nothing out there in the clearing and she looked at him with a pout before kicking him in the knee. Out of the gloom of the forest came three of those horrible Timberwolves she saw earlier sniffing the air for prey. She shivered in fear remembering the stories of their deadliness and wrapped herself around his leg.

As Apple Bloom cowered behind the stallion, the leader of the pack came closer and he adopted an aggressive stance, ready to fight if need be. To the surprise of both, the wolf gave Forest a quick lick before nuzzling him, dragging its wooden skin over his coat. Apple Bloom from her position saw him wince slightly at this and couldn’t help but comment on this curious sight.

“What do ya reckon it's doing?" Apple Bloom said meekly trying not to attract the wolf’s attention. At the sound of her voice, Forest looked at her with eyes that said "you moron". The wolf at this opportunity dashed around him and locked eyes with Apple Bloom and let out a furious growl. She screamed in fright, and collapsed onto the ground trembling.

The wolf enraged now leapt at its prey. His tail whipped across the wolf’s face before wrapping around its throat and attempted to divert its course. In its struggle to escape, one of the wolf’s claws reached out and in the darkness Apple Bloom could barely make it out its course. She let out a horrified scream as the wolf’s claw apparently hit him, leaving a wound.

He hissed in pain and released the wolf and the vine from his grasp before bucking the wolf hard across its face. Apple Bloom had to turn her head to watch as the stupid wolf flew into the forest letting out a whimper as it fell. If she wasn’t so scared she would have cheered in joy, he was beating them. No more noise came from the wolf, it must have run.

A quick furry tap on her shoulder brought her attention back to Forest, who started to whisper under his breath. "On my mark we will run, ok, little one?" She nodded, retreating further into the stallion. Toned muscles and tough skin met her touch. Why had she been like her sister and been so quick to judge?

When the wolves reached leaping range he ripped a blue vial out of his bag and tossed it forward. Hitting the ground, it shattered, leaving the wolves covered in a bright blue liquid. "It's almost time for magic!" Forest winced at the last word and started spouting off small curses that left her mouth open, even her big sister Applejack would be ashamed to say those things.

Apple Bloom stared as the wolves stopped, unable to move any farther due to their claws growing into the ground. Small trees then sprouted from the wolves' backs and crab apples grew that dropped on them repeatedly. Apple Bloom let out a small giggle as she watched their attempts to dodge the falling items. “Look they can’t even move an inch.”

Ready to go, they looked at each other before they ran off, leaving the wolves far behind. She smiled as they ran to the edge of the forest, they were finally about to go home and leave the horrors of this night behind. Now out of the forest, the two viewed the sleeping town of Ponyville.

She had never been so happy to see home before. "Thank ya for the help. mister." She turned ready to give him a thank you hug. What lay before her now was a shivering and sweaty zebra who started to edge backwards in fright. This wasn’t at all like how he was earlier, what happened to his bravery?

“Are you ok?” She wasn’t sure if the wound was real and if he was just going to run off; so she did the only thing she could think of. She sunk her teeth into his tail which momentarily stopped his frantic state and brought his panicked eyes down to look into hers. Spitting it out she yelled. "Ponyville's this way!" She pleaded. "Don't go in there, the wolves will get ya!"

He made a couple more jerks to go back into the forest but there was a limp in his step and Apple Bloom was easily able to block his path. "Won't ya at least bring me all the way home? Pleaseeee?" She brought out her most potent weapon, the begging face. It worked against her brother, it should work on him.

He looked down at her for a moment before wrapping her in a giant hug. She gasped for air as his large hoofs began to squish her "Stop, it's too tight!". Noting her plea he responded, lowering her to the ground before looking away indignantly, a red blush across his face.

"Where do you suppose we could go then, little friend?" He pointed a hoof towards the forest. "In there is the only person on whom I can depend, even if she’s gone." His head then turned to his right to look at the air. "You don't count, you made me throw a cactus and tried to play batman with me!"

Apple Bloom couldn't help but shiver a bit as he shouted that aloud to whatever it was that only he saw. It was weird, but it must have been his imaginary friend. "Ya'll can come over to mah house of course." She gestured a hoof forward for a handshake. "I'm Apple Bloom!" She said introducing herself for the first time.
“Like I said, Forest.” There was an awkward silence as she shifted in place waiting for him to tell him more. In this case there was nothing so she just went on. She’d just have to find out later.

"Ok Forest," She impatiently began running ahead of him in an attempt to lead the way. "Now let's get back home before those wolves come back. By the way, why didn't that wolf attack ya?" He responded by sniffing himself for a moment, then shrugged before following her lead through Ponyville and to her house. “Guess ya don’t know then huh?”

As the pair walked through town, Apple Bloom felt fright build as she noticed Forest was starting to get tipsy. He succeeded in falling into a lamp post and then collapsed on the ground, failing to budge. "Are ya ok? You’re not hurt at all, right?" Apple Bloom stood over him and, worried, began to investigate every part of his body. There was no way he was letting her not help him. He ignored her before kicking the sign post and watched as shimmers moved up it. He shook his head before looking at her with eyes that showed hints of pain.

"I am just fine, the wound just needs time." He barely murmured out of his mouth before he let out a stifled moan and shivers ran through his body. Apple Bloom sat next to him, attempting to lift his body before realizing what he said. The wound… then that must have meant. "Wait, ya really got hit by that wolf?! Show me, NOW!!!"

His head shook furiously, refusing to show her, instead letting her search his body in an attempt to find it. An odd thing caught her attention; his tail was draped across his left flank covering it completely. "I've got ya." She whispered triumphant as she lifted up his tail. Her eyes dilated and she moved her head to the side almost gagging. The red bleeding gashes reminded her of the accident with the scythe and Big Mac. She remembered how he was unable to move for days.

"Never mind home, we gotta get ya to the hospital quick. I'll be back in a jiffy." She began to run off but was stuck in place as her hooves just dug a hole in the ground. "Let me go, we need to get ya to the hospital!" He just wouldn’t let her go, what was his problem? In her attempts to get him off her, she kept noticing him attempting to get into his bag, failing each time due to her tail being in his mouth.

"Is this-" She jumped past him and reached into his bag now he was just being stubborn. Huffing and puffing she pulled out the green vial she saw earlier in his house. "-what ya'll are looking for?" She angrily shouted at him.

Nodding, he spat out her tail before speaking. "Let it flow over the wound, it needs to be bound." It needed to be bound; oh she remembered how painful this stuff felt. Even now her flank still ached from the pain. She stared at the object for a moment before speaking her mind.

"Ya want me to pour this all over that wound of yours, are ya' out of your mind? The pain will make ya pass out." She was upset enough that he was taking her so lightly; now she was fighting the urge to just leave him there and go get help.

"DO IT, NOW!!!" Venom seeped out of his voice and Apple Bloom just stood there, the most frightened she had been the entire night. With the look on his face it seemed like he was going to slap her silly. In her shocked state, his tailed lurched forward and easily ripped the vial from her and before pouring its contents all over his flank.

The vial dropped out of his tail and cracked as it hit the ground as the salve sizzled for a moment. Moans of pains soon emanated from him as foam started to gather at his mouth. "I-I can't stand this any longer, I'm going." Forests eyes lit up for a moment before he tackled Apple Bloom to the ground and stood over her, mouth foaming as he snarled defensively. She let out a small eep and trembled under his large weight.

The fervor from his eyes soon faded and he let go of a shaking Apple Bloom before brushing the foam off his mouth. He made sure to grab onto the vial before standing in front of her again waiting to be commanded to go on. “I am sorry for what I have done.” It took a while but she was finally able to stop shivering and speak again, voicing her concerns.

"If ya really want to be like that fine, just never push me down again." She pouted before moving to his side and acted as a stand for him to lean on. "At least tell me though when you're like that, and thanks. For earlier, I didn't know you were treating my wounds back then. Now come on, ya don't look like you're gonna last much longer." He nodded acknowledging her words and mumbled a tiny thank you.

They went off to the farm, only stopping to let Forest drink from the nearby stream and eat some grass. Finishing his last bite he gave her a weak smile and Apple Bloom couldn't help but smile too, she felt that everything would be ok. Home was coming up and they could get a good night’s sleep. Passing through the all too familiar archway to Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom grinned from ear to ear. There were even lights on in the lower windows.

"They're in the house, c'mon!" Heavy relief oozed from her words before she ran off her heart pounding in her chest as she was about to show her family her new friend and get him to a bed. A shape emerged from the distance and she spotted her faithful dog Winona barking as she came running out to greet her.

Forest appeared in front of her in a flash and stood between the two blocking their access to one another. Apple Bloom could barely make out Winona's face before she started to scowl and she started barking at him furiously. "Winona, what's wrong?” She turned to her savior flustered and ashamed. I'm sorry she's never done this before Forest."

Her face fell as she realized her words fell on deaf ears as Forest started to growl looking very much like he did earlier, when she was pinned down. This time, though, he looked downright murderous. Breaking his growl, he lunged deftly toward the dog and watched as it ran away, whimpering into the night.

In a ragged and tired voice, Forest spoke, shoulders drooping as his body loosened. "Now that the wolf has left in fright, come let us turn in for the night." Apple Bloom guessed this could be forgiven just this once, it had been a long night and he saved her. One last time she came to his side and supported him while they headed up the dirt path leading to the house.

As the white gate opened, lights turned on in the upper levels and the sound of hoof steps came flowing out of the windows. The front door slammed open to reveal her brother Big Mac with a pan in his teeth and anger in his eyes. His mouth opened slightly allowing it to fall to the ground and his eyes softened to one of love and relief.

"BROTHER!" Apple Bloom yelled happily as she ran forward nuzzling her most favorite brother in the world. He gently returned her nuzzle, but stopped and stiffened as his eyes met with the injured zebra outside.

"Don't hurt him; he rescued me from the forest and from the wolves. He ain’t like her." Apple Bloom pleaded causing her brother to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at the new entry. She couldn't help but feel nervous at the thought that he would hit Forest because he wouldn’t believe her. “Please, he’s hurt and needs help.”

"That is correct indeed, I…" his eyes rolled into his head before he collapsed and hit the dirt ground, unconscious.

"FOREST!!!" Apple Bloom screamed in fear before she ran to his side and started to attempt to bring him inside the house. She could tell he was still breathing but didn’t know for how long. "BIG BROTHER HELP!!!" All the while she kept pulling on his legs unable to get him to move even an inch.

Her attempts were stopped by Big Mac, who effortlessly propped him onto his back and carried him inside. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. He can use my room." Apple Bloom gave him a hug and led the way upstairs. With a bit of effort, they managed to wrap his wound and get him into bed. "Night Forest," Apple Bloom said softly, before sitting by the edge of the bed. She remained there for the rest of the night, vigilant for any sign that his condition had worsened.

Author's Note

After approximately six months of writing and throwing away the first twenty chapter drafts I have finally felt like this is ready to be released. I want to thank Mechafone for being a wonderful editor and inspiring me to keep writing. I'm sorry if this and the next couple chapters are a bit slow. It really starts to take of later.