The Big Grim Happy Family

The trek into the Everfree wasn't nice. Well, it never is nice, but today it was worse than usual because of the upcoming Nightmare Night. The monsters were seen more and strange and frightening noises were heard from beyond the paths Zecora had made through the forest. Most thought it was because of Nightmare Night. Another reason could be because it was chilly and all six girls had to where thick black cloaks for warmth. And to cover their Cutie Marks.

Although the dye had done a good job with their coats, manes, and tails no dye could cover a Cutie Mark. So instead, with Rarity protesting the whole time, the Bearers put on old woolen cloaks. And lucky they did. Unlike Ponyville, where the weather was warm, if not a little cold at night, the Everfree forest was ready for winter and the paths were scattered with dead leaves that cruntched beneath their hooves.

The dyeing hadn't been hard; well, except for convincing Rarity to do it. The only hard part may have been trying to avoid Spike. He couldn't know about this, all he knew was that they had to go to Canterlot to meet the princesses and that he shouldn't worry. Though Twilight knew he would; he had a tendency to worry and jump to conclusions.

Now instead of being the Elements of Harmony Bearers that have saved Equestria from both Nightmare Moon and Discord; they were ordinary ponies that might not be noticed in a crowd.

"So," said Rainbow Dash, breaking the silence as they walked. "What do you think this cult will be like?"

"It's just a group, not a cult Rainbow," said Rarity, but her voice was shaky and uneven for the fact the to woolen cloak caused her new black coat to itch like a dog with fleas.

"Whatever, I just asked what they were like, geez," she said. Rarity watched sharply; her nerves as well as everpony elses were a bit on end during this situation.

"Well, their probaly super weird since they want to bring back such a bad pony like Nightmare Moon," said Pinkie Pie as she bounced along side Twilight.

"And dangerous. Oh, why did the princesses want us to do this again Twilight," asked Rarity before adding, "I mean since their such powerful alicorns why couldn't they do it themselves."

"Because their not connected to the elements anymore," said Twilight, shuddering as she rememebered the ordeal with Discord.

"And," added Rainbow, "Were going undercover, and it would a little weird for alicorns to go undercover wouldn't it. I mean how would they hid their wings or horns."

"And their super, duper tall," added Pinkie Pie.

The girls nodded, except Fluttershy and Applejack, who were no where to be seen. Twilight gasped and asked to all her friends, "When was the last time you saw AJ and Fluttershy?"

"Oh, I saw them last when pasted Kevin Shine's stream," said Rarity.

"Who?" asked Twilight.

"Oh Kevin Shine, the delightful sea serpent we met the last time we were after Nightmare Moon. He was the one with the wonderful mustache and hair."

"Wait, wait, wait. The sea serpent is named Kevin Shine?" asked Rainbow Dash as if it were the most surprising thing she had ever heard.

"Why of course. We meet once an awhile for tea," said Rarity before adding, "And he does not like being called a sea serpent when he has a name, he isn't a monster."

Shaking her head, Twilight commented, "That was awhile back; we better go back and make sure their all right."
And with that the troup of ponies turned around and started to walk back to the home of Kevin Shine.

Meanwhile...

Applejack and Fluttershy walked through the shadows; Applejack with determination on her face while Fluttershy's was facing the ground in the fear of meeting something in the gloom.

"Please can we go back to the other now?" asked Fluttershy quietly.

But Applejack was to focused and to head strong to care at the moment. She kept walking forward, looking around, and then would mumble, "I saw somepony, I know I did."

And with Applejack being the only one of the pair with the ability to navigate back to the path Fluttershy had no choice, but to follow her or risk becoming lost in a forest of shadows for the sun dying rays would soon lose their final strength and the two would lose their only light.

"Please, Applejack. The others might be worried." But Applejack was lost within herself, wondering exaclty what she had seen. They had been walking along in a silence that was only matched by the forest in which no birds sang when suddenly Applejack heard a faint snap of a twig. Her ears swiveled and her head turned to the see the outline of a pony, but not the pony itself for the blur moved to quickly for details. And that left her wondering who he or she was and why they try to spy?

A flash a green was saw out of Applejack's eyes and with a flash she was running after it going farther from the path with a scared Fluttershy following trotting after her and wishing desperatly that she was safely at home in her cottage.

But Applejack was oblivious to the yellow and pink pegaus following behind her. She was hot on his of her trail and in a flurry of hooves and a leap only an earth pony could manage did she land on them realeasing an "Omph"

Applejack shook her head and looked down on the pony she was standing over only to see something that was not a pony. It was a small, purple and green dragon, one she knew well.

"Spike, What are yall doin' here?" she said still standing over him like a madpony.

"Get off of me! How do you know my name?" he cried as he was squirming under her, not knowing the pitch black pony was her.

"It's me, Applejack," she said.

"Tell me something only she and I would know."

Applejack paused for a second and replied, "The last time us and the other girls had a sleep-over at Twilight's you asked to play truth-or-dare with us. I asked you truth and you told me that you kept a lock of Rarity's hair under your basket."

Spike blushed and got up saying, "Yeah, um your Applejack, but a what are you doing out here and what happened to your coat?"

Fluttershy had now caught up and said, "Spike, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question, Pinkie Pie," he responded.

"Um, its Fluttershy."

"Oh ah, sorry," he said, "So, why are you here? I thought you were going to see the princesses."

"Um, we were, but..." Applejack lied like a bad actor, but when she hesitated Fluttershy took over saying, "Angel bunny ran into the forest, we went after him."

"No he didn't you left him with me along with all the other pets," said Spike, "Why are you lying to me?"

The ponies looked at eachother and in turn know their lie was seen through. Applejack cleared her throat and began from the begining.