Everfree Blanks

Flutters

The party continued for quite some time. Applebloom decided to take a break, and sat at a nearby table, taking a sip of her fruit punch. Her eyes wandered around the room until she noticed a strange looking mare she had not seen before. Squinting her eyes to get a better look, Applebloom saw that the mare had a bright, cherry red coat, with a matching mane colour. Her mane was long, reaching down to her shoulders. It draped over her face and covered one of her eyes. Her left ear and her front-left leg had an unnaturally grey shine to them.

Letting curiosity get the better of her, Applebloom cautiously approached the unknown pony. “Miss?”

The red mare looked down at her. “Hello! Who might you be?”

“I’m Applebloom...”

“From the Apple family, right?”

“Yup...”

“I’m Metalhoof. Nice to meet you.”

Metalhoof extended her grey hoof towards Applebloom in a friendly gesture. Applebloom smiled, and shook hooves. Metal's hoof felt hard and cold... almost as though it was artificial.

“Metalhoof? That’s a weird name,” she pondered, letting go of the mare's hoof, “Are you a robot?”

Metalhoof laughed and banged her colourless leg onto the floor twice. It made a heavy clanking sound upon contact with the ground, making Applebloom jerk her head back in surprise. “Yes. I was made by Neuegen Industries. The Canterlot government gave me the right to live in these parts.”

Hearing about the 'right to live' reminded Applebloom of her friend’s similar situation. “That must be nice... my friend Sweetie Belle is a robot too... ‘cept she has to keep it secret since she doesn’t have permission to live like you.” Applebloom said bitterly.

Metalhoof tilted her head curiously. “Your friend is a robot too? I guess we have some things in common. Well, at least one thing.”

“...does this make us friends?” Applebloom asked.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Friends it is.” said Metalhoof with a warm smile.

The next few hours flew by quickly. The party had lasted until evening, and by the time ponies began leaving, the sun was already setting. The five element-bearers sat in a small group with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They talked for a while, mostly about the absence of Fluttershy. Applejack also brought up the camping trip she was planning. Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie and Scootaloo said they would be coming, Rarity, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were going to think about it.

Twilight ended the conversation before it got too late. "Anyway, it was wonderful talking to you all. We’ll meet again... tomorrow?”

They all nodded.

“Tomorrow.” Twilight repeated.

“Bye!” Applebloom waved to each pony as they left. Scootaloo stayed with Applebloom.

“So, what’s next on the list?” Scootaloo wondered.

The two fillies turned around and noticed a group of ponies who had not left. They were crowded around something, chatting with each other quietly.

Applebloom pointed to the circle of ponies. “Ah wonder what they’re all up to...”

Scootaloo motioned towards a small gap in the group, and the two fillies crawled under the crowd to get to the center of the circle. There was a TV in the middle of the circle, streaming a news broadcast. Applebloom managed to get a spot directly in front of the TV. Scootaloo was not so lucky.

“...her disappearance. Numerous ponies heard a strange noise in the middle of the night, which is reportedly the time when Fluttershy disappeared. One of these ponies was Applejack, a close friend of Fluttershy, and one of the element-bearers.”

The broadcast switched to a rather distraught Applejack. “Look, all ah can remember was that in the middle of the night, ah heard somepony hollering for help! Wasn't Fluttershy's voice... nothin’ like it! Sounded like it was comin’ from the Everfree Forest, and I don’t have to tell ya how dangerous that place is. ‘Specially at night!” Applejack was looking more and more frantic by the minute. “Nopony should be goin’ into the Everfree Forest alone! Not ever!”

“No! Not Fluttershy! It can’t be!” Applebloom cried. A picture of Applebloom appeared on the screen.

“Applejack also told us that her sister, Applebloom, had also gone into the heart of the Everfree Forest, but luckily, escaped unharmed. This is a warning to all residents of Ponyville: do not go into the Everfree Forest under any circumstances! We can’t risk any other ponies going missing!”

The broadcast was stopped by an advertisement for Dan Vs. The older ponies walked away from the TV, talking to each other in hushed tones, leaving the two fillies behind.

“What happened? I couldn’t see!” Scootaloo asked Applebloom.

Applebloom was sniffling, tears in her eyes. “Fluttershy... lost- in the Everfree Forest!”

“No way!”

“We'll have to cancel Applejack’s camping trip! We cam't let her family go missing as well!”

“Don’t worry, I'll make sure that the camp is not set up in the forest. How about in the field?”

Applebloom didn't answer. She was uneasy about how close the camp was to the forest, and set in her heart that she would not be going.

Scootaloo was a little doubtful herself, but didn’t want to make Applebloom worry anymore. Noticing her friend's darkened mood, she gave Applebloom a hug. “I'll tell Applejack to set up in the field. See you at the camp!” Scootaloo reassured Applebloom, running towards the horizon.

Applebloom hung her head, and prayed to Celestia that no other pony would get lost.

Princess Celestia was at her desk in the highest tower of her palace, a place she spent most of her time in. Several scrolls were scattered around and on the desk. They were from random Ponyvillians, all addressed to her, with short requests written on them.

The monumental amount of scrolls was all because of a string of magic Celestia had set into motion. Whenever a pony "prayed" to her, the message was created in the form of a scroll at Celestia's desk. At first Celestia was able to cope with the requests that were first sent to her, but then the requests became more and more complex, forcing Celestia to enhance her magic. It had now reached the point where Celestia had to decline some of the genuine requests.

A familiar noise interrupted the Princess' thoughts. As expected, a new scroll had appeared on the table. Using her magic, Celestia reluctantly opened it and read it.

Celestia had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She would've easily been able to turn down a grown mare's request, but a filly's?

Her problems just kept piling up. Releasing a heavy sigh, she made her way towards the tower's circular balcony. The courtyard was calm and peaceful at this time of night. She wished she could relax and clear her head of all of the messages that rung each and every day.

“Forgive me, my dear one,” she spoke quietly to herself. “-but I cannot help you. I cannot answer anyone's prayers. I cannot protect myself. Sometimes, I don't think I am capable of ruling Equestria. It’s times like these where I wish Twilight was at my side...”

She looked back at the letter and slowly closed her eyes. “I wish I could help you Applebloom. I really do...."