//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Everfree // Story: Everfree // by Dusk Quill //------------------------------// It was silent—the kind of silence that settles over a place that hasn’t seen life in many years. That was the first thing Midnight Dasher noticed when she came to. Her honey gold eyes fluttered open and gazed ahead at the wall in front of her. She was lying on a cold, dusty stone floor, definitely not the one she had been on a moment ago. The room she found herself in was much more confining than the cavern of the aether pool.         Midnight groaned softly while she lifted herself off the ground. Barrels and crates sat in various states of decay around the walls, and moss had overtaken much of the stonework. The room looked like a small, unused basement or storeroom of sorts. Fleethoof and Echo lay facedown a short distance away, neither stirring in the least.         “Fleet… Echo…” Midnight called out to them, slowly rising to her hooves. Her body ached like she’d just gone through a particularly strenuous workout. That must be what crossing dimensions feels like… or whatever the hell we just did… she thought.         She heard Fleethoof give a low groan and slowly began to move as well. Echo flipped herself leisurely onto her back, letting out a long breath as she came back to the world. They seemed disoriented, but appeared to be fine otherwise.         “Ow, my head’s killing me…” said Fleethoof, crawling back to a standing position. “Where the hell are we?”         “I don’t know. Do you think the plan worked?”         Fleethoof shook his head, unsure. “There’s only one way to find out.”         Midnight helped Echo get back up before the three ponies took the old, weathered stairs up out of the basement. Fleethoof pushed open a trapdoor and stepped up into a familiar sight.         They were in the large foyer of the mansion—but there were a few drastic differences from before. The torches that had been burning brightly all sat extinguished, and the once-mostly-cared-for room was smothered in a combination of dust and debris. Vines crept in through the smashed windows. The grand staircase looked rotten and the vivid red carpet had dulled in luster. All in all, the mansion looked much more aged than it had previously.         “Is this the same place?” Midnight asked.         “It sure looks like it.”         “I can hear birds,” Echo said suddenly.         Fleethoof furrowed his brow and exchanged a look with Midnight. Sure enough, after a moment of silence and straining his hearing, he could hear the distant chirping of songbirds just outside. He took this in, and felt the wheels in his head begin to turn as his hopes soared.         “Midnight, what time is it?”         Midnight glanced down at her watch—and felt the smile grow across her face.         “Just before dawn. We’re out. We did it!”         Fleethoof nodded and embraced the cleansing wave of relief that overcame him. The nightmare was almost over. He heaved a sigh and tried his best not to let his emotions come out just yet. They still had to get home.         “Okay, let’s get the hell outta here,” he said. “We’ll just head north, see if we can hear the chopper, and try to—”         “I hear crying,” Echo interrupted again, her ears perking upright. “It’s close. To the right, about three o'clock.”         Again, Fleethoof found himself floored by the bat pony’s impeccable sense of hearing. If it were anypony else, he would have immediately doubted them. But going two for two, he had no reason to doubt the mare's enhanced capacity of detection. So far, Echo’s blindness had proven to be an advantage instead of a handicap.         “Where, Echo? Guide us.”         Echo nodded and led the others back through the decrepit mansion. They pushed their way through the dining room again, Fleethoof pausing to stare in awe at how different the house looked now. The large windows were all smashed inward, and through the trees outside, he could see the bright rays of the morning sun beginning to peek up and light up Equestria. He stopped by the silent clock, smirking at the frozen hands on the dust-covered face, lost in time forever.         The ponies walked down the long, dark corridor until they reached a door. Fleethoof tried the handle and found that it was locked, though the aged mechanism felt frail. On the other side, he could hear soft whimpers and sobs. He drew his gun. Even if he had no bullets, perhaps he could still intimidate any threat into submission. With a deep breath, he kicked the door inward and rushed in.         A barrage of shrieks and screams assaulted his eardrums, startling the pegasus and bat ponies. Fleethoof turned to the source of the sound and again felt relief take a hold of him. Thirteen sets of terrified eyes looked up at him from a corner of the room. It was the foals—the missing foals from Ponyville. They all sat huddled together at the far corner of the room, looking as scared as he imagined they’d be. He couldn't tell if they had been locked in here by their captors, or if they barricaded themselves in as an attempt at sanctuary.         Fleethoof could feel his expression soften and a gentle smile touch his face. He put his gun away and slowly trotted over to the group of small ponies, crouching down to their level. The one nearest him, a small gray pegasus colt, looked him over and took a couple steps closer.         “Hey, little guy,” he said in a tender, warm voice as the colt came up to him. “What’s your name?”         The colt looked him over again, obviously trying to size up if he was a friend or a foe. “R-Rumble.”         Fleethoof’s smile widened. “Well, Rumble, my friends and I are here to take you home. We’ve been looking all over for you.”         “You’re not one of them, are you…?” asked Rumble warily. Something in his eyes tipped off Fleethoof’s suspicions.         “The ponies that took you? No, we’re not. We’re with the Royal Guard.”         Rumble nodded his head slowly. “My brother told me the Royal Guard are the good guys and I should always trust them.”         Fleethoof chuckled softly and nodded back. “Your brother sounds like a smart pony. Yeah, we’re the good guys, and we’re on your side. Come on, let’s get you all home.”         Fleethoof stood back up and gently ushered the foals out towards Midnight and Echo by the door. Rumble stuck beside Fleethoof, hugging his leg tightly as the others corralled the foals out into the corridor. He smiled, and then glanced over at Midnight. She was grinning at him as she watched how he handled the scared foals.         “You’d make a good father, ya know that?” Midnight teased as they walked down the hall, following behind the group of little ponies being led by Echo. “I’ve never seen you soften up like that before.”         Fleethoof scoffed gently and rolled his eyes. “Please, I’d be a terrible father. I’m never around anywhere long enough, and I’d be way too overprotective.”         “Yeah, but I think that’s why you’d be a good one.”         Fleethoof just smirked and let the conversation drop. The group walked across the foyer towards the front doors. Fleethoof and Midnight made their way to the front and, with a couple of strong kicks, bucked the doors open. Bright light filtered through the trees into the mansion, and cool, crisp air greeted them welcomingly.         The foals all but bounded down the porch, eager to be free of the nightmare. The three soldiers took their time, savoring each step down the front porch and into the freedom of the living hell they had fought tooth and nail through. For Fleethoof, each step seemed to come in slow motion. The feel of lush grass around her hooves felt alien to Midnight Dasher now that she wasn’t running for her life. Sunlight felt like a warm blanket being wrapped around her shoulders for Echo, and though she could no longer see it, no dawn had ever been more beautiful in her book.         But the reprieve was short-lived when Fleethoof saw the town just down the bending road. Sunny Town had become a stark contrast to the first time he had seen it with Midnight. The broken-down, dilapidated old village had been brought back to life. The houses all looked well cared for. The dirt road was clean and clear of any debris and weeds. A bright pink and blue morning sky hung above the town as sun bathed down on it from the tree-laden horizon.         The foals had all stopped at the edge of the road, frozen in their tracks. Midnight looked to Fleethoof, noting the concerned look in his eyes.         “So what's the plan, Fleet? We could cut around the back of the mansion and swing wide through the trees—”         “It's too dangerous to lead the foals through more forest than we have to. We don't know if those ponies are in the town or still out in the woods. We’re walking right out the front gate, and at least this way we'll know where they are,” said Fleethoof with hard resolution. “If our plan worked, then they're no longer a threat, and I want those ponies to see us trot right out with the foals so they know not to mess with anypony ever again. If it didn't... then we're already dead in the water.”         Midnight Dasher saw the look in his eyes change, and he turned to her, as if seeking approval. She smirked a little, and nodded her head. “Now that sounds like my kind of plan.”         Fleethoof gave a half smile. “You and Echo stick close to the foals at all times. I’ll take the lead. Whatever happens, just get the foals out of here and find the helicopter. Don’t worry about me.”         “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. I’ll shoot the whole damn town before I leave you behind.”         It was Fleethoof’s turn to chuckle and grin. “Now that sounds like my kind of plan.”         The three ponies took their positions around the foals, covering them as they took the first few steps down into the town. As the group stepped into the limits of Sunny Town, Fleethoof's fears became reality. From the houses, ponies began to step out and take notice of them. A trio had gathered around one corner: a white mare and two stallions, orange and earthly brown respectively. The Sunny Town ponies looked no different from anypony else, but Fleethoof could feel something amiss with them still. They stared for a while as the ponies walked past, hard, blank stares on their faces. The stallions whispered something to one another. Fleethoof cast the coldest glare he could muster at them.         Midnight did her best to avoid looking away from the path in front of her. She did not want to make eye contact with the ponies around her, especially not when she knew what they really were. Horrific images continued to flash before her eyes. She refused to give them even the slightest attention.         The group rounded the corner and continued to the next corner, passing by an older gray mare. She looked up at the ponies as they passed, making eye contact with Fleethoof for a moment. He couldn’t be sure, but he could almost swear he saw a trace of a relieved smile on her face as they passed by with the foals in tow.         They took the corner and followed the long road through the heart of Sunny Town. This was the part Fleethoof had been most worried about. They were in the dead center of everything, with nowhere to run to if things went south.         “They’re following us.” Fleethoof glanced over his shoulder when he heard Echo speak. Sure enough, the astute filly had been right. The three ponies they passed earlier were following a short distance behind them, shooting concerned looks at them and making a few of the foals whimper with fright.         “Just keep moving. It’s okay, little ones. Stay close to us,” said Fleethoof.         The group of ponies reached the end of the long path and took the last corner. Up ahead, Fleethoof could see the arching gate that marked Sunny Town’s entrance. They were so close. But up ahead, he could see two more ponies standing on the path, unintentionally blocking their way as they chatted, oblivious to the scene approaching them.         It was now that Fleethoof got a good look at them. The two ponies, a gray stallion and green mare, looked exactly like any other pony—but shockingly, neither bore a cutie mark. He could only assume the others following them didn’t have their cutie marks either.         That’s why they chose to take foals, Fleethoof realized as he looked back at the group of unmarked foals. That’s why they killed the soldiers with cutie marks and ripped them off. They think they’re that disease or whatever happened before.         “Grey Hoof! Three Leaf!” a pony behind them shouted.         The stallion and mare in the road looked up, right at Fleethoof and the entourage. He saw shock cross both their faces, but where the mare’s remained, the stallion just gave a wide grin. It sickened Fleethoof. That monster was grinning at him like he was welcoming a tourist. This was the same creature that had slaughtered his comrades and Midnight and Echo’s team.         “Oh look! Our new friends have brought us even more friends!” the gray pony Fleethoof could only assume was Grey Hoof said happily, and quickly trotted up to him. “Welcome to Sunny Town, friend! My name is Grey Hoof, party planner extraordin—”         The stallion went spiraling to the ground as Fleethoof's hoof made contact with his face, the sharp blow knocking him flat on his back. He heard the hoofsteps behind him come to a stop as Midnight and Echo stopped the group. Three Leaf gasped and came galloping up to help Grey Hoof. He was rubbing his aching jaw while trying to right himself, shooting a confused and upset look at the pegasus that had just hit him.         “What was that for?!”         “That was for killing my brothers and sisters,” Fleethoof said with a dangerous growl in his voice, glaring daggers at his enemy. “And for taking these foals from their families.”         “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Grey Hoof remarked, but the look in his eyes tipped off Fleethoof, even as the stallion glanced down at the mark on his flank. “These are our new friends and neighbors! They live here now—and you can too, as soon as we rid you of the curse—”         Grey Hoof made a motion towards him. Fleethoof stopped him dead when he brought his pistol out, level with his forehead. He saw Three Leaf tense up out of the corner of his eye, and heard some sounds behind him. He could only imagine Midnight was covering him. Grey Hoof’s eyes darkened as he looked up into the frigid blue gaze of the captain.         “Oh, you recognize the guns, do you? Makes me wonder how many times I killed you with this.” Fleethoof cocked the hammer on his empty gun, hoping they wouldn’t call his bluff. “I survived your nightmare world. I wonder how long you’d last in mine.”         The two stallions faced off with one another for a long, tense moment. Fleethoof’s aim never wavered, and Grey Hoof didn’t move and inch. He could feel the electricity in the air, and quietly wondered how surrounded they were right now. They had to be outnumbered two to one, at least. But the tables had turned, and if they could keep the cursed ponies in a state of bewildered caution long enough, they could escape.         After what felt like ages had passed, Grey Hoof slowly slunk back away from Fleethoof, moving over beside Three Leaf and out of his way. Fleethoof nodded to Midnight Dasher, and the bat ponies hastily urged the foals past them and out the gate into the Everfree Forest. Fleethoof held his position, his gun drawn down on Grey Hoof and Three Leaf as he looked back at the other three watching from a short distance back.         “I know what happened to you all, and I know why you’re scared of ponies with cutie marks,” he said aloud to them all. “And I am very sorry. But if I ever see any of you outside this town again, I will fight my way through Tartarus again to end every single one of you. You will not take any more foals, and you will not harm another pony again. Do I make myself clear?”         Nopony answered him. Fleethoof took it as an apprehensive agreement. He slowly stowed his weapon and cantered out of Sunny Town.         “Grey, he’s taking our friends! He’s going to curse them! Stop him!”         As he passed through the gate, a victorious smile spread across his face.         Fleethoof dashed through the undergrowth of the Everfree Forest in the direction he had seen the others run. His legs propelled him around the trees fast and powerfully. They couldn’t have gotten too far ahead, but the longer he ran, the safer he felt. The more distance he put between himself and Sunny Town, the better.         Midnight Dasher had led the foals out to a nearby glade and hunkered down. She knew either Fleethoof or those ponies would come after them, and she was prepared for a fight. When she saw the flash of crimson burst through the dense green bushes, her heart soared in her chest. Midnight lowered her weapon and galloped up to Fleethoof in revered welcome.         “Are they coming after us?” she asked, apprehension tinting her voice.         “Oh, I’m sure they are. But they won’t do anything outside of their element,” Fleethoof said. “We’re almost home free, Mid.”         “Good… I just want this to be over…”         The two ponies formed up with the group and moved north again as the sun finished peeking up over the horizon, chasing away the last bastions of the cursed night. Midnight and Fleethoof took the lead again and pushed through the dense foliage. Each step felt painful to the weary soldiers and homesick foals, like the journey home would be a thousand miles.         “What are you going to do when you get back?”         Fleethoof glanced back at Midnight as she spoke. “Probably go find a therapist, get kicked out for being too complicated, find another therapist, and try to repress everything. It’s how I handle myself.”         “That doesn’t sound very healthy, Fleet.”         The stallion gave a hard laugh. “Have you seen my lifestyle? I wouldn’t say anything I do is good for my health.”         Midnight giggled softly. “Fair enough.”         “But what about you?” he asked, shifting the conversation on her. “What are you going to do now?”         “I’ll probably get reassigned to another team, assuming they deem me fit for service after all this. I can hear it now... discharged due to mental illness,” said Midnight with a little dejected sigh. Her eyes drooped to the ground. “Echo will probably get discharged. I don’t think they’ll have a use for a blind bat.”         Fleethoof scrunched his forehead in contemplation. “But Echo’s hearing has become extraordinarily powerful. Couldn’t they find some use for that instead of just labeling her a cripple?”         “I can hear you, you know!” Echo called from the rear, as if to emphasize Fleethoof’s point.         “Maybe, but I doubt it. They Lunar Guard may be small, but there’s always somepony clambering for a position. They’ll see a perfectly fit candidate, and then they’ll see Echo…”         Silence settled between them for a moment as Fleethoof processed that information. He could sympathize with the fillies’ dilemma. Had it not been for his opportunity with Skyfall, he probably would have been discharged for posttraumatic stress long ago. But he didn’t see Echo’s blindness as a handicap—he saw it as a powerful advantage to add to a team’s arsenal.         As if to prove him right yet again, Echo suddenly said, “We’re being followed.”         Fleethoof stopped, frozen like a statue. His head turned slowly, eyeing the trees behind them. Sure enough, he could see the orange and brown stallions standing just behind a bush several meters behind them. He looked to his side, and just barely caught a glimpse of Three Leaf hidden amongst the foliage.         “Keep moving,” Fleethoof said adamantly. The group continued their trek through the forest, climbing over any obstacles while pushing forward. He could hear a few soft whimpers coming from the frightened foals. They had to get them out of danger—that was their one and only objective.         “It’s okay, little ones. We’re almost home. Just keep walking straight ahead and follow the red stallion,” Midnight cooed softly to the foals as she let them pass ahead of her, covering their side from the lurking threats in the forest.         Fleethoof’s eyes narrowed threateningly at the ponies skulking around at the edge of his sight, just daring them to make a move. They acted like a pack of predators assessing their quarry. But in the daylight, they had lost the one advantage that had put them on the offensive.         A blur of gray in the corner of his eye caught Fleethoof’s attention. He locked steely gazes with Grey Hoof again, leering at the pony partially obscured by a thick tree trunk. The two exchanged a bitter look, and then Fleethoof pushed onward. As he turned his head, he could’ve sworn he saw Grey Hoof’s eyes shift to a red hue momentarily.         “Fleet…”         “Just keep going, Midnight.”         “They’re getting closer,” Echo murmured. She tried to keep her voice low, so only her allies could hear her.         This is not good… Midnight thought, already beginning to worry. She had no idea how much further they had to go, or what they were even heading for. She just prayed that Fleethoof had a plan—some sort of ace up his sleeve that would save them all.         He didn’t. Fleethoof’s goal had been to push north until they found the clearing they had landed in, and then wait for the helicopter. Now, he didn’t know how far away that destination was. He looked to his left and saw the orange stallion again, now much closer to the group than before, much too close for comfort.         And then a distant rumbling buzz began to fill the still forest air. The sound made Fleethoof’s heart leap in joy. Helicopter rotors. Up ahead, he could see the trees beginning to thin away. With any luck, it just might be their ticket out.         Fleethoof picked up the pace to a hurried canter. It forced the foals to run after him, but it got them moving a lot faster across the mossy ground. The closer they got to the light shining through the scattered trees, the more his heart raced to pump adrenaline through his veins.         Midnight was frequently glancing back now, trying to maintain constant visual with the ponies pursuing them. By her logic, if she could keep them in her sight, they couldn’t spontaneously flank around them. That logic had caused her to almost run into a tree twice now, but it was working thus far.         The group of ponies broke the timberline first and emerged into a wide clearing. Bright sunlight bathed the area in warmth and welcomed them in. Fleethoof couldn’t tell if it was the same clearing as before or not, but it was more than enough to meet their needs.         “Midnight, keep an eye on the trees. Echo, keep those ears sharp,” Fleethoof said in command as he herded the group of foals together as close to the center of the clearing as possible. He pulled the flare out of his jacket and fired it off into the air. The rocket exploded with a satisfying pop up in the sky, the brilliant red light shining ostentatiously overhead.         “Fleet. They’re here.”         Midnight stared with apprehension at the line of six ponies hidden beneath the shade of the trees. Oddly enough, they refused to set hoof into the clearing after them. But why? Are they afraid of us, or just afraid of being vulnerable now? she wondered.         Fleethoof eyed the ponies as well. Though he would never admit it, he was petrified. They were so close to the end—but if the monsters of Sunny Town decided to be brash and attack them now, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Midnight was the only one with bullets left, and though he trusted his close quarters skills, he had seen what those things had done to Blackjack. They were remorseless killers, no matter what form. He wasn’t going to chance it with the foals at stake.         For the longest time, neither side moved. Midnight crouched in position, her pistol trained at the six foes cloaked in shadow. Echo stood protectively beside the thirteen foals. Fleethoof had positioned himself between the two and had his hoof resting on the hilt of his knife. If they wanted a fight, then by Celestia, he’d give them hell.         It was Grey Hoof that pushed the envelope. Sneering at the soldiers, he took the first daring step out into the sunlight—and then another. Slowly, the gray pony emerged into the clearing. Encouraged by their friend’s boldness, the others began to make their way into the light until they were advancing their way across the clearing.         Fleethoof swallowed hard, slowly brandishing his knife as he drew the blade inch by slow inch out of its sheath.         And then the thrumming sound of the helicopter got louder and louder until the sound completely engulfed the forest. The Sunny Town ponies looked alarmed, backing up into the sanctuary of the shade again as they searched the sky frantically for the source of the noise. Fleethoof gave them a snide grin just as the large black frame of the helicopter emerged above the clearing.         The pilots wasted no time putting it down. The helicopter came to a gentle landing in the center of the clearing, its doors open wide to welcome its passengers with open arms.         “Go! Get the foals onboard!”         At Fleethoof’s order, Midnight dropped her gun and rushed with Echo and the foals to the aircraft. One by one, the foals were lifted into the cabin. Fleethoof lingered back a bit, still staring down Grey Hoof from the shadows. He could swear he heard the hostile growl of the pony, even from the distance he was at. 'This isn't over' it spoke threateningly.         Half smiling mockingly at him, Fleethoof pointed his gun at the pony, cocked the hammer, and squeezed the trigger. The gun dry fired, snapping sharply where a bang of a shot would have been. If only he had one more bullet…         His metaphorical warning issued, Fleethoof ran to the helicopter just as Echo and Midnight had boarded and pulled himself in. He pulled the cabin door shut, sealing away the forest outside. The foals had taken to the seats and were staring around in awe, all making random comments about how cool the helicopter was and remarks of ‘what’s this do?’ and ‘oooh, what’s that?’. Fleethoof opted for the seat beside the door, right beside Midnight Dasher.         In the next moment, they were all airborne as the helicopter hovered out above the clearing and took off back toward Ponyville. Fleethoof stared out the window at the early morning sun glistening over the dense treetop canopy of the Everfree Forest. Somewhere out there, six bitter ponies were crying out in fury.         Midnight quivered lightly in her seat, fighting back the wave of emotions that had hit her out of nowhere. She was coming down from the adrenaline-fueled high of survival, and reality was finally catching up to her. They had survived the terrible ordeal and saved the kidnapped foals. Mission accomplished. But the triumph had come at the ultimate price. Her team was dead—her friends were gone forever. Once the captain of the Nightwatch got wind of what had transpired, he'd definitely release her from service. In one night, her world had unraveled entirely.         Fleethoof took notice of the stray tears falling down Midnight’s cheeks and the way she shook. He recognized the familiar face of trauma when he saw it. With a gentle smile, he slipped out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. She looked at him in surprise as he wiped a stray tear from the end of her nose.         No words were spoken. The silence said more than they ever could. Midnight let a deep sigh free and rested her head against Fleethoof’s shoulder as she sank into the jacket. The warmth and familiar scent put her at ease, even if only enough to calm her down. Within a minute, her golden eyes had slid closed, and she finally let her body crash into sleep.         With another warm smile to the resting bat pony, Fleethoof turned his gaze out the window again. All he could see was the expanse of the forest, stretching far and wide across the Equestrian countryside. Much like his thoughts, it just seemed to run on forever and ever.         Finally letting himself breathe easy, Fleethoof gave a subdued smile of reprieve as they headed home, far away from the Everfree Forest.