Endless trees surrounded two young mares as they made their way through the secret and forgotten paths of the Whitetail Woods. Princess Twilight Sparkle was ahead of the white unicorn that was whining so loudly that she was positive that all of the wildlife had taken refuge in their homes until the threat of having their ears whined off had passed. And perhaps a few days later just in case. Despite having told Rarity to tone down her loudness, the fashionista seemed oblivious to the haunting silence which was broken by none other than her high-pitched groans and comments.
"Why must we walk, Twilight?" The white unicorn asked in a tragic tone of voice.
"Because Celestia warned me that any means of transportation might startle Fabricia is we weren't very careful. Besides, we have no idea where her cottage actually is. Wandering these paths might give us a hint as to where she might be and if we're lucky, we won't have to scour every inch of this forest for her home." Twilight replied.
Rarity simply rolled her sapphire blue eyes and plodded along after her long time friend. The unicorn glanced down at her once fashionable and clean hiking boots that weren't actually meant for hiking and vest that had burrs dotted along her sides and back. She hoped that this 'forgotten princess' had someplace she could wash her outfit as well as be lent a lovely outfit. Maybe if she were lucky, this Fabricia alicorn would have an entire closet dedicated to fashionable items that she would be willing to let Rarity have. After all-- royalty dressed to impress.
They wandered down one path after another and sometimes Twilight even made them travel without one as they searched relentlessly for Fabricia's cottage. It wasn't until a couple hours later that the purple alicorn finally gave in to Rarity's pleading for a break and they both sat down beside a small, clear stream the quietly ran across a path that led to a darker portion of the woods. The mares hardly spoke as they tried to catch their breath and allow their hooves to sink into the sweet elixir of life that the stream carried. Of course, Twilight went on and on about streams and their origins, but Rarity simply ignored her friend as she tried her best to wash off her vest without wrinkling it.
"Why don't we just call it a day, Twilight?" Rarity insisted. "I would like to believe that we'll find that princess' cottage, but the sun is going to set soon and we'll have no choice but to camp without a luxurious tent or bedding! Isn't that a horrible thought? I can't imagine that sleeping in the dirt will help with my alabaster complexion."
"I would like to get out of here before nightfall as well, Rarity, but I won't give up until I've at least found her cottage! The Grand Galloping Gala is in three days and we need her to attend or Equestria will hardly progress without her assistance." Twilight's voice rang through the trees. Just as she stopped, she had come to conclusion that they weren't alone. "We need to keep moving. There's something ominous ahoof here."
And so they began their trek yet again, except both of the mares were silent and moved across the stream and to the darker section of the woods before they were found not by somepony- but something. It wasn't long after they had crossed the stream and into the older part of the wood that they realized their mistake. They were no longer being watched by fearful woodland creatures, but by the trees themselves. It even seemed as if there were more peers than just the trees. Twilight didn't want to think about what types of creatures roamed here in this forbidden place.
As soon as those thoughts crossed her mind, she heard something more than just the typical sounds of the woods, but something could be only be a snarl of anger. The ponies stopped in their tracks and looked around as they became surrounded by a white fog that was soon identified as smoke. They coughed and huddle together as a pair of glowing eyes stalked around through the smoke, never showing itself, but simply eyeing them as if trying to decide what to make of them.
Rarity had been about to suggest that they make a break for it before she felt Twilight begin to shiver with fear. At that moment, she realized that she, too, was too frightened to move. She tried not to meet the glowing red eyes from beyond the smoke, but she was curious as to what the creature was doing and whether or not it would make its move sooner rather than later.
Just then a black shadow emerged and it slowly formed in their vision as none other than a black dragon the height of a tree. Perhaps it wasn't the largest dragon they had seen, but it was obviously hungry and they were just the right size to make for a decent portion.
This is the end. Rarity thought with frightened eyes as the creature stalked towards them.
She could feel its eyes burning with thirst for blood and with every breath it exhaled, saliva was quick to follow. Its long talons scraped the dead grass clean from the dirt without any struggle. Then again, Rarity knew that she would probably end up being the same way once he dug his immense claws and fangs into her unblemished flesh. She wondered why Twilight hadn't used her magic and that was when she realized that they weren't just frozen by fear, but also by its gaze.
This was the end of the line for the pair of frightened ponies- both paralyzed by the creature's eyes and unable to do anything to protect themselves.
End of Act I.