“Ah can’t wait to see a mare version of Big Mac.” Applejack said giddily. She and her colt counterpart, Apple Jack, were strolling down the dusty road to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Oh you don’t wanna call Macareina ‘big’, it will maker think yer callin’ her fat”.
“Ah, gotcha, but I feel bad up and ditchin’ the rest of the group.”
“Yeah but, we know they can handle themselves. We handled foes like Eris and Night Terror Nebula. Now come on, we’re almost there”.
The two ponies finally reached their destination, a giant red barn with a large acre of apple trees. The smell of fresh-baked apple pie was lingering in the air. Applejack felt like she was back at home, because technically, she was back at home. Everything she knew about the old farm was still right there; even the empty spot where Bloomburg was pulled to be taken to Appaloosa.
“Look, there’s Grandpa Smith.” Apple Jack’s voice broke her train of thought. Applejack turned her attention to an older green pony in front of them. He definitely showed his age, with liver spots decorated on his forehead, a faded fedora sat atop his old dome, and a long Santa-like beard rolling down his chin.
“Hmm, mah eyes must be failing me,” the elder spoke, “I’m seein’ double.”
“No Grandpa Smith, this is mah mare counterpart from another zone who came here from a magic mirror.”
The pony shook his head, “Oh you kids and yer alternate realities.”
Applejack looked around the endless fields, “Hey where’s little, um…uh,” she leaned over to her colt double, “What would Applebloom’s name be here?”
“Oh you must you mean Applebud, well he’s, um, he’s….Ah don’t know where he is. Grandpa, where’s Applebud?”
“Applebud? I think the little rascal went off to go play with his friends”.
---
The little colt in question was indeed playing with his friends, a unicorn named Squeaky Bell and a pegasus Scooteroll. The three ponies were some of the only few in town who had not received their Cutie Marks yet, hence they dubbed themselves, The Cutie Mark Cavaliers. Today’s expedition found them in the heart of the Everfree Forest.
“CUTIE MARK CAVALIER ANIMAL HEALERS!” they all shouted at the top of their little lungs. It seemed like they had yet another scheme to earn their Cutie Marks.
“Listen guys,” Squeaky Belle started to say, “I’m excited to earn my Cutie Mark and all but I feel kinda scared out here.”
“Oh stallion up, Squeaks,” Scooteroll sarcastically replied, “It’s just tress and squirrels and stuff.”
“Scoots is right,” complemented Applebud, “Besides, Butterscotch lives around here and he heals animals all the time.”
“I still say it would’ve made more sense to just ask the guy about healing animals when we slept over his house.” Squeaky Belle muttered under his breath.
“Well we didn’t think of it then!” argued Applebud, “Now let’s keep moving”.
The trio wandered through the twisted tress known as the Everfree. The only resident who was known to live here and was not rumored to want to steal your soul (At least not anymore) was a zebra hermit named Zicoro. But he wouldn’t be much use on this expedition.
“If only we could find a wounded animal.” Applebud said to himself.
“Wow,” snorted Scootaroll, “That’s heartless.”
“Oh you know what I mean.” Applebud retaliated.
Soon there ears were greeted with a small hissing sound, a very snake like hiss. The colts craned their necks over towards a dark bush near a tree.
“Oh boy,” Applebud smiled, “Maybe it’s a snake we can help!”
“Snakes,” Squeaky Belle sighed, “Why did it have to be snakes?”
The trio trotted in the direction of the bush, their hooves stomping in the dry grass. But as soon as they reached the shrub, they all stopped. The young CMC members admitted that none of them actually wanted to lift the bush. After some ‘I told you so’s and plenty of arguing, Scootaroll volunteered to open the bush.
“Aw man,” Scootaroll groaned, “There’s nothing here!”
“Maybe we scared it away,” Squeaky Belle sighed, “Now come on let’s keep moving.”
“Ah guess so, come on Scootaroll let’s go”.
But he didn’t get a reply, Squeaky Belle and Applebud looked for their pegasus friend, but to no avail. It was as if Scootaroll had disappeared off the face of Equestria.
“Oh ha ha, very funny, Scoots,” Applebud belched, “But joke’s over so come on out!”
“Maybe he ran off, I always said he was a chicken.”
“Ah don’t know, maybe he-“
But to Applebud’s surprise, Squeaky Belle disappeared as well. Now Applebud was getting scared, both of his friends were gone and he was alone in the middle of the scariest place in Equestria. He began to trot aimlessly through the Everfree.
“Scoots, Squeaky, are ya’ll there? If you guys are hidin’ it’s not funny! Come on I-AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH”!
The last thing Applebud saw before he blacked out was an open mouth with a pair of fangs dashing towards him.
---
“Okay Ah’m startin’ to git worried,” Applejack spoke, “We haven’t seen Applebud in hours.”
“Yeah,” her colt double agreed, “Where did Applebud head off to, Grandpa?”
The elder scratched his beard, “Last Ah recall, he said he was headin’ for the Everfree Forest
The two ponies couldn’t believe their ears. Their own grandpa let their little brother (Or sister in Applejack’s case) into one of the most dangerous places in Equestria! After a little scolding, the young farmers took off for the Everfree
---
Applejack’s orange hooves skid against the mossy ground of the dank forest. She and Apple Jack were determined to find little Applebud.
“Applebud,” Apple Jack called out, “You out here little bro?!”
“Oh your brother isssss sssssafe and sssssound.” A voice slithered in response.
The twin ponies spun around. Pouring out of the bushes was one of the strangest things they have ever seen. The top half of the mysterious figure was pony, with a sickly green fur color, and a long, messy brown mane running down her back. Her ruby red eyes appeared to be staring into the pony’s soul.
But the bottom half was an entirely different story. It was long and bulky snake tail. The same sickly green as her fur with a stripe running down the middle. The middle carried the colors of black, brown, and white. Her slinky tail was topped off with a rattle, like a star on top of a Hearth’s Warming Eve tree.
“Who are you and what have you done with those ponies?!” Applejack demanded.
“My name isss Viperia, Queen of the Ssssnakesss, and I realized that your brother and hisss friendssss were in danger being in thissss foressst,” her raspy voice whispered, “Sssso I ressscued them. No need to thank me.”
“GIVE ME BACK MAH BROTHER”! Apple Jack charged at the snake enchantress, but before his hoof could connect with her face, Viperia shot her body to the right. Moving like liquid, she spun around the tall stallion and socked him in the face.
“That issss no way to treat royalty,” Viperia calmed herself, “If you want to resssscue your brother, then you’re out of luck! But don’t worry, you’ll be sssseeing him again real ssssoon”.
A purple mist started to surround Viperia. Before the ponies could react, she disappeared altogether.
“Who was that?” Applejack asked as she helped Apple Jack to his hooves.
“Ah don’t know, but something tells me we need to see Prince Solaris”.