//------------------------------// // Horror (What Has Been Seen) // Story: Her Forest // by AliziaRoElier //------------------------------// “Hold on…” Day requested. He, Spike, and Big Mac had been pulling the Gate down the dirt path from Sweet Apple Acres to the Everfree for a few minutes silently. The walk had been surprisingly uneventful: no ponies spontaneously popping up, no random acts of violence, and most importantly- no questions.   “I haven’t actually checked if the forest even wants us to put this thing inside it,” Day said. His companions slowed to a stop without commenting and looked at him oddly.   “Err… you do know that a forest is made of trees… right?” Spike asked slowly.   “I’m well aware,” Day replied dryly, “I don’t know how much Twilight told you abo-”   “Nothing. I kinda just go with the moment. I learned really early that Twilight could be… er… high strung and it was the only way to survive.” Spike interrupted him. He looked thoughtful for a moment, “I also learned to tune out her explanations so I wasn’t paying attention back at the farm.”   “I don’t think you explained yourself to me either,” Big Mac provided helpfully.   “Oh. Uh. Short story. Time travel. The forest is alive. Luna recruited me.” Day spoke in clipped phrases. He’d opened his connection the Forest wider and couldn’t really devote his attention between the slightly complicated explanation of his arrival and trying to speak, after a fashion, with the Everfree. It seemed to be okay with the Gate itself but he was getting some conflicting feelings about something to do with it. A single aspect of the Gate was irritating to the Forest’s ability to know everything within its borders.   “The Everfree is fine with the Gate…” Day started speaking slowly, “there’s something about it though that the Forest doesn’t like. It should be fine though. Mostly.”   “That’s very firm. Very sure.” Spike said sarcastically and picked up the rope and yoke that he had been wearing to help pull the large red platform that the Gate resided on. Big Mac decided not to comment and picked up his yoke as well and continued on. Day placed his own yoke awkwardly on his shoulders and followed them.   ~!~ The only group of males in the group walked back into the Apple family’s living room, took a single moment to assess the situation playing out in front of them, and promptly walked back out.   “We speak of this to no one.” Day announced after they’d walked a decent amount back to Ponyville.   “Agreed.”   ~!~ After the horrifying sights at the farm, Spike decided for the group that some time away from Twilight and her friends was absolutely essential to the continued mental health of his fellow men. He was particularly concerned that the normally stoic expression on Big Mac’s face was currently replaced by broken terror.   Spike thoughtfully provided the shaky stallion a hand getting into a booth at Sugarcube Corner where he bonelessly collapsed. Day sat across from the two without comment.   “Are… is that…” Day began to ask delicately after a few moments of somber reflection.   “Never seen it but I’m not surprised.” Spike replied promptly.   “But-”   “Drop it.” Spike interrupted him. “What happened there will never be spoken of.”   “BUT-”   Spike flailed his arms wildly, “A-ba-ba! Never. Spoken. Of. Ever.”   A blue mare with a kind expression approached their table, “What can I get you, dearies?”   Day sighed, “I followed them. I’m just along for the ride.”   “Hayfries and a sapphire and ruby milkshake, please.” Spike requested.   The mare turned to Big Mac and paused before asking, “Are you okay, McIntosh? You’re looking a bit sick, dear.”   Big Mac dry swallowed, “Ah’m fine. Ah’ll have… ah’ll have a dozen spiced apple donuts, if yah have ‘em. And some AJ… I mean… some water.”   The mare gave Big Mac a second worried glance, “If you’re sure. I’ll have that right out for you.”   Day looked around after she’d left. The café they were in was moderately sized and very pink. Ponies were lined up at the counter ordering baked goods like a normal bakery and a few others were sitting around the room at the tables set up strategically to face the myriad types of baked goods on display. It all was so familiar. Day contemplated the almost uncanny similarity between Earth and this new world he’d been so carelessly deposited into.   Day’s thoughts were interrupted before they could really begin by a bright yellow stallion sliding into the booth next to Big Mac. He was very different from Big Mac, where Big Mac was stocky and well built this stallion was lanky and soft. Day idly wondered if all stallions were so varied in shape. The mares all seemed to be of the same builds and heights- and whether they truly out-numbered the stallions. In all of Ponyville, it seemed like they were the only males other than Spike.   “You alright there, Mac?” The newcomer asked. Big Mac nodded; he had recovered a bit in the ordered chaos inherent to a busy, well trafficked café.   “Yeah, Carrot, Ah’m fine. Just a bit shaken up s’all.”   “You look like you’ve gone through a war, Mac. That AJ is still in the back.” Carrot replied cheerfully.   “No need. I just need some peace and quiet and Ah’ll be okay.” Big Mac shook his head and he looked a bit more alert and normal.   “Something tells me that this won’t be the worst thing we’ve ever seen.” Spike commented. He seemed like he was going to continue but the blue mare returned before he could speak again and deftly slid their orders on the table. Day couldn’t smell the dozen apple donuts in front of him but they looked absolutely delicious- and freshly made.   “Wait. WAIT. Those look like they literally just came out of the fry. You’ve been gone for two minutes. I call bullshit!” Day exclaimed. He wasn’t sure why the fact that the donuts were fried so quickly bothered him compared to all the other crazy happenings around him but he really couldn’t help it.   “Magic, dearie, magic. We have these new EasyBake ovens that can cook anything!”   Day interrupted her, “Stop right there. Forget I asked.”