//------------------------------//
// The First Encounter 
// Story: The Applegrove 
// by Princess 
//------------------------------//

Applejack sighed a bit as she trekked through the forest muck, if it was even a forest at all anymore. Much to her concern, it did in fact start to look like the Everfree forest. No longer were there apples, but there were the strange fruits that looked like pears, but hissed at you with green venom dripping between their pores. She hadn't met the wolves yet, and didn't fancy looking forward to it. She sighed with discontent, the forest weighing down on her for the first time. She couldn't rest now, since even as she looked over her shoulder, nightfall seemed to have wedged itself into the sky. Applejack assumed this is why it started to become more cold, but then again, the sun shined brightly before. No wonder this is the Everfree forest... you can't tell from heads to tails what's going on half the time. She thought to herself, trying to free her hoof from a pothole filled with the sticky mud below. It took all of her strength, but she managed to ply it free, and continue her saddening journey. Things didn't look too bright on going out of this strange, desolate place.

Applejack didn't take too far before one of her friends stumbled into her, and she looked as bewildered as her. "Fluttershy?" Applejack asked in a strangled tone, unable to express how happy the pony is to finally find at least one of her friends.

Fluttershy didn't respond at first, and this wasn't surprise. She gave a startled, choked meep and scrambled away a few hoof steps before noticing the pony before her. "A-applejack!" She replied, as startled as the orange pony was. "I... noticed you left the party so... I tried to follow... it didn't work out well. I got lost... and now I don't know where I am..."

Applejack felt relieved about the caring pony going to come out to find her, giving out a delighted sigh. "Oh you silly pony, where ya been?" She clopped over to the pony, wrestling her into a hug. "Hey uh... do ya perhaps know what this forest is?"

After the hug subsided, the pony took in a breath and nodded at Applejack. "Well... we left the everfree forest a while ago... then went into this strange place... I don't think we're near ponyville anymore."

Applejack's grew as wide as apples at that statement, and she gave a small hmmph as she walked towards the forest. "Thought so... these strange fruits aren't exactly my type of Everfree forest that I like. Never heard no wolves either..." Rubbing a hoof on her head, she beckoned Fluttershy to come along.

Fluttershy clopped softly after her, making the occassional whimpering sound at every noise, and trying to stay as silent as possible. "I thought I was going the way out the way you came... I guess not..." She looked around once more, then almost facehooved at forgetting an important detail. "The others are looking for you too. We'll have to find them before uh... we get out of... this creepy place."

Applejack gave a brisk nod, narrowing her eyes at what was up ahead. "Well I reckon we better get to clopping, there might be more dangerous beasts in here, and as far as I'm concerned Fluttershy, you might not be able to tame them."

Fluttershy nodded back, since the Everfree forest and this forest were two different things entirely. She was afraid of the Everfree forest since like any other fear she head, she didn't like them beforehand. However, when she went inside, she felt almost at home. This forest gave her the creeps, and she didn't feel at home at all. The flora were even more confusing, since there were fruits that would change from one to the next, and others that just simply looked rotten, and still hung up as if that was normal. Looking around, she hoped they would find their friends soon.

Applejack continued to move on regardless of the whimpering, and the snickering trees that seemed to try and block their way each time they went on. Applejack shook her head a couple of times when it felt the situation became too unreal to continue, and occasionally looked over to see if her butterfly flanked friend was alright. Applejack became impressed after a while when the pony walked like she did, but the fear from this occasionally easily spooked Fluttershy seemed to have vanish entirely. There was no question to be asked, since Applejack felt this way when bucking apples most of the time. It was the knowledge of knowing you had to accept your fate, whether you liked it or not.

Fluttershy let out a small puff of air that she seemed to been holding in, and tried to breath regularly. Fluttershy learned long ago how to not be afraid, but it usually took so much effort, that she didn't bother cowering in fear or whatnot. When her instincts kicked in however, it was almost like second nature, but her caution still appeared. The meeting with Applejack surprised her, but she finally managed to regain her composure, moving on with a grim face. "I hope we can find the others... I don't want them to get hurt..." She muttered allowed, barely audible, but that was the original voice she had. Applejack gave a quick nod as she lead on, and Fluttershy hid a smile under one wing. It felt nice to go on an adventure for once.

Applejack tensed when the howling seemed to have ceased for too long, and a low, growl came from one of the bushes. She prepared her hind legs, giving them a quick stretch in turn, pacing with her forelegs with anticipation. The bushes rumbled, and out came the hideously, grotesque beasts. They seemed as rotten as the apples, flies, fleas, whatever was bouncing off their coat made Applejack frankly as disgusted Rarity would have been. The flesh seemed to hang from their limbs as well, but in most places, they could see the bone. They were mostly likely starving, but still, as the ponies stood their ground, the wolves seemed to circle them, whether it was curiosity, or they were going to attack, Applejack didn't know. One of them growled at her, and she frankly stuck out her chin, showing them no fear. She brushed her tail reassuringly over Fluttershy, but the pony was the same as her.

The wolves soon moved on, leaving them to their dues. Neither Applejack or Fluttershy knew why, only that they guessed they smelled too differently to be actual prey, or they wolves were on the hunt for another, and didn't bother to pick with them. Either way, they continued, the daunting forest seeming to loom over them at every step.