The Everfree was filled with mysteries beyond anyone's understanding. The fact that the Castle of the Two Sisters was located inside more than likely had something to do with why the forest itself was so dangerous. Was it because of the leftover magic from when Celestia fought with Nightmare Moon? Or was it something else that covered in area in a blanket of uncontrollable magic? Regardless, the forest thrived on it and the creatures that lived within it's boundaries learned to adapt.
It was a wonder of modern magic each time Twilight had stepped within the dangerous forest. She would have loved to take the time to study such a habitat and it's residents but this trip into the dense vegetation of death had another purpose. That purpose being the search for Sweetie Belle.
"Twilight, I don't know about this. Maybe, just maybe, I mistook some pony else for her coming heading towards here. Shouldn't we wait for the others?"
"No, Spike. We need to find her, every second we waste could mean the poor filly encountering something far too dangerous for her to handle. We can't waste time waiting for the others to gather."
"If you say so. Any idea as to where she might have headed?"
Twilight's horn light up and a quick flash of magic revealed hoof prints leading inside. The only problem with the spell was that the prints weren't alone. The tracks of other creatures and animals showed up as well covering most of the ones that looked to be made by ponies. The spell also gave no clue as to how old any of the tracks were; it was during times like this Twilight silently wished she'd have taken the time to learn how to track.
"Let's go, Spike. If we follow the hoof prints we might be able to find her at some point."
"Twilight, I really think we should wait for the others. This isn't safe for either of us if we go alone. The last time we tried going through you almost died twice over. In fact, if it wasn't for the girls you and I wouldn't have made it past the first hour."
"All the more reason we should go and find her. A filly all by herself in such a place is practically a death sentence. You can stay here if you want but I'm going to find her." Twilight started walking into the brush leaving the baby dragon behind.
She made multiple stops to try and find the tracks left by ponies as others were beginning to overlay the initial prints she'd followed. As she came upon the a familiar stream there was a rustle coming from behind her.
"Who's there?" Twilight asked as her magic started to gather.
"It's me Twilight." answered the voice as the owner came into view.
"Spike?!" She rushed towards him as he brushed off leaves clinging to his body. "I thought you didn't want to come with me?"
"I said I didn't want us to go alone. I couldn't just leave you to go into the woods without anyone else. I followed you shortly after you left me at the entrance. It was a bit tough to keep up and I didn't want to yell in case of monsters being close."
"Sorry about that Spike. I just want to find her as soon as possible." Twilight said as she levitated the young drake onto her back.
"I understand why you want to find her but you seem to be in much more of a rush than necessary. Is something wrong Twilight?"
"I... No, nothing's wrong. Let's go."
The pair crossed the stream and continued to follow the tracks. Soon they started to hear voices yelling the filly's name as they ventured deeper in to the forest. The search party had apparently caught up and were now joining in the hopes of coming across Sweetie.
"Uh... Twilight?"
"Not now Spike. I'm trying to figure out which one of these tracks is more recent."
"But, Twilight."
"Spike, please I need to concentrate."
"Twilight!" he yelled turning her head towards the direction he was looking.
"Wha..." she said as her vision was filled with lights that seemed to twinkle in the shadows of the trees.
"You think it has anything to do with Sweetie Belle?"
"I'm not sure, but we don't have much to work with otherwise."
The lights seemed to be moving further and further as they headed towards their direction. Twilight picked up the pace and brushed aside branches and bushes as they tried to block her path. The closer they came to the lights the clearer they could hear a noise being made as they kept appearing. The noise seemed somewhat familiar but the rustling of the bushes, snapping of twigs, and Twilight's own labored breathing almost drowned it out.
They bushed through a dense bush to come upon a clearing and the source of the lights dancing in the darkness. A large cart was moving in front of them and from the front of it came the lights. The owner seemed to not have noticed the commotion they made crashing through the environment as the cart kept on it's relatively silent trek.
"Stop!" Twilight yelled as she ran to whomever was pulling the mobile home in the dark woods of terror.
"What?" came a soft voice as the cart began grinding to a halt. A noise could be heard and Twilight stopped midway to see a cloaked figure coming from the front to investigate the new voice. "Wh-who's there?" the figure asked in a feminine voice while holding up a lantern to light the area better.
"I'm sorry to bother you. I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Spike. We saw strange lights dancing around here and followed them to your cart. What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask the same of you. This isn't the best place for anypony to be wondering around. Are you lost or something?"
"No, we're looking for someone. Spike said he might have seen her wander into these woods."
"Oh. I take it the one you're looking for is a small filly with a white coat and multi-colored mane?"
"Yes! Her name is Sweetie Belle. Have you seen her?"
The figure led them towards the back of the cart and opened the door leading inside. She hung the lantern on a hook just outside letting a soft glow fill the inside. Twilight peeked inside to see a small figure on bed.
"Sweetie Belle!"
"Shhhhh. The poor thing is trying to sleep."
"Sorry."
"Why is she with you? Did you find her out here or was it you that took her?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I remember the cloak and the fact that you're out here in the Everfree with Sweetie just confirms that you're the one she was following."
"Are you accusing me of fillynapping the girl?"
"If the horseshoe fits."
"Spike, that's enough. I'm sorry about that; it's been a long day and the whole town is practically searching for her right now but it's no excuse for trying to blame you for something you obviously didn't do."
"Hmmmph. If I knew there were such ingrates in the town I would have changed my mind about going to visit. Lucky for all of you that I didn't and that's especially true for the poor girl." The door closed and the lantern was once again taken as the owner returned to the front.
"Very lucky. Still, what exactly is she doing with you?"
"I noticed someone following me when returning from the market in town. I didn't know who it was and tried to lose them only to find out it was a filly as she started to cry from being lost."
"Why would she follow you though?"
"She told me that she was a fan of my work. I've traveled all across Equestria in order to entertain many ponies so I tend to run into fans every now and then. Just, not some as foolish as her. I mean, what could have she been thinking following me into a place like this?"
"She's new to the town. I was suppose to show her around but something came up and I told her to go back home alone. She must have seen you and thought it okay to follow you into the Everfree since I've never told her about it's dangers."
"So the foolish one is you? Why am I not surprised? Parents these days have no concern for their children until it's too late. Come along, I was heading towards the town before you two came along."
"Parent?! I'm just her sister's friend."
"So you're practically a stranger then? How do I know you're not the one trying to fillynap her then?"
"Wha..."
"Hold on now. Miss... sorry I never got your name." Spike interrupted as he jumped off Twilight and in between the two mares.
The figure lowered her hood letting her silver mane hang loose as she extended her hoof towards the dragon. "Trixie. Trixie Lulamoon."