Epilogue
The large, wooden door to the ruined castle hung ajar as the small group of ponies approached. At the front of the group were three bouncing fillies, that, despite their excitement at finally having a chance to come into the forest, bore hints of fear in each of their hearts. It had been at least a day since any of them had seen any of their friends or sisters, and worry was in no short supply. Behind them was a larger red stallion with an equally concerned look in his eye. In fact, none of the six or so ponies with him or the fillies looked at all alright.
"Applejack, hey Applejack! Sis ya' in there?" Apple Bloom called as she, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle entered the crumbling castle, the other's calling for their sister and idol respectively.
No response came from the decrepit structure but a cold wind and each of the fillies looked back at the first two ponies that had followed them in with perplexed expressions.
"Don't be too loud girl's, we need to hear if anypony's trying to call for us," said Miss Cheerilee as she looked at the overgrown balconies above wearily.
"Sorry, Miss Cheerilee," Apple Bloom responded, but her frown was met with a small smile from her teacher.
"It's alright, Apple Bloom, I know you're worried, I am too," She responded as reassuringly as she could.
"I'm not, I know Rainbow Dash is totally up to spending a night out here. We'll find her and the others in no time," Scootaloo said, dismissing her concern with a hoof wave.
"Yeah, Rainbow maybe, but I can't imagine Rarity would be too fond of all this dirt," Sweetie Belle added, scuffing at the overgrown floor with a hoof.
"Now Don't non of y’all worry non about it, like Cheerilee say's we'll find um'," Big Mac added, earning an appreciative smile from the smaller mare as more towns ponies moved in behind them.
"Right we should split up, cover more ground. Everypony buddy up and pick a direction. Call out if you find anything," Cheerilee instructed, looking at the larger stallion beside her.
"Right, can we come with ya big brother?" Apple Bloom asked, looking up at Big Mac hopefully.
The question drew the attention of both the stallion and the school teacher, the latter appearing a little disheartened, but she smiled none the less as the former just nodded.
"Right, ah'll take ‘em, meet ya' back here soon's we find somethin’," Big Mac stated, then began towards the far side of the chamber with the fillies.
"I bet they're all just caught up in some books or something, remember the last time?" Sweetie Belle said as the three of them walked along the ruined hall, Big Mac close behind.
"Sure is strange of um' not to tell us about it though," Apple Bloom offered, yet her attention was stolen as she noticed something shift in the corner of her eye.
Off to her right, down a darkened hall she thought she saw a faint flicker dart across the gloom, and she paused curiously as it disappeared into the shadows.
"Hey, y'all see that?" She called to the others.
Everypony stopped and looked, except for Scootaloo whose eyes became focused on a small crevice on the other side of the hall.
"See what?" Sweetie asked, cocking her head in confusion as she tried to peer into the gloom.
"Ah don't know, looked like some kinda light or somethin'. Only it was blue," Apple Bloom explained, raising a hoof to her muzzle.
"Hey you two, come take a look at this," called Scootaloo, but the orange pegasus' words were lost on the others as Big Mac began down the side corridor Apple Bloom had pointed out.
"Y'all stay right there, don't leave mah sight ya’ hear," The large red stallion instructed as he began towards the far end of the dark hallway.
Both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle nodded, but before they could say anything they were tapped on the back by Scootaloo.
"Hey, didn't you hear me? Come look at these things," the pegasus said excitedly, directing her friends over to the small hole in the wall.
All the while Apple Bloom kept glancing back at her older brother as he peered around the corridor at the far end of the hall. Then she looked into the crevice Scootaloo had pointed out along with Sweetie to see a set of three faintly glowing black orbs. Each of the strange spheres seemed to brighten at their presence as if excited to see the three curious faces that peered in at them.
"What are they?" Sweetie asked, but Scootaloo just shrugged.
"Beats me, but don’t they look totally awesome?" The pegasus said eagerly.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom took another looked down the opposite hall only to see her brother had vanished. Cocking her head in confusion, she took a step forwards. A peculiar scent drifted upon the air, then once again that strange blue light flickered in the corner of her eyes.
"Oo, oo, oo! I think that one just moved!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, pointing a hoof as one of the glowing orbs shifted.
"What? Let me take a look," Scootaloo said as she pushed in beside Sweetie, and true to the unicorn's words one of the orbs shuddered brightly.
"Hey Apple Bloom come take another look, these things are so cool," Scootaloo called back, but there was no response from the other filly.
All that followed Scootaloo's words was another violent shudder from one of the orbs as she peered down at its glowing heart with a fascinated interest. The light within flickered restlessly once more, growing brighter and brighter before it suddenly died altogether. Before, finally, the gleaming black surface of the orb split open with a sharp crack…