Sore muscles greeted Scootaloo as she awoke from her slumber. Her mind felt full of lead and she just wanted to go back to sleep. After unsuccessfully trying to resume her peaceful rest for what seemed like forever, thanks to her irritably dry mouth, she decided to at least get a drink.
She sluggishly made her way to the counter/faucet across from her bed that had complementary cups and a coffee machine. As she drank some water she couldn’t help but think about the great day she had yesterday, even if her sister was acting a little strange. She sparred against so many different ponies and had her flank hoofed to her more times than she would like to admit, but it was fun.
Her sister however seemed distracted most of the time, like she was very nervous or something. Asking about it but didn’t get a real answer, and she didn’t really feel like pressing on it. She was too tired to ponder these things so after drinking her second cup of water she jumped back on her bed intent on going back to sleep, only to find that her sister wasn’t in the other bed. Instead, in her sister's place was the gift she had made.
Alarmed and now awake she jumped over to the other bed and checked the gift. She found a tear in it but was relieved to find that it wasn’t big enough to take out the gift, and the tape still held strong.
Setting it down, she looked around. She noticed that the door to the hallway was ajar. Nothing else seemed out of place. Not sure what to do she put her gift back where it should’ve been. She knew Applejack and Applebloom were supposed to check in last night, even though they hadn’t by the time she went to sleep. She figured maybe that’s where her sister went off to. Now that she’s calmed down a little, she felt annoyed about whatever the deal was with the gift. She gets it already. She knows it’s driving her sister crazy to find out what’s in the gift but resorting to that? Maybe she should at least let her know it’s for her. Looking at the clock, she was alarmed to find they were likely going to be late for their breakfast meet up. She grabbed some things and left locking the door behind her.
Moving down the empty hall to a certain room number, she knocked on the door as soon as she made it. With no quick answer she knocked again this time harder, “A-Ah’m,” *yawn,* “up,” could barely be heard on the other side. Soon the door opened by a tired looking Applejack, “ho-aaaaa~” she yawned bringing a hoof to her mouth, “-wdy Scootaloo, don’tcha know wha’ time it is?”
“Is Rainbow there?” she asked ignoring the question. She wondered exactly how late they stayed up last night for Applejack, of all ponies, to not be the one knocking on her door.
“No, why would she be?” Applejack questioned drowsily, before yawning again. Scootaloo froze. How could Rainbow not be here? Why was her gift on her bed like that? Then some more thoughts came to her. Why was Rainbow acting so strange yesterday? Like she was being followed? What if she was being followed? “And ya’ll didn’t answer ma question.” Applejack continued.
“Where else could she be?” Scootaloo asked hurriedly, feeling even more awake.
“Wha? No, about the time. It’s,” she stepped inside leaving the door open, Scootaloo walked in. Applejack muttered something to herself after looking at a clock, “Up ‘n at ‘em Applebloom. It’s time to get up. We’re about to be late for our breakfast.”
Applebloom was quick to respond, throwing sheets aside and getting up, “Ah’m up, Ah’m up. What’s a filly got to do to sleep in for once? Ah mean, aren't we supposed to be on vacation?” then she looked in her direction, “Scootaloo!” she yelled with a bright smile, “How was it at the Martial Arts Festival?”
“Ah’ll tell ya what,” Applejack interjected, “Ah’ve never felt more proud of my sister than Ah had yesterday watching Applebloom help all those ponies. Just thinking about it now makes me feel like Ah just stopped Nightmare Moon with my friends again, but even better. Ya’ll should’ve been there Scootaloo, it’s like watching an angel,” the pride in her voice was all to evident. Applebloom blushed at the complement.
“It was fun,” Scootaloo answered, “but I’m really worried about Rainbow right now.”
“Somethin’ happen?” Applejack asked.
“No,” she answered, “but when I woke up she wasn’t there and the gift I made for her was on her bed.”
Applejack looked at her oddly, “What’s a gift got to do with ya being worried?”
“Well, she made a tear in the wrapping and left it on her bed.” Scootaloo answered, “she doesn’t even know it’s for her yet.”
“That doesn't sound like something Rainbow would do,” Applejack commented, “maybe she got impatient.”
“Oh,” Scootaloo said, remembering something regarding patience, “that reminds me. Applebloom you got to tell us how much you made!”
“Umm, okay?” Applebloom said clearly unsure about what Scootaloo meant.
“Rainbow tried to barter for info about the gift with how much you made,” She explained.
“Uhh,” Applebloom's face scrunched up.
“But,” she continued unhindered by Applebloom who looked at her completely confused, “I figured you’d tell me how much you made anyways, that way I’d get to-” she cut herself off. She didn’t feel the need to admit that it was fun teasing her sister about a mysterious gift, “ehhh, that’s not important right now...”
“Oookay?” Applebloom asked.
Scootaloo felt Applejack was right. Leaving a gift on her bed like that, really didn’t seem like something her sister would do. She couldn’t help but think back to how her sister behaved yesterday, “I don’t know where Rainbow is. I thought she’d be here, but she’s not! Not only that but she was acting strange pretty much all day yesterday, like she was being followed or something.”
“That ain’t sound good,” Applejack noted, “well, were ya’ll were being followed?”
“No,” Scootaloo answered, “I don’t think so at least. If we were, they were really good at hiding.”
“Huh, well mind showing me ya’lls room?” Scootaloo shook her head no, “Applebloom get yer things, Ah’m gonna investigate their room real quick see if anything’s amiss. Then we’re gonna head out for breakfast.”
Scootaloo lead Applejack to the room and they did a more thorough search of the room, but found nothing unusual. Applejack suggested that maybe Rainbow would show up or be at the restaurant they meet up at for breakfast. Applebloom was already waiting for them in the hallway with saddlebags and her stained bow. They were in a hurry, so they didn’t have time to talk, making only one stop to the empty lobby desk to see if the hotel knew anything about Rainbows whereabouts, the lack of their presence or any notes only made things more nerve wracking for Scootaloo.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The walk to the their meet up place was different. For Scootaloo, because she wasn’t flying and Rainbow was missing. For Applejack and Applebloom, because they moved to the hotel and something else. Ponies seemed nervous and defensive. As they walked to their meeting place a mare just ahead of them going the opposite direction slipped and fell dramatically, dropping her purse in the process. A stallion who was closer than they were cautiously approached her and picked up what looked like lipstick that fell out of it. He held it out for her to take, like a gentlecolt. “HELP THIEF!!!!” the mare yelled loudly getting the attention of everypony else around. The stallion dropped the lip stick and ran the other way dodging the few ponies that grabbed for him as he ran, while others got clear out of his way.
Applebloom didn’t like that one bit,“Hey!” she yelled, “he wasn’t a thief! He was only trying to help you. Didn’t you learn any manners growing up?” She approached, intent on finishing the kind action the stallion started, as the mare began digging through her purse frantically.
“Sta-stay back!” the mare said hysterically as she brought out a pepper spray can and pointed it at the filly.
“Woah ho, hold it there Sugarcube,” Applejack said restraining Applebloom before she could get any closer.
“Ah was just gonna give her, her lipstick back,” Applebloom explained in a hurt voice as she was escorted back on course to the restaurant. The mare kept her pepper spray can trained on them as they walked around and past her.
“Ah know, but we ain’t got time to deal with ponies like that,” Applejack responded looking around nervously as soon as they passed the mare. She knew something was amiss, and needed to get to Twilight.
“I knew ponies in Manehatten could be rude, but that was just ridiculous,” Scootaloo grumbled.
The rest of the walk to the restaurant was uneventful, well if you excluded how everypony avoided everypony else like they had the pony plague. Walking inside was much different than last morning. It was eerily quiet. Just last morning it had full tables, and sounded alive, now only had two at most at any table and it felt uninviting. They found Twilight and Sweetie at the table they’ve sat previously, waving them over.
“Howdy Twilight,” Applejack greeted, “ya notice anything strange this morning?” she asked in a low voice, as Applebloom smiled and waved at Sweetie who waved back with a smile of course.
Twilight brought a hoof to her chin, “No, not that I can think of,” she answered then looked at them again, “Wait, where’s Rainbow?” she answered.
“She’s been foalnapped!” Scootaloo blurted out.
“What!?” Twilight and Sweetie yelled, shock clear on their faces.
“Now hold on Scootaloo, don’t go jumping to conclusions. We don’t know that yet, there wasn’t any ransom note, and she’d never go without a fight, and I saw no signs of that either” Applejack then went on to explain the situation to Twilight and Sweetie. Twilight asked some questions to Scootaloo who answered best she could, but they didn’t glean any new revelations from it.
“I see," Twilight said, “That is concerning. I know Rainbow can be irresponsible, but I don’t think she’d leave the door like that, maybe a year in a half ago, but I can’t see her doing that now. I also know she can be impatient but I don’t think she’d really try to open a gift before it was given to her. I think we should head to the local guard to get help finding her if she doesn’t show up.”
“That’s not all” Applejack started, “havn’t ya noticed ponies actin’ strange ‘round here this mornin’?”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked in confusion.
“Well like Ah said there was no pony at the front desk in the hotel lobby, and the whole walk here ponies avoided everypony else like they had the cutie pox,” Applejack said.
“Yeah, not to mention what happened on the way here,” Applebloom added.
“What happened?” Sweetie asked.
“Some ungrateful mare slipped and fell dropping her purse,” Applebloom started, “a stallion picked up some lipstick that fell out of it and held it out to her, and do you know what the mare did?” Sweetie shook her head no, “she called him a thief,” she snorted. “He was only trying to help her out!.”
“Then Applebloom called her out on it, and the crazy mare took out a pepper spray can and pointed it at us, acting like we were about to mug her.” Scootaloo concluded.
“Ringing any alarms, Twilight?” Applejack asked.
“Well, now that you mention it, I guess I’ve noticed some strange behaviors this morning… but nothing really that extreme, are you sure you’re not just overthinking things because Rainbow’s missing?” Twilight asked.
“Really Twilight?” Applejack asked, “Just look around ya and tell me what’s different from last morning.”
Twilight did so, and noticed everypony avoiding her gaze like they expected her banish them instantly. Last morning however, more than a few threw her fake smiles, some still avoided her but most were obviously looking for some kind of ‘favor.’ It’s one of the things she couldn’t stand about being a princess, but she digressed and sighed, “okay, you made your point. Ponies are acting strange for some reason, and Rainbow Dash is also missing. I wouldn’t be surprised if both were somehow connected, considering she apparently acted strange yesterday. Though we can’t be sure yet,” Twilight raised her hoof to get the waiter's attention.
Scootaloo saw Twilight try to get the waiter's attention, “Do we have to eat, I’d rather go find Rainbow now,” Scootaloo said, fidgeting in her seat, worry pretty much written on her face.
Twilight lowered her hoof slightly, “I’ll tell you what Scootaloo, if Rainbow doesn’t show up by the time we’re done we’ll go to the local guard to get help finding her and investigate why everyponies acting weird.”
“Sounds like a plan to me Twilight,” Applejack agreed, much to Scootaloo’s chargen, though she was hungry. Hopefully, she was worrying for no reason and it was just some bad prank her sister wanted to play. She doubted it though.
Twilight raised her forehoof again, “waiter we’re ready to order.” The waiter seemed significantly more nervous than usual as they ordered.
“I know you’re worried Scootaloo,” Twilight began as the waiter left, “I am too, but we can’t just assume the worst. Besides what if she comes here and we’re not here because we already left?”
Not wanting to acknowledge Twilight's reasoning, Scootaloo decided to change the subject. Looking around, she noticed Applebloom drinking milk and the fact Sweetie was present made it the perfect subject change, “So Applebloom,” she said, getting her attention as she continued drinking, “how much are you getting paid from the hospital? Ten thousand bits?”
Milk splattered the table the moment that number reached Appleblooms ears, “ten thousand? Scootaloo what are you talking about?” Suddenly, what Scootaloo said at the hotel made since to her, except, “Ah ain’t getting paid to help those ponies. Ah’m doing it because Ah care! Why would- Ah ain’t no money grubbin leech!”
“What?” Scootaloo said in confusion, “Rainbow told me yesterday you were getting paid,” Scootaloo defended, “I didn’t think she’d lie to me about that,” Scootaloo sighed, “but with how strange she acted yesterday. I guess I just don’t know anymore.”
“Umm,” Applejack said as she lifted her hat and rubbed her head, “about that...” getting their attention, “ya’ll are getting paid for helping out those ponies in the hospital…" she said much to Appleblooms shock, "Ah meant to tell ya about it yesterday, but after everything that happened. I just plum forgot. Ah told Rainbow about it while we were at the theater, by the way,”
“But Ah don’t care about the bits,” Applebloom responded, in the cute upset fashion that only said filly could accomplish.
“Ah know ya don’t Sugarcube, but believe me when Ah say ya earned it,” Applejack responded.
Applebloom looked ready to protest. “Not only that,” Twilight jumped in before she could, “but it’s the law. They have no choice but to pay you, and since just about all of Equestria's hospitals are sponsored by The Crown it’s not like you’re directly taking bits away from the ponies you’ve helped. If anything you’ve saved them bits.”
“Ahh,” Applebloom responded. She had to admit, she didn’t want those ponies she helped getting bills or anything because of her help. It was comforting to know they weren’t. She helped because it was right, no other reason.
“Also,” Twilight continued, “I seem to recall a certain filly ruining a newly renovated stage not to long ago,” Applebloom looked down in shame at that.
“Don’t worry about it Sugarcube,” Applejack consolidated placing a hoof on her shoulder, “we’re using some of those bits ya EARNED,” she emphasized, “to pay that off, whether ya like it or not.”
“Okay,” Applebloom said glumly.
“So, how many bits are we talking about?” Scootaloo asked. She was trying to keep herself distracted. The fact her sister was missing with no good explanation, and the weird circumstances around was making her worry.
Applejack looked around the room cautiously, “Ah’m gonna leave it up to Applebloom here,” patting said filly on the head, “to tell ya that or not, and Ah sure ain’t gonna tell her when we’re the only ones talkin’ in this whole danged restaurant.” she finished eyeing everypony around her, “what has gotten into everypony this mornin’?” They shied away from her gaze or took it head on with with a suspicious gleam.
“Sooo anyways, me and Sweetie had fun at the museum,” Twilight said, bumping the rather quiet filly.
“Yeah,” Sweetie squeaked in agreement, “It’s so hu~ge! And has so many cool things. You just gotta see it before we go back home,” Sweetie said excitedly.
They talked about what they did yesterday, but mostly ended up listening to Applejack proudly tell them about her amazing little sister and all the great deeds she accomplished. Today was planned as an unplanned day, so they could do whatever they wanted, even though yesterday ended up being one slightly. Twilight wanted to go back to the Martial Arts festival today, since it only happened once every five years. Applejack, Applebloom, and even Sweetie thought that sounded like fun with no other ideas other than a walk in the park. Scootaloo told them that the festival was down for today. Apparently, tomorrow was the big final tournament, where all the fighters who’ve proven themselves and signed up, get to fight for a large sum of bits and title of the best martial artist. They’re given a day of rest, which was today, so the event organizers can prepare and the travelers can enjoy Manehattan before the festival was over. Talking about it only reminded Scootaloo of how bummed Rainbow was about it, if only briefly before looking paranoid again.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At some point during all their conversation the food came and they ate it. Rainbow hadn’t shown up during that time so they made their way to the local guard, which was near Times Square.
Given the fact that the Martial Arts festival was off for the day, Twilight would’ve expected the streets near Times Square to be even more packed than normal. Instead, it seemed less packed. She felt a little unnerved at how strange everypony they passed acted. She hated to admit it but she kind of got use to ponies acting oddly around her. Ever since she became a Princess ponies treated her differently, but the way ponies behaved now was a different kind of strange. One she sadly wouldn’t have noticed without Applejack’s input.
It was a shock to realize that she started dismissing all the odd behaviors of strangers. She rounded all those behaviors into one reason, the fact she’s a Princess. She didn’t want to be a pony who’d fail to see the signs of somepony in distress. Even her friends at times had treated her differently after she became a Princess. She hated it. Even recalling her walk to the restaurant this morning she could tell ponies were acting off, even to her, but she just ignored them. She felt trapped. She never asked to be a Princess. It just sort of happened. She couldn’t think about that now though. More immediate events, like a missing friend, required her attention.
The closer they got to the police station the more ponies seemed suspicious of those around them, which in turn made her feel uncertain about the ponies around her. It was oddly quiet. It unnerved her how just a few days ago this part of the city was loud with cart traffic, yelling, and conversations to be heard almost constantly amongst the giant metal buildings. Whatever was going on really started to get to her, or was it actually starting to get to her like it seemed to have everypony else in this city? She stopped and calmed herself by breathing in and out. She couldn’t tell if she was becoming paranoid because of some unknown force or entity that seemed to make everypony else appear that way; or if she was becoming as such because so many ponies were acting that way. It was quite the conundrum.
As they walked they came across a large crowd of ponies. This wouldn’t be strange on just about any other given day in Manehatten near Times Square, but looking around she couldn’t see any other gatherings of ponies. Given how everypony was acting, she doubted ponies would crowd around anything. Even then this crowd was spaced out clearly nopony wanted to get near anypony else, even though they had their attention straight ahead. Another odd thing about this crowd was its location. It was in the middle a street. The sidewalk usually provided enough space for street performers. Nopony seemed to care they could be blocking cart traffic. Though, now that she thinks about it. She hasn’t seen any carts aside from maybe a few before she got to the restaurant. Past the crowd, on a stage stood a dull yellow pegasus mare with a dull orange mane giving a speech. Curious, she held out her front hoof stopping her friends and approached the crowd.
Some ponies in the crowd fidgeted, others seemed still, while others would send suspicious glares at those next to them, on this hot summer morning. The one thing they all had in common however was that they listened to the words of the pony on the stage as if Celestia herself was talking, but with far more reverence, “Ponies are selfish backstabbing creatures!” yelled the pegasus on stage her dull sapphire eyes, oddly lively. The echo’s of her words were quickly lost in the towering metal buildings around them, “they only pretend to care about you. They call you friend to trick you,” she said a lower volume, yet she could still be heard beyond the large crowd, “your so called friends wouldn’t hesitate to ditch you and throw you to the wolves, just so they can get ahead in life.”
Twilight was raptured by her words. They went against everything she’s learned in the last two years; yet, they were making since to her. So deep in thought she was, she didn’t notice Applejack and the CMC come up beside her.
“Ya okay there, Twi?” Applejack asked placing a hoof on her shoulder.
Twilight jumped a little, “Applejack wha-” she rubbed her head as she felt a slight ache, “Yeah, I’m fine, I just- I felt like she was right for a moment.”
“What do ya mean by that?” Applejack asked, forehoof still on her shoulder. The CMC were busy trying to get a view of the mare on stage.
“I don’t know,” she answered, “it just felt like she was telling the truth,” she explained as Applejack looked at her questioningly.
“Raise your hoof if you’ve ever been betrayed by a so called friend,” the mare on stage asked. Twilight was shocked to see everypony but her friends raise their hoof. “You there, tell us how your so called friend betrayed you.”
A happy whinny could be heard followed by somepony clearing their throat, “I once let my so called friend borrow five bits,” a stallion said through the crowd, “and it took him two months to get it back to me even though there was plenty of times he could’ve gotten it back to me.”
The mare on stage hoof palmed her face, “That’s not what I meant by betrayal at all, do you not have any other examples?”
The atmosphere around the crowd seemed to darken, almost as if they were ready to pounce that stallion for daring to provide a bad example, “Ummm, on several occ-”
“Something that’s not frivolous!” The mare yelled, “I’m talking life changing, trust destroying, betrayal!” the mare yelled. “Even if it hasn’t happened to you yet, I can guarantee that your so called friends won't hesitate to abandon you, and leave you for something they deemed better in their greedy little hearts. They’re just waiting for the right opportunity to betray you.”
Twilight heard enough of this, “That’s NOT TRUE!” She yelled taking flight. Applejack tried to hold her down, but she just couldn’t hear another moment that mares speech. Saying friends would betray each other. It went against everything she learned. “I would never dream of betraying my friends, and I know they'd never do the same.” The crowd looked at her in a mix of anger, fear, confusion, or awe as she flew past them to the stage. She kept her gaze on the mare onstage, who had a sudden look of recognition.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle,” the mare mock bowed. Twilight ignored the sneering, trembling, and perplexed ponies below her best she could, “Why, I must be honored to be in the presence of royalty.”
Twilight felt strange as she landed on the stage looking out to the crowd, that now adorned a mostly smiles, “What she says is wrong!” Why’d she say that? “A true friend would never abandon you.” That seems right. Yeah, friends should never betray each other.
“Oh, really?” asked the mare on stage, drawing Twilight’s attention.
“Yes,” Twilight said turning to glare at the mare, “Of-of…” The mare’s blue eyes oozed a black magical aura momentarily as she held a wicked smirk. Twilight rubbed her head. Events from the past came rushing back to her, but in a new and horrible light. Last year during her brother’s wedding she knew something was wrong with Cadence, her sister in law. She tried to tell everypony something was wrong but nopony listened to her. Her so called friends took the side of the imposter and Celestia. Then, there was the time they left her behind to save Equestria without her. They just wanted all the credit for themselves. This wonderful mare was right about everything. She was such a model citizen compared to all those other disgusting selfish ponies, “Who are you?” She just had to know.
The mare looked at her questioningly, “You can call me Charity Well,” the pegasus answered cautiously studying her, “Why’re you smiling?”
“Oh,” she blushed, “you know. It’s not everyday I get to meet a truly great citizen of Equestria," Charity's jaw dropped, "You know how it is, everypony is always after a Princess for some selfish reason or another. It’s refreshing to finally meet a truly great citizen like yourself Charity Well,” she explained raising a hoof for a hoof shake. Charity grinned and shook her hoof.
“Mares and Gentlecolts,” Charity turned addressing the crowd, “I present to you our one and only Princess Twilight Sparkle, let's give a her a warm welcome.”
The crowd suddenly became alive and cheered as if they just watched the best performance in their lives. Some sat and clapped their hooves, while others stomped the ground, some even whistled. Twilight waved at the crowd, not really sure why that wonderful mare would want anything to do with any of them.
Applejack stood in confusion at the crowds sudden lively applause by that mares request. She couldn’t hear what they talked about, but Twilight's sudden change in stance and attitude didn’t seem right, “Okay, okay that’s enough!” the mare yelled, “I SAID STOP!” she screeched stopping all cheers and applause with spine crawling immediacy. It was dead silent, “I’m Charity Well, and you can trust those who believe in me.” Applejack found that to be a rather odd choice word, though Charity Well as she called herself seemed proud of it, “Princess Twilight Sparkle do you believe in me?” she asked suddenly.
Applejack could only watch on as Twilight squealed like a little filly about to go to Sugarcube Corner. There's no way Twilight knew that pony. Heck, moments ago it looked like she was about to clobber the poor mare. “YES!” Twilight yelled proudly.
“Well, there you have it,” the mare on stage said, “you can trust her! Let’s have some fun," she grinned mischievously, "Princess Twilight Sparkle, hop on both your left legs.”
Twilight smiled, “ooohhh, sounds challenging," then proceeded to try just that. The first jump was okay, so was the second one.
“Did I say you could use your wings?” the mare asked bitterly, Twilight’s happy demeanor did a complete one eighty.
“I-I’m sorr-sorry, I-I didn’t know I couldn’t,” Twilight apologized, then fell the ground with a thump when her wings went to her sides.
“Good girl,” the mare grinned, to which Twilight smiled, “now get back up and don’t stop until you do it five times in a row!” Twilight did just that, well she tried to. The amount of effort she was putting into it was all kinds of ridiculous and silly. Charity laughed as Twilight continued to squirm in spectacular ways, “I’M SET FOR LIFE!” She yelled in joy as her laughter reached its peak. “I-aha, I control a Princess of Equestria!” she laughed some more, “and, and nopony can stop me! Laugh! All of you laugh!” The crowd burst into laughter with her, though theirs was a variety of different cheesy villain type laughter. It sounded strange.
In the back of the crowd, "Twilight?” Applejack asked in quiet bewilderment as her friend continued to fail her task.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The trek through the forest had been relatively peaceful for Mirror. She noticed that the creatures of the forest didn’t seem to enjoy moving around much during the middle of the day. She didn’t either since it was very hot and humid, which was almost unbearable to her at times, considering she lived in a cool cave up till now. Still, she persisted and continued going through this seemingly never ending forest. She had no doubt this was the way to Equestria.
The faint hint of anger she smelled only got stronger the farther in the forest she went. She was certain by now that it had got the creatures to bicker at each other, which was annoying at times, particularly when she was trying to sleep. It was getting to the point that she was beginning to consider veering off course a little just to avoid it. She doubted love could be where whoever or whatever was causing that anger to basically infect the forest and its inhabitants with its bitter burnt smell. Regardless, she decided to stick to her original course for a little longer. The last thing she wanted to do was get lost in a forest. Sure, she could always fly up and hopefully spot some sign of civilization, but she really wanted to preserve the food she had. Flight took up more energy than she cared to spend, especially when it wasn’t needed.
After a quick snack break and rest from the unforgiving humidity she started working her way through the forest again. The forest was full of angry noises that she’d learned to tune out as white noise, after a couple days. She couldn’t help but think about how she was going to go about gathering love as she walked. She could impersonate some young filly or colt, or pretend to be a filly or colt who got lost, which was riskier than the former. She’s never done it before and it worried her that she’d mess up and get caught.
As she thought about ways of gathering love, her parents came to mind. It seemed no matter what she thought about, it always came back them. She couldn't escape it. They were gone. Dead. There was nothing she could do about it. They wanted her to live and be happy. They also wanted what was best for the hive, but how could she ever be happy without them? She missed them soo much. It felt like her heart was ripped out, leaving nothing but an empty void. Well, maybe she couldn’t ever be happy again, but at least she could try and help the hive. This feeling of duty. To fulfill at least one of her parents wishes drove her to where she was right now. Far away from home in some humid forest. Scared and alone. So alone. She just wanted her parents back, but the ponies took them away from her.
*SNAP*
Drawn out of her thoughts, her ears lifted and she stopped and looked around. She saw nothing but trees and bushes. However what she heard was more concerning, or rather what she didn’t hear. It was quiet. Even in the humidity the creatures of this forest didn’t shut up, but they seemed to have right now for some reason. Something was wrong. Alert, she cautiously moved forward.