//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3- The Setting of Salvation 
// Story: Returning to Dark Water 
// by ImNoPony 
//------------------------------//

Thick, choking tension filled the air as Starlight and the other zebra examine a scene that has awful implications attached to it. Near some restful springs that were not too long ago would turn anypony evil was an empty pool with evidence of some pony's presence scattered about. Acting like full on investigates, the zebra cone the area and search for any other clues.

As the investigation was happening, Starlight was looking down at Lumbay, the head zebra, who was examining the last remaining droplets of water in the pool.

Starlight asks/yells: "So... Is it that dark water!? Because I mean, it's possible that Zecora's cure could have..."

"No" Lumbay seriously replied, dashing Starlight's hopes. "Dark magic is what this water showing and its effects are still clearly going."

"Yeah. I thought so" Starlight whispered to herself.

It was quite obvious for any pony who has some semblance of logic. The pool was clearly isolated and fairly detached from the main spring. It would have taken a miracle for Zecora cure to effect this pool. And unfortunately, miracles don't happen every day.

As Lumbay safely gets out of the pool (with Starlight help), Starlight asks him: "So do you have any idea on who could have taken the water?"

With a commanding voice, Lumbay yell out to his other Zebra: "Men! Report!" One by one, his men quickly line up and gave Lumbay their findings.

"We've found hoof prints from here and yonder..."

"But the identity of the culprit couldn't be any harder."

"We've found discarded buckets, water bottle, gloves and a mask..."

"Which seemed easy to find if you were to ask."

"And we're pretty sure that only one pony did the deed..."

"Because we only found one mask, and that's all he really needs."

After all the zebra gave their reports, both Starlight and Lumbay have a clear understanding of what happened. Starlight summarize: "So, a single pony came here, found this pool, took all of its water and left no clues other than they came here?"

"Yes," Lumbay agreed. "And they must know what the dark water could do, why else did they came her and left behind so many clues."

"Yeah, it seems like they left too many evidence behind to merely call it accidents. Maybe they are just trying to mock us or any pony who would try to investigate this place."

"Hmm..."

Lumbay was deep in thought. It seems like he was weighing options and possibilities and trying to predict what's to come in the near future. After looking at his dark water sample that he just collected, it seems that he made his decision.

Lumbay tells Starlight: "Starlight Glimmer! You need to report this to the princess and you need to do it before dinner!"

"What!" Starlight responded, confused by the "dinner" rhyme.

"Bring what we discover here to the princess and act like this means great distress."

"Ok, that's better, but do you always have to rhyme?"

"TELL! PRINCESS! NOW!"

"Yes! Right-Right-Right!"

Starlight then runs off, quickly grabbing her stuff and head back on the trail from the one that she came. As Lumbay sees Starlight run off in the distance, they then look over the evidence that he and his zebra had found. But as he was thinking his next form of action, he found a peculiar marking on the gas mask.

A "weird" colt that is winking at him.



Meanwhile, back at Ponyville, Spike has just exited "Weird Bulls-Eye's House of Hooves", a strange knick-knack store that sells a variety of items for a variety of ponies. It's honestly one of Spike's favorite stores in Ponyville, although he thinks that the front sign seems more un-original to him. It's just Bull-Eye winking at you. But nevertheless, Spike was leaving the store as a very happy dragon, with a tub full of moderate-priced gems and several goodies that he's wearing (Shades, "fancy" coat and hat, etc).

"Oh man!" Spike says to himself. "It feels like that TODAY is my birthday or something. It's awfully nice of Twilight to give me this pouch full of bits." But after tossing one fake gem into his mouth, he then says: "But still, I think she still gave a bit too much money just for getting me out of the castle."

Twilight had given Spike 150 bits in the pouch that she gave him. That's roughly $300 in the human world. Spike just thinks that that's a bit too much overkill and couldn't help but wonder that Twilight has something else. And then there was the pouch itself that caught Spike's eye. It was wonderfully stitched, braided string and looks quite expensive to make (he should know. He spends a lot of time with Rarity). Spike then notice a logo on the bottom: A pair of very sharp, very pointy horns.

But as Spike was lost in thought and finishing the last of his gems, a rough sound coughed out to him.

"Ahem!" coughed a rather deep and opposing voice.

The "cough" quickly catches Spike's attention and looks to see who wants him. There, he saw a rather intimidating pair quadrupeds looking right at him. One was a skinny and rather shady unicorn pony who was chewing on a toothpick while his partner was a large, imposing Buffalo whose face is stuck on the serious setting.

"Are you "Spike the dragon", but any chance?" asked the shady pony.

Spike gulped. "Th-That depends. Who are you?" Spike was cautious. He doesn't know why this pair is asking for him, but his gut instincts are telling him that they're trouble and doesn't want him to reveal his name to them.

"Glad that you asked that" they shady pony replied. "We're workers for Steel-Horn, a rather kind and "generous" Minotaur who's happy to lend his money to ponies... assuming that they repay him."

"And um... why does Steel-Horn have with me?" Spike cautiously asked.

The pony turns to his Buffalo partner and says: "Why don't you explain to him "Big Chief?"

And then, in a deep and monotone voice, Big Chief explains: "Earlier this morning, Steel-Horn lend his money to a 3rd party where the 1st party must pay him back at 12:00 AM today with 300% interest. And right now, it's 12:05."

Spike was flabbergasted. 300% interest! That's insane. Obviously, Steel-Horn was some sort of loan shark with questionable legality. However, while the pair is clearly imposing, Spike felt slightly less worried. Slightly.

Spike explains: "Well I think there's some sort of mistake. I got my money from Twilight, who is a princess. So there's no way that Twilight would ever borrow money from..."

"Funny that you say that" the shady pony interrupt. "Tell him who the parties that are involved in the contract."

"Lender: Steel-Horn. The 3rd party who asked for the money: Princess Twilight Sparkle. The 1st party who needs to return the money: Spike the Dragon. Total bits lent: 150. The sub total bits that need to be returned (with the 300% interest)...    900!"

"*Gulp*"

Spike, now realizing the sharp horns on his pouch signify, was at a lost for words and frozen in fear. He couldn't understand why Twilight would borrow money from a loan shark or why she's forcing him to pay back the money? It's like she deliberately setting him up. And as the now obvious thugs get near him, Spike tries to worm his way out.

"N-Now, now guys. I'm sure we can get to an agreement" Spike said as he slowly moves back.

And the thug pony replies: "And the agreement is that you pay back Steel-Horn's money. Or else..."

"Or... Or else what?"

And the Buffalo thug flatly replies: "Indentured servitude until your debt has been repaid."

"So... Where's. Our. Money?"

And then, out of fear or him having properly digested the gems from earlier, Spike burped.

"*Burp*"

There was an awkward silence between Spike and the two thugs... as Spike now realize that he backed into an alley.



"LET ME GO!" Spike yelled out. "YOU'RE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE!"

However, Spike cries were swiftly ignored as he was tossed into a parked trail wagon. In order to stop him from escaping, the thug pony went in with him and try to tie him up. And unfortunately, while Spike squirming to break free did make it challenging, the thug succeeded. With one successful wave from his associate, the buffalo began to pull the wagon to his boss and deliver Spike to his fate.

As the wagon was moving through town, no pony bats an eye towards it. No pony knows that a young dragon is being taken against his will or that thugs are operating it. They just thought it's just another wagon filled with goods and there's nothing to be suspicious about.

But along the way, as the wagon was moving through a calmer part of Ponyville, it travels past the Cutie Mark Crusaders: Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They had just finished helping a pony in understanding their talents and they are heading towards Sugar Cube Corner to reward themselves. But as the two groups were about to get too far apart, Spike just managed to get his head of the wagon and plea for help.

"HELP!"

Spike's yell for help startled the three young girls. But before Spike could yell anything else, the thug pony managed to pull his head back in and tie him up once again. However, the deed was already done as the CMC definitely caught it.

Applebloom turn to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and asks: "Did you guys heard that?"

"Yeah" Scootaloo replied.

"What going on?" Sweetie Belle asked out loud.

The three girls then turn around and try to see who made the noise. They didn't see any pony else but they did notice the wagon that was going off in the distance. They didn't see anything odd about it but their troubled sense was tingling and kept their focus on it for a few seconds. And then, as their eyes were about to move away, they all notice the wagon began to shake violently.

Realizing that something was off, Applebloom yells out: "Wait!" and she and the other two Crusaders chase after the wagon.

The buffalo, who was carrying the wagon, was peacefully moving along and trying not to raise any suspicion. However, he soon notices that three young fillies were running towards and he got a feeling that they know something was up. Worried, the buffalo began to move fast and try to out run them.

"Hey Wait A Minute!" yelled Scootaloo whose worries were growing ever more legitimate.

The CMC try to chase after the wagon with all of their might. However, with three sets of legs trying to catch up a fully grown buffalo, they best that they could do was retaining their distance. But then, as the chase was shaking the wagon, the tarp's flap began to wave open.

But before the CMC could see what's inside...

"Where Are You Three Going!?"

Out of nowhere, Applejack suddenly appears and got in the path of the CMC. Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all collided into her and bounce back while AJ didn't budge an inch. As soon as they got over their ache and pains, Applebloom yells to her older sister: 

"What are you doin'? We Were..."

However, as she tries to look for the wagon, Applebloom saw that it was gone. It must have gotten away while they were distracted.

"You were... What!?" AJ asks with a hint of frustration in her voice.

The CMC managed to get onto her hooves, somewhat confused and a little bit shy about everything that happened. Sweetie Belle replies to Applejack: "We're not quite sure. We heard somepony cry for help and then we saw a suspicious wagon, so we..."

"And did you know that that cry for help came from that wagon?" AJ interrupted.

"No..." Scootaloo answered. "But it sounded like they were in danger!"

Applejack, upon hearing their reason, quickly brushes it off and says to them: "Oh shucks. It's just your imaginations playing up and you "think" somepony is in danger. But really, it's probably somepony asking for help in their laundry or something."

The three girls were confused and didn't know what to think. They were sure that somepony was in danger and they were sure that the wagon that they were chasing was suspicious. But like Applejack said. There's a chance that their imaginations were just acting up and now they are beginning to doubt themselves.

But as the CMC was lost in thought, Applejack then says to them: "Well anyway, speaking about help, I've got a job for the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I'm wonderin' if you're up for the task?" And like that, they quickly became distracted from what they were thinking about.

"A job?" said Sweetie Belle with buckets full of curiosity.

"Yep. I heard from Braeburn that a couple of fillies from Appaloosa are having trouble with their cutie marks and I said that you can help."

"Really!" all three crusaders happily exclaimed.

The sound of a cutie mark problem send shivers of happiness through their brains. Ever since they got their own cutie marks and find out their superpose in life, they find sweet delight in helping other fillies or ponies in understanding their talents or just simply helping ponies. Suffice to say: they are eager to help.

"So, I'm gussin' that your answer is a "yes"?" Applejack ask them.

"YES!" all three girls shouted in unison.

"Good. Your train is leaving in 10 minutes."

"......... Wait, What!"



5 minutes later, almost against their will, Applejack was softly pushing the CMC along to a one-way train trip to Appaloosa. Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, despite saying that they would help, was understandably adamant in leaving so suddenly.

"Wait Applejack!" Applebloom cry out. "Don't we need to go home an pack!?"

"No need" AJ replied. She says: "I already got all your stuff for you" gave the girls their saddle bags.

Scootaloo mumbles: "Well uh... can't we wait until tomorrow or something?"

"No good. You should always fix a problem as soon as they arrive."

In a last ditch effort before being pushed onto the train, Sweetie Belle cry out: "But Wait! We Promised Diamond Tiara That We'll..."

But then, before Sweetie Belle could finish, Applejack finally pushes all three girls on the train and replies: "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll understand."

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, in a last-last ditch effort, tries to run off the train before it departs. But as they were about to escape their fate, the train door shuts slammed in their faces. Smoke began to puff from the chimney and the train was getting ready to go.

"ALL ABOARD!" AJ yell out loud.

And shortly afterwards, the train was off. The CMC, while still in view of Applejack, yell and pleaded to her to stop her madness and get them off. However, their pleas fall on deaf ears. Not only was the section that they were in were sound proof, but Applejack just gleefully smiles and watches as she see her sister and her friends being trained off into the sunset.

"Good" Applejack evilly and silently exclaims. "Now all we need to deal with is that no good zebra and then no pony will be able to stop us.



Meanwhile, in the Everfree forest, Zecora has just finished getting all her ingredients that she need for not only for the food that she likes, but for any future potion making in the future. She look up to the sky and see that the sky was getting dark. She knows all too well how wild some of the creatures in the Everfree forest are like and sees fit to get to her home before it gets too dark.

Zecora trod on the forest path, feeling safe and secure that no dangerous beast will come out and attack her. However, as she was walking, she began sensing some other sort of danger. No beastly danger, but a feeling that she was being watched.

A bad sensation began flowing through Zecora's body as she look around for anything that seems suspicious. But everywhere that she looks, she only see harmless little bunny rabbits and birds and other small animals that are usually harmless. There were no Timberwolves that are in disguise, no Cragadile  that are pretending to be rocks or any other Everfree monster that are in hiding that Zecora could easily find. Everything seems peaceful and Zecora let out a sigh that looks like a sigh of relief.

......... But it's not.

Zecora bolted. Running to her house and avoiding any small animal that that crosses her path. She know what is wrong. No small creature would ever stay out in the Everfree as it's getting dark as they all would usually burrow away by now. And true to her suspicions; the small bunny rabbits and squirrels that looked harmless before began look devilish and terrifying and began chasing after Zecora.

Our trusted zebra could sense that they are being manipulated but has not the free time to deduce the culprit yet. All that she can do was run to her house and try to secure herself for the time being. However, as soon as Zecora could see her cottage, she instantly saw that animals had already entered there and waiting for her. Zecora was shocked. Whoever it is, it was someone cunning.

With her house no longer sage, Zecora runs deeper into the forest and pray that none of her other safe-houses has been compromised. But as she was running away and the other animals in the zebra's house join the mob of (tiny) beasts that are chasing her, one squirrel accidentally knock one of the vials over and falls into Zecora's cauldron. There, the pot began to shake and the chemicals that was already inside it was beginning to shake.



Meanwhile, Starlight was on a train and making her way back to Ponyville as fast as she can. And as she see the moon begin to raise, she began to be even more anxious.

"Please... Don't let anything bad happen when I get there."