The journey to Ponyville was a pleasent one, and one that Apple Bloom was quite familiar with. In fact, travelling there by diesel multiple unit was something of an experience of deja vu for her, as she and her friends has travelled by Class 101 from Canterlot to Ponyville on the branch line when they discovered the remnants of the Everfree Forest Railway, successfully restoring the line to working order. The branch had changed little since then, it being less than a year ago, and the views were as good as they had ever been.
After rolling out of the canopy of Canterlot station, the sun shone down upon the DMU, rolling forward out of the platform, smoke pouring from its engines and out of the engine exhaust vents mounted at the back of the power cars. It rolled over the junction and onto a diamond crossing, before moving over onto a 5th line on the side of the main running line that gave it access to the branch line. The set rolled to a brief stop.
"Control, this is the 14:15 DMU service to Ponyville Station, calling at Appaloosa Halt along the way. I am currently at the Direct Stop Board awaiting Radio Electric Token to access branch, over."
"14:15 DMU service to Ponyville Station, please hold position for now. Track is blocked, over."
"14:15 DMU Service to Ponyville Station to Control, message understood. Out."
A few minutes of waiting followed, until a 14xx radial tank engine coupled to an auto coach rolled off of the branch and onto the main line for a short spell, before running faster into one of the bay platforms at Canterlot Station.
"14:15 DMU Service to Ponyville Station to Control, awaiting Radio Electric Token to acces branch, over."
"14:15 Service to Ponyville Station, line up ahead is clear. Press receive on Radio Electric Token Box to accept tablet to access branch, over."
The driver reached forward to a box bolted next to the control lever, and pressed 'receive'. There was a short beep, and then the box updated to read CANT-PONY. "14:15 DMU Service to Ponyville Station to Control, I have received Radio Electric Token, over."
"14:15 Service to Ponyville Station, understood. You have permission to proceed past the DSB and access the Ponyville branch, over."
"14:15 DMU Service to Ponyville Station to Control, Understand that I have permission to proceed past the DSB and access the Ponyville branch, out." The driver switched off the radio, and opened the throttle up. The engine began to roar, and the DMU rolled past the board and onto the branch line. This curved off to the left, around a fairly tight bend that caused the wheels to start screeching as they rolled around them. Put simply, the branch line had been built back in the days when railways didn't use bogie coaches, which limited the line to short wheelbase carriages and short DMUs, such as the Class 101. It rolled through the curve at a slow speed of 15 miles per hour, and then rumbled onto the branch proper, where speed opened up to about 40 miles an hour.
The train rumbled past trees and hills, through beautiful valleys and past farms that glimmered in the sunlight. It was always a highlight to see Sweet Apple Acres out of the windows on the left hand side of the train, relative to the direction of travel, of course. When going the other way, it would of course appear on the right hand side. The line began to snake back and forth, the short wheelbase being needed to handle the tight bends which characterised tightly laid lines of this type. The train made a brief stop at Appaloosa Halt in order to pick up a supply of apples, which seemed to be a key product of the small settlement. It was also popular with people travelling to visit the local Indian reservation, the Buffalo tribe, and their leader Chief Thunderhooves was a regular appearance at Canterlot's important public occasions. Once all the loading and unloading was done, the guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag, and the DMU set off into the distance, now somewhat more weighed down than it was before it arrived. The gradient increased to 1 in 100, and the DMU began to roar in order to make the climb. It surged up the slope, wheels slipping as it rolled along, until at last the sanders came on and the engine note increased to higher levels than ever heard before. At long last, after a long, hard, and very hot journey, the train rolled to a stop in Ponyville station, a single platform with a small hut to act as a waiting shelter, and next to it the platforms for the Everfree Forest Railroad, which curled off into the distance and up into the Everfree Hills, culminating at Everfree Camp itself. This line had helped to rejuvenate the local area, although it wasn't running today. Typically, it ran on weekend days, special days, and weekdays during the summer, with galas being held some days as well.
Hopping off the train and picking up the box, Apple Bloom and Applejack set off on a path into the Everfree Forest. It was close and dark, with the branches overhead blotting out the sunlight overhead and casting a pail of gloom over the world underneath it. It was extremely spooky, as visibility was severely limited. Applejack had the box on her shoulder, and her other arm swinging by her side, when suddenly she felt a hand grip hers.
She looked down and saw Apple Bloom was holding it, looking extremely nervous. "Ya OK, sugarcube?" she asked.
"A-Ah'm scared, sis," Apple Bloom replied. "Ah've never been in this part o' the woods before, and how do we know where ta go?"
Applejack stopped, put the box down, crouched down, and looked directly into her sister's eyes. "Now don't ya worry none," she said, with a reassuring smile and a calm, yet authoritative tone of voice. "Ah know where Ah'm goin', and ya can just follow me. Nothin's gonna harm ya." Applejack took the rope around the box, and slung it onto her back. She then produced something else from the box.
"Ya brought the 1200?" Apple Bloom asked. The weapon she was referring to was an elderly Remington 12 Gauge shotgun, with twin barrels and one mighty kick from the recoil.
"Just in case," Applejack sighed. "There may still be critters out here, but a shotgun shell'l put them outta action pretty promptly."
Apple Bloom felt a lot safer all of a sudden. "Ah think Ah'm ready ta go," she said.
Applejack nodded. "Agreed. The sooner we get this done, the better." Off the two siblings went, into the darkness and the cold, even though the sun was shining overhead, little knowing of the evil that lurked in the heart of the forest.
Onwards they went through dark forest and over bridges made of rope and plank, and through a cutting that looked as though somebody had attempted to build a railway line through the area but had given up. It had mostly returned to nature, plants and shrubs growing up alongside the pathway, and the reinforced walls showing signs of slipping down into the undergrowth, as though the forest did not want human development there. At last they reached a hut in the midst of the forest, and Applejack went and knocked on the door.
The door opened a few moments later, and on the other side stood a woman with grey skin and an impressive white and brown mohawk. She was otherwised dressed in cargo pants, military boots, and a cargo shirt suitable for working in the backwoods such as this.
"Howdy Zecora!" Applejack greeted cheerfully, handing the box over to her. "Here's them supplies ya asked fer."
"Kind girls," Zecora replied, now aware of Apple Bloom with her. "I thank you for delivering what told."
"Well, no problem!" Applejack replied, smiling as she did so. But then Zecora spoke again.
"But you do not want to remain for the events that will unfold. Hurry back to Ponyville you two must, for the darkness this night you cannot trust." Zecora then closed the door behind her.
All of Apple Bloom's previous confidence suddenly evaporated, and she looked up with trembling eyes. "Wh-what was that all about?" she asked.
"Ah don't know," Applejack replied. "Zecora just bein' Zecora, Ah imagine. Come on Sugarcube, let's be headin' home."
The two siblings set off once more into the forest, heading back the way they came, Applejack calmly sweeping the area and Apple Bloom looking behind her every few steps. When suddenly, they came to a fallen tree.
"Well, Ah'll be!" Applejack exclaimed, wiping her brow and engaging the safety catch on her shotgun before putting it back down. "How are we gonna get over this one?"
"Cut through it?" Apple Bloom suggested.
"Not enough time, and we lack the right tools. Ah'll climb over it and see if any more have come down over yonder." Applejack mounted the fallen tree and looked ahead of her, to see an entire parade of them knocked down. "Oh, for Pete's sake!"
Apple Bloom looked behind her, and suddenly saw someone standing there, wearing what looked like an old fashioned dress. She had grey skin and blonde hair, and suddenly vanished into the forest.
"Hey, wait!" Apple Bloom called, and began to head after her. She tracked her for a few minutes, and then lost sight of her.
It was just then that Apple Bloom realised she was all alone in the forest...
Off a path...
With no idea where she was...