Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mackintosh was staring up into the farm sky and examining the wet ground. He stood by a tree that collapsed during last night's heavy storm. He couldn't help but hold a burden of worry within his deep thoughts. Applejack and Applebloom walked up to him however; he was too deep within his thoughts to notice. Applebloom decided to break his concentration,
"Hey big brother, whats ah' matter?"
Big Mac shook his head and blinked just before realizing his two sister's were standing in front of him,
"Oh ah, its…its nothin' you needa worry yourself with baby sis. Did you finish helpin' Granny Apple clean the kitchen…?"
"Well sure Ah' did Big Brother."
"…and the bathrooms?"
"Well, uh, no not yet."
"Please do that baby sister. Ah would much appreciate it."
Applebloom drooped her head at the request but Big Mackintosh kissed his little sister on the head and she smiled just before heading off towards the house.
"Hey, uh, Big Mac are you ah' right?"
"Ah can't quite place it Applejack but I get this worried feeling when Ah' think about that storm last night. It sure was mighty fierce. Ah' really liked this tree here too."
"Aww Big Mac, we Apples can grow a new one here in no time!"
"Ah' know but still there is just somethin' strange. This tree here was big… like myself."
Applejack wrapped her hooves around Big Mac's neck and gave him a tight hug,
"As long as us Apples stick together big brother, we'll be safe and we'll always be able to regrow anythin'."
Big Mac put a hoof around his sister and using the other to keep himself blanced,
"Ah guess your right sister. Ah'll try to clean up this here tree mess and then tomorrow we can plant some new seeds."
"That sounds like a mighty fine plan Big Mackintosh" said the orange pony as she let go of her brother to give him a loving smile. Big Mac smiled back and turned to his work.
Applejack went off to finish her chores while she remembered the time of the Canterlot Wedding when Twilight had her doubts or bad feelings about Princess Cadence who was actually Queen Chrysalis. Her friends rejected her pleas until it was too late. If Twilight hadn't continued to believe in herself and save the real Cadence all of Ponyville, no, Equestria would be taken over by changelings. Was Big Mackintosh's feelings the same? Applejack's started to worry inside and the worrying started to grow until she remembered what she told Big Mac,
"As long as us Apples stick together big brother, we'll be safe and we'll always be able to regrow anythin'."
Applejack also had her friends to watch their back as well. With those facts to calm herself, she could finally get down to business of bucking apples.
---
"So uh, Twilight, who's place to first?" said Rainbow on their walk into Ponyville.
"Well since Rarity's boutique is the closest we can see if she's busy. Then Pinkie Pie, Applejack and finally Fluttershy."
"Sounds like a plan Twi. What do you wanna do when everypony is together?"
"Um we could get lunch at some restaurant I suppose."
"That sounds cool. I'm starting to get hungry actually" Rainbow Dash said before her stomach started grumbling. Rainbow blushed but Twilight just started giggling,
"So I hear ha ha." Rainbow joined in the laugh until they arrived at Rarity's Boutique. Twilight put her hoof to the door and tapped it three times. After a few minutes it finally opened with the beautified white mare standing, welcoming her friends,
"Twilight. Rainbow. How are you darlings?"
Twilight was the first to speak, "Hey Rarity we were going to see if all the girls wanted to eat together, you busy?"
"As a matter of fact Twilight dear, I was heading out now to eat. I'd simply love to join you."
"Great we'll go get Pinkie Pie then" and the three mares left the Boutique once Rarity locked her door.
---
Elsewhere in Equestria on the other side of the Everfree Forest the Wonderbolts were having their training sessions for a race to be coming up against their rivals, The Shadowbolts. They lined up and once given the signal from their Captain, Spitfire, they shot up in the air to fly a 500 yard sprint and loop back. Soarin was determined to beat their rivals. Over the last week or so they've been getting messages from the Shadowbolts about how the Wonderbolts should give up and stop trying. This angered Soarin far more than any of the other Wonders. Soarin loved fair, respectable competition but hated it when anyone had to be a terrible sport or disrespectful. After the Wonderbolts each came in for the landing Soarin was the first to make it back but the last to realize it. Spitfire walked up to him knowing he was deep in his thoughts,
"Hey Soarin, are you cool?"
"Huh? Oh, umm, sorry Captain I was just…pondering. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I understand and know you won't fail us in the race. We're going to leave soon after I have my last words with the team for today."
"Right, understood. I might hang back for a bit here, is that ok?"
"Yeah sure, we're done today anyways."
"Thanks Captain."
After a short lecture by Spitfire to encourage the Wonderbolts all of them soared off to Canterlot leaving Soarin behind. Soarin looked up into the sky for a bit imagining the Wonderbolts beating the Shadowbolts. He wondered if that would put an end to their rudeness. Soarin smiled at that thought until he caught a glimpse of darkness in the distant sky. His smile went away and became puzzled,
"Wasn't there a heavy storm last night? Why is the weather team creating a new storm? Maybe I'll go check it out." Soarin shot up and headed towards the dark clouds. As he looked down at the wildlife it looked as though great amounts of critters were running away from the area he was going to. Soarin started to worry but pressed on. Enclosing in the dark clouds, he feels the pressure of the winds. As he got closer and closer the winds got more and more powerful becoming like those of last night. They started pushing him around and kept Soarin from having a stable flight. He glanced down at a fairly big stone house and soared down. He tried to open the front door but it was locked. He was about to leave when he suddenly noticed cellar doors at the beginning wall around the corner and hastily made his way over attempting to open them. When he pulled the handles the wind flew them open pushing Soarin inside. The cellar doors slammed closed leaving him in darkness.
Soarin felt bad for intruding but at the same time was scared at his new location. He couldn't see anything except a damp stone hallway with a room that was candle lit. The place looked like a dungeon and from the sounds of crawling and squeaking mice, it probably was. Soarin slowly made his way towards the lit room, avoiding any potential possibility to make a sound. As he got closer and closer his heart started pounding more and more. 'What could be in there? WHO could be in there!?' He thought to himself. He placed his back against the cold wall. He felt some slight moss and dust along it. As gross as he thought it was he couldn't help but be too scared to not look in that room. He had a terrible feeling with his insides turning outwards and squirming like never before. He made it to the end of the wall where it turns into the room. This was it. The moment of his discovery. He slowly moved his head to take a peek. Not too fast, not too sudden. He looked in with only one eye that instantly went wide with freight. Soarin gasped at his sight. He could not believe, or even understand, what was going on.