Galloping as fast as his legs would carry him, Dusk dashed after his colour puppet of Applejack, as it continued to lead him through the forest, completely of its own accord and without his instruction, his mind whirling with questions.
Up until now, while he had never really been able to explain his talent, he at least thought he understood most of the aspects: He could weave a shape out of colour and move it around, from basic geometry, to more complex 'silhouettes' of ponies and the like. They were essentially puppets, under his control and nopony else's. Or that was what he used to think...
How was the puppet doing this? Was this something new that he'd never expected before? Did it have something to do with the girls? More importantly, was he right about it leading him to Applejack and could he use it to find the others too?
Eventually, the puppet slowed and stopped. Dusk stopped too just in time, or else he would have run into the pit in the middle of the forest clearing he had followed the puppet into. It had stopped above the pit, then it faded away. Was this the right spot? Only one way to find out..
"Applejack!" he called down into the pit. "Are you down there?"
"Dusk! Dusk, is that you?" He never thought he'd be so relieved to hear her voice. "Yeah, ah'm here. Ah can't climb out, the sides are too steep!"
"Don't worry, I think I see you..." He could just make her out in the depths, looking up. "I might be able to get you out... hold on..."
Focusing his energy, he surrounded Applejack in a glowing magical aura, a basic levitation spell, known to all unicorns. With some effort, he lifted her out of the pit and into the clearing. He'd never done with a full-sized pony before, only books and paper. As such, it took quite a bit out of him when he'd finished. But, at least she was out of danger...
"Dusk, you okay?" She approached him, as his knees buckled, her voice laced with concern.
"I'll be... I'll be alright," he assured her weakly. "I just... need to... need to rest..." She nodded, waiting as he regained his strength, helping him stand when he'd given himself long enough. "Thanks..."
"Least ah could do, sugarcube," she smiled. "Good thing ya found me, else ah might never have got outta there. How did ya find me anyway?"
"I'll... I'll explain later." He turned to leave. "Come on, we need to find the others..."
"Now hold on there." He stopped and turned back to her. She had a stern expression on her face. "I feel that ya owe me an explanation Dusk. If ya won't talk ta the others, ya can talk ta me, right now."
"Applejack, is now really the best time to-"
"It's as good a time as any." She stood rooted to the spot. "Y'all are gonna explain ta me why, when we've tried to be yer friend, yeh've pushed us all away and kept yerself locked up inside. Ah ain't angry at ya, I jus' wanna know why."
Dusk couldn't say that he hadn't expected this. Regardless though, he was at a loss for words. He'd never had to explain himself or his actions to anypony, mainly because nopony bothered with him. He'd never had friends to talk to or keep promises with, he just had to be honest with himself and deal with his own problems, not really worrying about how he did it.
But now, here was Applejack, demanding that he tell her why he had been pushing her and her friends away. She probably saw it as bad-mannered and rude, as Dusk rightly expected. But he wasn't ready to tell her... yet.
"Okay..." He started slowly, finding the right words. "I can't tell you the whole story, it would take too long. Let's just say... it's to do with... how I see things, how I view others. That's... all I can tell you for now... I'm sorry..."
She stared at him for a while, then sighed. "Okay, ah guess that'll have ta do. Still doesn't quite let ya off the hook, but we got other things ta do right now. Jus' remember, when we get outta here, ah want the full story. That sound fair?"
"That's... fair." Dusk had to concede. There was no running from this now, not anymore... "I promise that I... I'll tell you the whole story. But right now, we need to find the others..."
"No arguements from me," she agreed. "Ah don't know where they all are, ah got seperated."
"Seperated? How?"
"Well, that's the weird thing," she began. "We were all together, walkin' in the forest when... ah heard the voice-a ma lil' sister, callin' me ta help her...
"Applebloom? Did you find her?"
"No. Ah ran off ta try an' find her maself, she really sounded like she needed me. Guess ah didn't see where ah was goin' and landed in this here pit. The sides were too steep ta climb out of, and nopony could hear me. Thought ah was a goner... til you showed up. What was that light ah saw?"
"It was what I used to find you," he said breifly. "What about Applebloom? Did you find her?"
"No, but 'fore ah started tryin' ta get out, ah heard this... laughin'. Horrible noise, gave me the chills jus' hearin' it. Then... nothin'..."
Dusk frowned. That didn't give them a very good lead, but it did get him thinking. Whatever it was the sounded like Applebloom was likely to be a creature of deception. His first thought was a Changeling, but if that were the case, it would have just blended into the town. Why would one feel the need to lure them into the forest like this. One other suspicion was... no, definitely not that... at least, he hoped it wasn't...
"We'll figure this out later. Right now, we need to find the others, and I think I know how..."
Time to see if this worked twice. He had Applejack, an athlete and a fighter. Now, he needed somepony to match her. He thought of her next, the elation he felt when she considered him an equal, the warmth he felt from his trust in her... he needed to find her...
The form of Rainbow Dash appeared in the air, flapping her wings. Like before, it began to move away, leading him in another part of the forest, where the genuine article would probably be.
"What the hay?" Applejack was staring in wonder at the puppet. "Dusk... what is that?"
"It's a um... a locater spell," he said quickly. "I looked it up before I came here, it'll lead us to Rainbow, come on." Without waiting for a reply, he sped off, with the country pony close behind.
Before he'd had, however, he'd glimpsed the doubting look on her face. She didn't fully believe his story and looked like she was about to ask further questions. Eventually, she dropped it and continued to follow him.
Another few minutes and they appeared out into a thicker part of trees, where the puppet proceeded to fade away. Through the branches, there wasn't a lot to see, though he could make out a small clearing up ahead, where he saw a flash of blue on white and also... creamy yellow.
"Rainbow! Fluttershy!" Applejack took the lead, as they hurried out into the clearing to them.
It was certainly both of the pegasi. They were stuck fast in a gigantic web, made in the space between two trees. Rainbow was trying to struggle her way free, while Fluttershy was trembling in terror. Two birds, one stone, thought Dusk.
"Applejack! Dusk!" Rainbow broke into a smile. "Am I glad to see you two? Quick, get us down!"
"Sure thing." She turned to Dusk. "Ah'll get Rainbow, you help Fluttershy." Dusk nodded without question, hurrying up to the animal-loving pegasus.
"Oh my, Dusk." She looked a million times more relaxed when she saw him. "Oh, please get me down..."
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving you stuck in there," he said firmly.
"Thank you..."
Dusk set about with a cutting spell, though it took a few attempts to slice through the sticky, tough webbing. Acromantula webs were built to last against their prey and that included ponies, if they were lucky. Fortunately, the web's architect was nowhere in sight... for now, at least.
He finally managed to cut down Fluttershy, who immediately, to his surprise, wrapped her legs around him in a tight did, however, return it gently and kindly.
"I-I-I'm sorry," she stuttered quietly. "I-I-I was j-j-just so... sacred... thank you..."
"Hey, hey it's okay, it's okay... you're safe now..." he assured her soothingly. Then, he heard something move behind her and regretted his words. "Um... girls? Not to worry you but... I think somepony's hungry."
Out of the shadows, it scuttled forward, the huge form of a spider. It's hairy legs were pointed at the sky, with many eyes fixed hungrily on them, making horrible hissing sounds and clicking it's venomous pincers.
Dusk let go of Fluttershy and moved her behind him, even though he felt just as terrified as she did. He'd read enough about acromantula to know how dangerous they were. His mind quickly began forming a plan to fight it, perhaps distract it somehow, until-
"So... trap me in a web, will ya?" He glimpsed to see Rainbow had been freed. And she looked furious. Was it his imagination, or did the giant spider recoil slightly? "You hungry, huh? Well, how about a face full of my hoof!"
With a battlecry, she charged forward to engage it. She moved so fast, that Dusk barely had time to register where her blows landed and the acromantula could hardly keep up with her, let alone counter-attack. It's fangs were poisonous and it's webs were sticky, but they weren't of great help to it here. He supposed it was a good thing he decided to free her next then...
It was over in ten seconds flat (Dusk actually counted.), and the victor was clear. Rainbow dusted off her hooves like it was nothing and her would-be opponent was lying on the ground, dazed and knocked-out, waving a little white flag in surrender.
"Nice work, Rainbow!" Dusk praised as she came back, giving it one last kick with her left rear hoof.
"Hey, you know me," she said casually, though she did glare at him slightly.
"That was great Rainbow, but..." Fluttershy spoke up. "Did you really... have to hit him?"
"Fluttershy, he was going to eat you," she pointed out impatiently.
"I know, I know but... maybe there could have been another way out?"
"There was only one way out and it was past him."
"What matters is," Applejack stepped in, "is we're all still uneaten. Now, let's get outta here, 'fore our dinner host wakes up."
"Agreed. Come on, I think the forest path is this way..." They nodded and followed.
Edging past the dazed spider, Dusk took the lead, as they hurried away from its web. They soon arrived back at a path in the forest, as Dusk suspected, and stopped to catch their breath. Rainbow then rounded on him, looking angry.
"Alright then, so here's the thing," she started, "so I'm waiting with the others, for hours, yesterday, waiting for you to show up and tell us what's going on. Then, you don't even show. What I wanna know is why, and don't try backing out of this, I'm onto you 'Dusky'..."
Dusk was actually frightened of her at this point. She'd thought of him as cool once, but now it looked like he was going to be getting the same treatment as the unfortunate arachnid back there.
"Come on, spill it! Why have you been avoiding us?"
"Hold on there, Rainbow," the country pony placated, "we've already been through this. Dusk has promised me, all-a us, an explanation after we get outta this forest. Twah'light's right about not wantin' ta hurt his feelin's, but he feels we're due an apology and the full story. Right Dusk?"
"Yes... I have..." He still felt a little fearful... and ashamed.
"Oh yeah? How do I know we can trust you? Are you just gonna leave us in the dark again?"
"I promised. If there's one thing that's true about me, it's that I never break a promise," he said sincerely.
"Okay, fine. But you better keep that, otherwise I'll be resorting to... different methods."
"Right... okay..." He shifted uncomfortably, as Applejack took over.
"Now that that's settled, we need ta find everypony else. Ah was tricked away from the group inta that pit, but how'd you two get stuck in that web?"
"Well... you see... it's kind of... my fault..." Fluttershy's cheeks flushed red and she pawed the ground with her hoof. "We were walking along... Applejack had just run off. We didn't know why, but we couldn't chase after her. Twilight lead us on until... I heard... I heard animals. They sounded like they were in trouble... poor little things..." She went silent at that, retreating behind her mane.
"Yeah, so anyway," Rainbow took over impatiently, "she ran off into the forest to try and find 'em. We knew Applejack could look after herself, but I knew Fluttershy is about as tough as a feather. So, I chased after and, before I knew it, I'm stuck in that web and so was she."
"Sorry..." She looked so ashamed of herself. So much so, Dusk was compelled to speak up
"Fluttershy, it wasn't your fault," Dusk told her gently. "You're safe now, that's what matters... and I'm glad that you are. I'm sorry that... I upset you so much, when I turned you down... you didn't deserve that..."
"Okay... thank you Dusk. I forgive you..." She gave him another gentle hug, which he returned shyly.
"Seein' a pattern here," Applejack noted. "We've all been lured away from the others somehow an' trapped. This can't be a coincidence."
"Yeah, it's all pretty fishy, if you ask me," Rainbow said suspiciously. "Dusk, your the resident egghead without Twilight, any ideas?"
"I'm not sure...Hold on, I need to think..." He closed his eyes, analyzing what they had so far.
So, he could definitely rule out the Changelings. They would never do anything this elaborate and they would never imitate animals, only ponies. That didn't leave many creatures on the list. It could be a Chameleodemon, but they weren't that smart or cunning. There was, of course, one other he could consider...
A creature from Equestria's dark history, from a time when chaos reigned. The ancient servants of their master... no, it couldn't be one of them. They'd all been wiped out in the Order Uprising. But the signs... so far, it seemed to fit one of them...
"What is it Dusk?" Applejack brought him out of his thoughts. "Ya got an idea, 'bout what's doin' this?"
"I'm er... not sure yet, I need more facts first. I have an idea, but I really don't want to consider it..." They looked at him for more details, but he gave them none. "Right, enough of that for now..."
They had to find the others first. The next pony he pictured was one of sophistication and grace, one who had been kind enough to invite him to stay for tea, to be glad to be in the same room with him... that reminded him of home...
As soon as Rarity's form appeared, amid an amazed gasp from Fluttershy, Dusk led them off once again. This region of the forest was a lot more muddy than the rest of it, as they discovered the hard way. Dusk was determined to find Rarity, Rainbow and Fluttershy could fly and Applejack worked on a farm, so it didn't bother them. His only concern was if it started to get thicker... which it did.
"Wait!" His command made them halt, as he had more and more difficulty pulling his hooves out of the mud. "It's too deep, if we keep this up we'll be stuck!"
"But we haven't found Rarity yet," Applejack reminded him, as she too tugged her hoof out. "We can't leave her here!"
"I know, I know..." He racked his brains for an idea. He'd noticed that, as they got closer, the puppets got brighter. Right now, the fashion debutante's was shining like the stars. She couldn't be too far away.
"Okay, um..." But his shy nature prevented him from speaking up.
"Dusk, if you have an idea, this is no time to be shy about it," Rainbow said.
"Okay..." He pointed to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "I'll send my spell on ahead of you, you're the only ones who can't get stuck in this mud. You two just keep following it, she can't be far now. Me and Applejack will wait here for you."
"Right. You see, that's a good idea. Come on Fluttershy!" The daredevil led the way, the Rarity puppet guiding them along.
Dusk did his best to maintain it, he'd never let one get so far away before. After a few seconds, his influence faded and he breathed deeply. It had reached Rarity and faded away... at least, he hoped it had.
Fear still gripped him his chest, due to his surroundings and the situation they were in. Nopony had ever relied on him for anything this big before. What if he couldn't handle it? What if he failed? What if was just a coward and ran away, leaving them here? He bowed his head, wondering if this would be worth it... if he could actually pull it off...
He felt a hoof on his shoulder. Applejack was there, giving him that honest smile that seemed to say 'don't worry, everything will be alright.' He returned it gratefully, believing her. Even if the Forest was terrifying, at least he wasn't alone in it anymore. He'd found three of them, perhaps four now. Of course they would find the others too.
He was actually amazed that she still wanted to comfort him, especially after the way he'd acted around her and her friends. Maybe it was just her kind nature that she didn't like to see others in distress. Either that, or she'd already forgiven him... not likely though...
They waited, with baited breath. And they didn't have to wait long.
The two pegasi returned, hovering over the muddy lands, a white unicorn being held between them. Her hooves were covered in mud and she looked utterly relieved to see them all.
"Applejack! Thank goodness, you're alright." They set her on the dry ground, as she reviled again from the mud. Until she saw Dusk... then, increased. "And you... you think the mere act of saving me is enough, do you?"
"Rarity, hold on now," Rainbow attempted to intervene but she wasn't finished yet.
"Now, granted when I first met you, I found you polite and perhaps a little charming, but I'm not all smiles and style you know, I have my limits. It was extremely rude, saying you'd come back after you fetched something from home and then not doing so. I know that you are sensitive, but regardless of that, I for one feel that I am owed a reason as to why you saw fit to behave in such an... uncouth fashion."
Dusk felt the words hit him like hammer blows. So, Rarity, like Rainbow, was just as offended by his actions. Even more so, because of her standards and expectations for him. He'd done so well, acting so politely, making a good impression...
"Rarity," he began, looking her in the eye, "you're right, about me... you have every right to be angry and I don't blame you one bit. I'm no gentlecolt... I'm just a fool who thinks he is... You are owed my... reasons for my actions, and I've promised already to give them, to all of you. But... we need to find everypony else first, then... I'll explain myself. Is that... fair?"
She regarded him coldly for a few minutes, as if analyzing every word, seeing if any syllable might have a hint of deception weaved into it. Eventually, she conceded, though she still looked annoyed.
"Very well... if you've promised, I will hold you to your word. A lady does not hold grudges you know, no matter how rude one may have acted. I'll take your word, Dusk, but you had better not betray my trust."
"No problem, Rarity... I won't..." He cleared his throat, getting back to the crux of the issue. "Anyway, I... we need to know how you ended up stuck in that mud."
"Oh it was horrible!" she exclaimed. "Look at my hooves, all dirty and wet... I thought it would be worth it, if it meant saving her..."
"Let me guess, ya heard somethin' that lured ya away," Applejack ventured. "Same here, same with Fluttershy."
"Only with you..." Dusk thought for a moment. If Applejack heard Applebloom then... "You heard Sweetie Belle, didn't you? Sounding like she was in danger?"
"Why, yes I did." She looked at him with a glare before continuing. "Yes, I did hear her, calling my name, begging for my help. I just couldn't leave my little sister in this horrid place, so I set off in search of her. Then this... mud started forming, but I kept going. Eventually, it became so thick, I couldn't go any further. I tried calling out to Sweetie, but as soon as I became stuck, I heard nothing..."
Dusk nodded, once again thinking, as the others began talking as well. So, this creature knew about the fears of the girls, how to use them to its advantage. It had separated them, one-by-one, possibly to make them all vulnerable. It knew their friendship was strong, that they'd become easier targets once they were apart from each other. But to what end? What for?
"Dusk? Dusk, are you feeling well?" He snapped his eyes open to see Rarity looking concerned.
"He's just using his egghead to figure this out," Rainbow said, tapping his cranium. "Any better leads Dusk? What do you think's trying to get us?"
"I hope it's nothing too bad..." murmured Fluttershy
"Easy there girl," Applejack consoled, "ah'm sure that, whatever it is, we can face it down tagether, right Dusk?"
"Well..." He was about to voice his suspicions about the possible creature he had in mind, how fierce and ruthless it was and what it might do.
But then he looked around at them all, all looking to hopeful, despite the situation. These were the ponies who defeated Nightmare Moon, who wielded the Elements of Harmony together. These were a group of wonderful friends and, while he might never hope to be a part of them, he could at least play a role in bringing them back together, to defeat this foe.
"Yes," was what he said, as confidently as he could. "Yes, you can. I'm sure of it."
"Heck yeah!" Rainbow led the cheering, as Dusk smiled around at them all. "Let's find Pinkie and Twilight, and go get this thing!"
"Indeed, yes... Let's get going and... aww, no!"
"What, what is it?" Rarity asked.
"Nothing important... I just realised, I've lost my scarf. It must have gotten caught on a branch... that was a good scarf... I liked that scarf..."
"Well... we could find it later," Fluttershy ventured.
"Fluttershy, I don't think a lost piece of winter wear is our biggest concern right now," Rainbow pointed out.
"Yes, you're right... sorry..." She looked back at Dusk, who felt rather silly bringing that up.
"She is right... anyway, never mind... more important things to do."
Hiding his flushed face from them, he thought of how happy she made him, how easily she made him laugh and began following the Pinkie puppet, which was bouncing through the air like the actual pony.
As he led them through the branches and thickets, Dusk was cursing at himself. Why hadn't he watched his mouth? Why hadn't he stopped and thought about what he was doing? Even if they were doing it on Celestia's orders, the girls were still angry at him for the way he acted, because they had expected him to receive them better. If only they actually knew him... explaining himself was going to be hard and they would never accept it...
And yet... Dusk was still hoping for a chance that they would forgive him, give him another chance... or at least, let his conscience be clear. Even it was fake friendship maybe... maybe it could be genuine, if he gave it a chance. Pinkie had said that you didn't know what might happen, unless you tried first. Maybe there was some truth to that... on the subject of Pinkie...
They found her, wrapped up in the roots of a tree, barely visible. Her joyous voice echoed out from the roots.
"Hey guys, I knew you'd find me!" So optimistic, he thought admirably. "This tree is weird, I jumped into the roots and it started trying to hug me. I tried getting out, but it must really like hugs, 'cause it wouldn't let go."
"I can see that." Dusk examined the moving roots, one of which tried to rope him in too.
"What in the hay is that?" Applejack kicked away a groping root. "Ah ain't never seen a tree like this before."
"It's a Tentacle Tree," Dusk explained automatically, remembering when he'd read it, "they're very rare and are said to only grow in the Everfree Forest. They ensnare their prey in the roots and draw them in. The more they struggle, the more it pulls until... well..."
"Wow, you are an egghead," Rainbow noted.
"Is that a... bad thing?"
"Depends, on if I like you or not."
"Oh..." Dusk resumed his silence.
"Is there anyway to free her?" Rarity asked, drawing away from a creeping root.
"Yes. There's a specific spot on the trunk that, if you tickle, it releases it's hold on you. It involves getting up close though, but it should stand out from the rest of the plant... I'll go first, I insist..."
"Dusk... are ya sure? Ya don't have ta do this ta prove yourself or somethin' like that."
"I can go, you don't have to," Rainbow volunteered.
"Trust me, I know what to look for... and... I think I do. Please, let me?"
Nopony else argued, as he approached the tree and began looking over the trunk. He could feel the roots beginning to wrap around the his legs, but he shook them off as best he could and continued. He was in his element, it was just like looking for a specific book on a shelf, one that stood out from all of the others. The roots were getting tighter, they'd soon pull him down... Pinkie was counting on him...
There! A bright white patch, on the back of the tree. With some effort, he strained himself out of the tree's grip and rubbed his hoof against the spot. He heard a creaking as the roots receded and he hopped down from the roots in triumph.
"Yay, I'm free! Not that I don't like a good hug, but there is an official limit and that tree was pushing it." She turned to Dusk, grinning. "Thank you, Dusky Psychic Pony. How did you know where to find me? I could see this pink bright light and then I saw you guys. Did you use your psychic powers to find me? I bet you did!"
"I suppose... you could say that, yes," he said, humouring her. "Now, to demonstrate them further: you were... in the forest, when... something lured you off the path and... got you trapped here."
"Ooh, you're good. Yep, that's what happened. Me and Twilight were looking for everypony else 'cause they'd all run off. I was looking in one spot, she was looking in another when I heard something that sounded like somepony having a party. I thought it sounded like fun and that I'd find my friends there, so I went off to have a look, then this tree started hugging me, then you all showed up and now we're here. Did you see any parties by the way?"
"No... we didn't..." A party, that was what it used to lure her? So, it knew desires and interests as well... "Well, we're just glad you're safe."
"Me too. I feel bad for leaving Twilight though, especially when I have no cake to bring her..." She stopped as she realised something. "Hey, I just remembered, you were meant to come back yesterday but you didn't. How come?"
She didn't sound angry, more politely curious. Dusk actually was tempted to tell her, but stopped himself.
"I can't tell you, not right now... I've promised, to the others that I'll... that I'll explain myself, to you all..."
"Hmm... I know, let's make you Pinkie promise! Then you'll have to tell us!"
"I... uh... what?"
"Repeat after me." She began miming several actions. "Cross you heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in your eye."
Dusk stared at her for a few minutes. She stared back. She was actually being serious about this. Well, if it guaranteed his word to be taken...
"Alright... I Pinkie promise," he vowed, mimicking her actions, but shoving his hoof too hard into his eye. "Ow!"
"Oopsy! Oh well, now you have to tell us when we get out."
"And... if I don't?"
"Oh believe me," Rarity said darkly, "you'll tell us or... well, let's just say it'll get ugly."
"Um... duly noted. Now, for Twilight...Hold on..." He focused his thoughts on her now, all of his hopes and dreams that he'd had, how they'd all virtually come true... how she had become the friend he'd always wanted.
"Ooooh..." Pinkie stared as Twilight's puppet formed. He almost felt happy just seeing that. "That's pretty..."
"You... think so?" This was hardly the best time to ask, but it would be nice to know.
"Of course it is." Rarity was the one who spoke up. "I didn't want to say anything before, since we were busy and I'm still rather offended, but it really is quite beautiful magic."
"No arguin' that. That's a m'aghty fine light show ya got goin' on there. Ah'm sure Twah'light would wanna have a look at that spell, when we find her."
"Perhaps she will..." He felt a little more bolstered at their kind words. "Anyway, let's go and find her, then get out of this forest."
"Sure thing. Lead the way!" Rainbow declared, giving him a grin as he dashed off. She seemed to have lightened up, now he had Pinkie promised.
Further inspired by the high spirits of the girls, the fact that he had found him and that they liked his magic, Dusk charged on, as his simulacra of Twilight ran on ahead, leading them to her.
"Don't worry Twilight," he murmured, "we're coming for you."