//------------------------------// // Danger Ahead // Story: Apple Bloom and the Golden Apples // by Animegx43 //------------------------------// I'm actually impressed by Apple Bloom's courage. Even after knowing about danger, she moved on with her goal. Although that's also known as stupidity. Hate to call the latter to my own grandchild. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not too deeply in the Everfree Forest is where Zecora lived, a zebra who had long since became a good friend to all of Ponyville. She had great knowledge on the plants of the Everfree forest, as she made full use of them in her many potions and tonics. Apple Bloom was one of Zecora's first friends since moving to Ponyville, and as such, very close. Again, as wise as Zecora was, as well as living in the Everfree Forest, Apple Bloom felt that if she couldn't get what she wanted to hear from Zecora, then she knew she'd might as well end her little journey. The girls entered Zecora's hut, where they found her mixing up some potions in vials until they had gotten her attention. "Why, if it isn't Apple Bloom!" She said as she saw the girls walk into her home. "Hmm... I sense from you a small touch a gloom." "Hey, Zecora," Apple Bloom greeted. "Me and the crusaders need help finding something, and we think you may be able to help us." "I'll definitely try my best, unless you need me to cheat a test. Now, how may I help you all? I'm sure I can handle it, big or small!" "Awesome!" Scootaloo said happily. "We need help finding Orphan trees, and we think you-" CRACK! Zecora had dropped the vials she was using, not because they slipped out of her hooves, but because she was surprised. She was surprised that little Apple Bloom knew about the Orphan trees. She certainly took it better than I would have, as I probably would've had a heart attack if Apple Bloom ever asked me. "Uhh... Zecora?" Apple Bloom asked. "A very strange tree that you wish to see. Try finding another, or perhaps some sort of flower?" "Maybe another day, but right now, me and the girls are trying to find the golden apples of the Orphan trees. Any idea where they are? We heard they can be found here in the Everfree Forest." While Zecora may not have fully understood the history the golden apples have had on my family, she certainly did know of the potential dangers they could cause. Praise Celestia that she knew the subject well. "I'm afraid I am not the one to see. For the golden apples, belong to Pando Everfree!" "So... The apples belong to a panda?" Scootaloo asked. "Wait, what's a panda?" "No, not a bear of black and white, but something else of tremendous might!" Zecora corrected. "He named this forest and is the timberwolves's master, and enraging him would cause great disaster." The girls knew very well how dangerous the timberwolves were, especially after reading how they had killed so many of the Apples so many years ago. The idea that the wolves actually had a master opened up a lot of questions to the girls; was Pando Everfree a timberwolf himself? Was he just a pony? Was he dangerous? The name alone made each of the three nervous. I've always believed that the unknown is the scariest thing of all, and the girls were agreeing with that. "Could we maybe ask him politely for an apple?" Apple Bloom asked. "You are still very young, and your journey in life has just begun. Obtaining a golden apple will bring you a curse, which will likely injure you, or worse. Take my word fillies, for I will not lie, for should you try and find Pando Everfree, you will likely..." At that point, Zecora realized that she was scaring the girls to death, especially since she was about to talk about... well, death. Feeling that she made her point, she ended her rhyme early and gave the girls one last word of advice. "Go home and forget about the golden apples." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, at this point, some children would've been spooked enough to end their pursuits and go on with their lives, but since she learned something new relating to the golden apples, Apple Bloom simply got more curious and wanted to continue. Not just because of how good the apples were, but also because she wanted to find these mysterious fruits. Once again hitting a dead end, she decided to ask her sister Applejack after returning home. She hoped that her older sister would also be interested in finding out where the golden apples came from. And guess what. She was! "Ahh... those golden apples..." Applejack said with bliss. "Sorry, ‘Bloom. I'd love to help, but I wouldn't know any more about them than you would." "Well, I did learn that they are in the Everfree Forest, and that-" "WHAT!? The Everfree Forest? Granny Smith has been going in the Everfree Forest all alone to get these apples, all these years? She knows better than any pony that timberwolves are in there." That was when Apple Bloom remembered something she learned earlier. "Hey, Applejack? Can I ask you a seemingly random question?" "Sure thing, sugar cube." "Have you heard of anything called the Apple Family Slaughter?" "WHOA! Apple Bloom, where in Tartarus did you hear such a thing?" Applejack should've been grateful that Apple Bloom didn't ask where babies came from. Being known for her honesty, she would've had to tell her little sister the truth on it. At least the story of the Slaughter would've resulted in less nightmares. I’d think so, anyway. "I don't know where you've been hearing about this stuff, but I need to have a word with Granny Smith." Apple Bloom couldn't have brought the Everfree Forest up at a worse time. As Applejack turned her head towards the window, she saw me walking home, as I actually was coming from the Everfree Forest at the time. Why I was there, I'll explain in good time. Before I could walk inside, Applejack slammed open the door and caught me by surprise. "Granny Smith, Apple Bloom was telling me that you've been getting those golden apples from the Everfree Forest!" Applejack said angrily, cutting straight to the chase. "Why would you do something so dangerous without me or Big McIntosh?" "What? How do you know they're from the Everfree Forest?" I asked. "Don't change the subject. Those timberwolves are nasty, and you're not exactly the kind of pony that can protect herself from them." "Oh, contraire, Applejack. Them timberwolves never bother me. They know I'd taste as good as a rotten apple." "Granny, you need bring us along the next time you get them apples. We'd hate to know you're doing something so dangerous just to treat us." "In that case, I'll have to remember not to get them anymore." After teasing Applejack and Apple Bloom with the idea of not getting them anymore golden apples, I walked inside and went upstairs to take a little afternoon nap, not giving the two sisters so much as a clue as to where I went. "Well, darn. I actually thought she would tell us where she hides them," Applejack said, showing a surprisingly deceitful side. "Anyway, where did you hear about the Apple Family Slaughter Apple... Bloom?" Before realizing it, Apple Bloom had already left her. Applejack and even Big McIntosh both knew a little bit of the Apple Family Slaughter, minus the parts relating to the golden apples. So, when she had to go back to work, she couldn't help but feel distracted that a little filly like Apple Bloom knew about it. Speaking of Apple Bloom, she left Applejack because she noticed what she was pretty sure was a strong lead. She figured that if she were to follow my hoofprints, it would lead her to where I had been. After a bit of a walk, she soon saw the very edge of the Everfree forest. My hoofprints led her there as they brought her to some massive bushes. After getting close to examine them, she saw that there was a big gap between two large bushes that lead right into the Everfree forest. It was a fair distance from the apple trees, as well as near the forest, so it would make sense if nopony were to look for it. She then took a peek past the gap, where she not only found more of my hoofprints, but that they were imprinted on what she recognized to be a path. Her curiosity had finally started to pay up, as she had literally found the path to her goal. Now that I think about it, I think I should be blaming her schooling for making her so smart.