//------------------------------// // Apple Hunting // Story: Apple Bloom and the Golden Apples // by Animegx43 //------------------------------// It would've been nice if Applejack had successfully kept Apple Bloom from continuing her search. It all turned out fine and dandy in the long run, but still. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next day, after a poor night of sleep, after thinking over everything she had learned last night, Apple Bloom met up with her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders to discuss the golden apples again. Now the night before, Applejack had forbid her from going into the Everfree Forest to search for the rare apples, but since Apple Bloom was a little foal, it was pretty obvious what she planned to do. "We're going into the Everfree Forest today!" She said to her friends. "Are you really sure?" Sweetie Belle asked. "The things Zecora told us sounded pretty scary." "I hate to admit it, but I think Sweetie Belle is right. That Panda guy Zecora told us about doesn't sound like he wants to share," Scootaloo said. "In fact, I'm starting to think these apples aren't even worth it." Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "If you're hungry Apple Bloom, Rarity brought me to this great restaurant we can probably try and get into not so long ago." "Girls, girls, this is no longer about eating anymore," Apple Bloom said. "Last night, not only did I find out that these apples cursed my family, but they also caused me to lose..." Apple Bloom had to pause for a moment before continuing, due to the subject matter. "They... cost me my parents, apparently." While the girls agreed that the original motivation for them to find the golden apples was greed, they had then realized that Apple Bloom had a brand new reason to find the golden apples, but at the same time, they questioned her motives. "If these apples are as dangerous as we heard, then why do you want them?" Scootaloo asked. "Because I want to know why it works that way. Everypony that tried to take them have died shortly afterwards, and after so many cases of it, Granny Smith seems to be immune to it, since she's brought home lots of golden apples. Since she won't tell me her secret, I hope to find it out myself, and I think the only way I can figure it out is by finding a golden apple of my own." As much as I had wished that Apple Bloom would've gave up on the whole golden apple thing, I suppose she did bring up a good point. If I had found out my parents had passed away and not really be told why exactly they did, I suppose I'd want to know too. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo felt the same way. After nodding to each other, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came to a conclusion. "Alright. We're in," Scootaloo said. "Where do we start?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Aww, you girls are the best," Apple Bloom said as she gave a quick group hug to her friends, something Sweetie Belle took well, although Scootaloo seem to overly care for things like this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once again having her friends by her side for their little quest, the girls went straight to Sweet Apple Acres where their adventure would begin. ‘Bloom brought them to an edge of the Everfree Forest with nothing but their red wagon with them, feeling that it would be all that they would need. "I tracked Granny Smith's hoof prints yesterday and they led past these bushes. I'm willing to wager that the path behind them will lead us to the orphan trees, which will hopefully have golden apples on them!" "So, why do we need my wagon again?" Scootaloo asked. "It'll be a real pain in the plot for us to carry one home," Apple Bloom answered. "Now are you girls ready? We've got apples to pick!" "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS GOLDEN APPLE PICKERS!" The group shouted together, all hoping to get a cutie mark out of their quest as a bonus. Having nothing else stop them, the girls took their first steps onto the secret road, which in hindsight, I wished I had done a better job hiding, not just because the Cutie Mark Crusaders found their way into the forest, but because somepony else had as well, who was keeping their eye on the girls from a distance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girls followed the hidden path, and moved deeper and deeper into the forest. They had been in the Everfree Forest a number of times before, but they had never been in the part that they were in at the time. If it wasn't for the path they were following, they would've been lost instantly. They were also staying close to each other, which I admit, was smart of them. There's safety in groups laterally, although when it comes to the Everfree Forest... Nothing is safe. After going deeper and deeper into the forest, the girls started to remember how dangerous the forest was. At least they didn't go in when it was dark, because that's when the REALLY nasty creatures roam. Even though it was fairly early in the day, the thick trees created darkness, and no matter how brave these fillies were, everypony is afraid of the dark. While they tried not to allow it, fear was getting to them. "How long until we find the apples?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Rarity doesn't even know I'm in here." "I guess until we find an Orphan tree," Apple Bloom answered. "Well, what does Orphan tree look like then?" Scootaloo asked. That was when Apple Bloom realized something. Something she should've thought of before entering the forest. She had absolutely no idea what an Orphan tree even looked like. She was thinking about what the golden apples looked like so much that she didn't even consider what its tree looked like. "Well... it's a very big apple, so it would make sense if they grew on a very big tree," Apple Bloom answered. "You mean like that one?" Scootaloo asked as she pointed in a direction. The girls were surprised that they didn't see it before. In the near distance, up in a clearing in the forest was a tree of size that's difficult to describe. A tree can be very tall or very wide, but the one the girls saw was unnaturally huge. While there was no trees right by it, the leaves from this tree's large branches still kept the sun from shining through. For one tree alone to do such a thing was amazing. To go with the how much light it blocked off, the tree was about one hundred feet tall and wide enough to make one grow tired if they were to run around it, just once. I'm more than certain that this tree was, is, and always will be the largest tree in Equestria. "Wow," Apple Bloom said. "Imagine how many apples that thing can grow." "Could that be an Orphan tree?" Sweetie Belle asked. "No, I was joking about the apple thing. A tree like that seems too big to grow anything! Besides, if that's an Orphan tree, we would've seen others." "FOUND IT!" Scootaloo shouted. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle turned to see where their pegasus friend had suddenly ran off too. Scootaloo found the closest trees to the giant tree, which were also very tall, but not to the same degree as the previous one. The width of the tree was comparable to a normal tree, with the only differences being the height of the tree itself and the unique grey color of the leaves. But the most important feature of the tall tree was that on one of the high up branches was what they were looking for. A giant apple, looking almost as if it were made of gold, was hanging down. "THERE IT IS!" Apple Bloom shouted in excitement. "I can't believe it! I didn't think we'd find one so easily! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" "That apple really does look good," Sweetie Belle said as she licked her lips. "Well we can't eat it if we can't get it," Scootaloo said, noting the fact that the apple was out of their reach. "Not a problem," Apple Bloom said. She then walked to the tree, spun around, and with all the strength her little body could muster up, she gave the tree one hard kick. Sadly, the apple was just too high up. "Okay, it's a problem." "Maybe if we worked together?" Sweetie Belle suggested. A smart idea. Although they weren't strong enough alone, they were sure that the three of them together would be enough to get the apple down. Once again, Apple Bloom got a kick ready, but this time with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo doing the same, and after timing themselves, they each gave the tree a strong kick, causing the tree to vibrate. The little fillies must be stronger than I figured, because after the second kick, the sole apple on the tree dropped down from its tree. As the apple dropped from its branch, the girls quickly got together to catch the fruit, and as it came down. BAM! The apple landed right on the poor fillies’ heads. Fortunately, they didn't get hurt, and much to their joy, the apple was still in one piece. Getting what they wanted, they placed the giant apple into Scootaloo's wagon, rubbed the lumps on their heads, and made their way for the way they came. "So, does gold really taste that good?" Scootaloo asked Apple Bloom. "What? No I told you, the apple doesn't actually taste like-" "Who goes there?" [<----- you’ll have to italic Pando’s parts again also, when you copy/paste] The girls froze in fear when they heard an unexpected voice. A very loud, very deep male voice that they had never heard before. "You ponies don't belong here." "Who was that?" Scootaloo asked. "A monster?" Sweetie Belle said. "This forest is my home, and you dare steal from me? I never tolerate anything like that. You fillies must pay." Apple Bloom took note of what the voice said. He mentioned how there were all trespassing and stealing from him, but the only thing they were taking was the golden apple. She then remembered the name Zecora told her the other day, who supposedly owned the golden apple and named the forest. "Excuse me, mister!" Apple Bloom spoke out. "Are you Pando Everfree? We don't mean any harm. We would just like to have one of your apples. My granny sometimes come here to-" "The orphan trees and their fruit do not belong to your kind. Your fates were sealed the moment you bucked off that apple you have in your possession. Any risk that come to my children must be dealt with immediately." "What? We're not here to hurt anypony. If you really don't want us to take the apple, we can-" "Silence. I shall never show mercy for such impudence. Not again. Minions, servants, soldiers of the dark forest, Pando Everfree calls for you! Dispose of these foolish children and retiree the apple together with their bodies." From out in the darkness of the forest surrounding them, one by one, timberwolves emerged. Before the girls could beg for mercy or return the apple, the nasty timberwolves surrounded Apple Bloom and her friends. They knew there was danger in the forest, but they didn't think it would turn out as bad as it had. "And we didn't even get our cutie marks from this." Scootaloo said, earning herself a death stare from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.