Yellow and Red, Purple and Green head into the Everfree
“Where is that pony, it has been over an hour already!?” Spike paced nervously between the fountain and the chicken coop while he waited for Apple Bloom to finish whatever she was doing. “How long could it possibly take to do ‘stuff’?”
When he had finished another round around the fountain without any sign of Apple Bloom showing herself, he impatiently shouted, “Apple Bloom!”
“What!?” Apple Bloom shouted back, closing the farmhouse’s door behind her. “Why are you making such a racket?”
“What took you so long?” Spike glared at the little filly.
“I told you, I had stuff to do,” she huffed back.
Spiked turned towards the yellow filly. He noticed that she had a heavy looking saddlebag on her back. She seemed to be barely able to walk with the excess weight on her back.
“C’mon let’s get going,” she said as she walked pass Spike.
“Apple Bloom, wait!”
“What now?”
“Let me help you, I still have some room in my bag.”
“I can do it. Now let’s go times a-wastin.”
They headed towards the Everfree, but with each step she took she looked more and more tired.
“Apple Bloom, let me help you.”
“I said I can handle it.”
“Listen if it makes you feel any better I won’t look at what you put in mine.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Apple Bloom stopped and dropped to the ground. Even if she was an earth pony she had been making an effort to keep up with Spike with all that extra weight on her back.
“Turn around,” she told Spike.
“Fine.”
Spike could not help himself from taking a peek, he noticed her placing into his bag a few carrots, a couple pieces of corn, and of course some apples. Still looking, while she arranged the rest of the stuff, he saw some of the other things Apple Bloom carried in her saddlebags, there were three small jars, one filled with pickles, one with honey, and one with some chunky white paste Spike did not recognise, also a few old books, and, for a moment, Spike thought he saw, out of the corner of his eyes, some shiny piece of metal, but it was only a glimpse so he could not be sure.
Apple Bloom spent some time shifting and rearranging her stuff. When she was finished she let Spike know. He picked up his bag and placed it over his shoulder. He could feel the extra weight. Although it was only about half the contents of one pocket from Apple Bloom’s saddlebag, his own bag now seemed to be at least ten times as heavy. She easily picked hers up and they went on their way.
“Either I am a lot weaker than I thought or she is a lot stronger than she looks. Well she is Applejack’s and Big Mac’s little sister, and they are two of the strongest ponies I know, if not the strongest.”
“Spike we are here.”
He stopped taking in his surroundings. “This is not Zecora’s place.” was the first thing that popped into his mind.
“But this is Fluttershy’s place. I told you I had to go see Zecora.”
“What the... Spike I just told you that we have to drop some supplies over at Fluttershy’s first. Weren't you paying attention to what I was saying?”
“Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot.”
“You forgot? It’s only been a couple of minutes since I told you. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah I’m fine, just a little distracted. I didn't get much sleep last night.”
“Alright then.”
”Now I know why how Twi feels when she gets lost in thought. I have no memory of what we just talked about a few moments ago.”
They reached Fluttershy’s cottage and Apple Bloom knocked at the door. From inside a loud cracking noise could be heard.
“Fluttershy it’s me Apple Bloom, I’ve brought the supplies.”
The door slowly opened and Fluttershy could be seen peeking her head outside.
“Oh, it’s you Apple Bloom. Hello Spike.” the pegasus greeted them.
“Hey, Fluttershy.”
“Spike get the supplies out!” She told him.
“Oh yeah, right away.” He said as he opened his bag and placed the supplies on the ground. A pile of carrots, corn and apples now stood in front of him.
“Just wait here, I’ll get your money right away.” Fluttershy said as she closed the door behind her.
“Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom yelled so she would get the pegasus to come back.
“Yes?” Fluttershy asked slowly opening the door again.
“Applejack told me to tell you that you should give her the money tomorrow.”
“Oh, right, I’m sorry.”
“Come on Spyke we need to be going! Bye.”
“Bye Fluttershy.”
“Goodbye Spike. Goodbye Apple Bloom.”
The two left Fluttershy’s cottage and headed towards the Everfree forest.
“Now can we go to Zecora?” Spike asked just to make sure there weren’t any others detours.
“Yes Spike. Now we can go to Zecora’s.”
Even if it was close to noon when they entered the Everfree, it got dark very quickly. The thick canopy made out of interwoven trees allowed very little sunlight to reach the forest floor.
“Um... Apple Bloom?”
“Yes Spike?”
“Are you sure this is the way to Zecora’s hut? It does not look like the way we went last time.”
“We? Spike, this is the first time we went to Zecora.”
“Huh? No, we, as in me and Twilight when I had that little... er... growth problem.”
“Growth problem?” Apple Bloom asked since she had no idea what Spike was talking about. “Oh, you mean when you went and stole our apples, leaves and all, then went on a rampage through Ponyville, kidnapped Rarity and trapped the Wonderbolts in the town's water tower?”
“Hey, I didn't steal all the apples, but... umm, yeah.”
“Well, if you went to Zecora’s hut from the library you would have taken another path.”
“So... you’re sure we are on the right path?” Spike asked as he got closer to Apple Bloom, almost bumping into her.
“Oh for the love of... Yes, Spike. I know the way, I’ve been going to Zecora’s every week for...” She stopped realizing that in frustration she already told him more than she wanted too.
“Soooo... What are you doing at Zecora’s?” Spike asked curiously about what the little filly was doing over there.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh, come on Apple Bloom, you can tell me.”
“Spike!” she yelled at him. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Come on...” he insisted.
“NO SPIKE. Either you drop it or I... I am turning back right now and you’ll have to find Zecora on your own.”
“Fine. I’ll be quiet.”
“Good.”
Rustling sounds could be heard coming from behind some trees, whether it was the wind, or some wild animals reacting to the sound of Apple Bloom’s voice, they didn’t want to stick around long enough to find out. They hurried up and in no time they reached a clearing. Even with the hole in the canopy it was still dark, the clouds were covering what little of the sky was visible from where they stood.
In front of them was an old, crooked, and partially uprooted tree, vines and various bottles hung from its branches. Brightly colored, carved, wooden masks were placed around it like guardians.
They approached Zecora’s hut, which, like Twilight's library was built from a hollowed out tree, and Spike could see a red and green mask hanging above the door. It seemed to stare at them, ominously. Spike gulped, and brushed up against Apple Bloom, she sighed and knocked on the door.
Spike was shaking violently, as the door creaked open revealing a pair of yellow glowing eyes. A bolt of lightning struck nearby and the thunder’s roar could be heard in the distance. Spike panicked, and reacting out of fear he tried to grab onto something, unfortunately the closest thing to him were Apple Bloom’s thighs.
Before she could react Spike had already sunked his short, but sharp claws into her backside.
Apple Bloom screamed in pain, Zecora, reacted fast, turned around and delivered a swift buck to his face. Spike let go and after flying a couple of feet, landed headfirst, in some brushes and promptly passed out.
Apple Bloom’s screams woke him up.
“Now sit still Apple Bloom,
This will be over soon.”
“Is she alright?” Spike asked as he rubbed his head. His vision was blurry, and his head hurt a lot.
“Ah I see you are awake,
And you seem to have a headache.
I will make you something to drink,
Just as soon as I can get this swelling to shrink.”
Zecora went to a shelf and picked up a vial full of greenish ooze. She poured it onto Apple Bloom’s injuries, causing the little filly to scream again, then wrapped her entire behind with a giant leaf.
Spike couldn't help but notice that the bandage made it seemed like she was wearing a diaper.
His vision was clear now, but his head was still pounding. Zecora approached him carrying a cup of herbal tea, that she picked up from a nearby table.
“Drink.” she said as she pushed the cup in front of him.
“What, no rhymes?” He said picking up the cup.
Spike sat quietly, slowly drinking his tea, waiting for Apple Bloom to wake, while Zecora made herself busy by cleaning the mess she made while she took care of the filly’s injuries. Not a word was spoken between them.
Bonus image by megasweet. (used without permission)
