Twilight and Applejack awoke the next day and finished off the last of the apples. They still had a quarter-keg of oats left: a rugged but filling grain that would last them no more than a week. Twilight gathered up her writing tools and Applejack hefted the saddlebags they’d fashioned from a pair of baskets. They donned their orange coats and ventured into the forest.
The terrain to their immediate south was sparse, and much less murky. Applejack managed to find several gooseberry bushes, too sour to eat without seasoning. They came across two more almond trees and, with a swift kick to each, they were showered with nuts. They were hard and bitter, but not rotten. Applejack scratched at the soil and found nothing particularly unwholesome about it.
After hiking for half an hour, they found the prints. There were three of them, in a muddy patch that must have dried after the rainstorm. The grass around it was undisturbed.
“That’s no hoof print,” Applejack said. “Whatever it was, it must be huge.”
Twilight sketched a diagram in her notebook. “The original mark could have enlarged over time as the mud dried out.”
“What do you think it was?”
“It’s too faded to be sure. Probably a day or two old.”
“But if you had to guess...?”
“I suppose... if I had to... probably a bear.”
Applejack clenched her jaw. “Bears.”
“Or some kind of jungle cat. I can’t really make out how many toes it has. And it would have to be an awfully large cat.”
Applejack’s eyes widened. “You mean, like a lion? Or a tiger?”
“A tiger might be about the right size. Or possibly a mountain lion... they have extra wide feet, to help them walk through snow.”
“Well, you did mention a mountain range.” Applejack backed up a step, and took a nervous look around. “This is... good news. Right?”
“Lions, tigers and bears are all perfectly natural animals. I’m more worried about monsters. These tracks could have been made by a monster with the feet of an animal.”
“M-m-m-monsters...?!”
“Oh my goodness!” Twilight rushed over and gave her a brief, reassuring hug. “I didn’t mean to scare you, honest! I promise we’ll be just fine.”
“Aw, shucks...” Applejack patted her on the back then stepped away with a smile. “I don’t know what came over me! Thanks for sorting me out.”
“There’s the old Applejack!” Twilight put her notebook away. “Come on. We’ll have our map finished by the end of the day.
They headed for home with a completed map and a bushel of gooseberries and almonds. They came across several blossoming shrubs and packed their second bushel full of wild roses: the delicious bouquets raised their spirits considerably. When they returned to the burrow, the scent of roses was strong enough to mask the smell of burning firewood.
Applejack turned in her sleep and pulled her quilt close. A moment later, she stuck her pillow firmly against her head and covered her ears. A faint, intermittent scratching sound made it impossible to rest. She sat up with a groan, but tensed when she remembered where she was. Their hollowed out shelter was pitch black. The warmth from their tiny kiln was gone. The scratching continued.
She sat upright, alert. She reached over to give Twilight a shake but the second sleeping mat was empty and her quilts were shoved to the side.
Well that’s odd... she usually folds them up all neat and tidy.
Applejack looked around the room again. Despite the darkness, she could tell she was alone. She thought about all the possible reasons Twilight might have had to leave the shelter. The faint scratching sound was coming from the other side of the trapdoor. It was probably Twilight, but why was she trying to keep quiet? To avoid waking Applejack, of course. She would probably be back inside after a minute or so.
Applejack laid down again, hugging her quilt. The longer she waited the darker the room seemed to get. The scratching continued, steady and regular. It didn’t sound like Twilight was really doing anything. Just scratching. At the trapdoor. It then occurred to her that the trapdoor was the only entrance to their shelter... the only way in or out.
She stood up and slowly went to the door. She stood at the bottom of the dirt ramp and gazed up at the crude wooden surface. Whatever it was, it was right on the other side.
“Twilight?” Applejack jumped at the nervous tone of her own voice. She swallowed, then spoke up. “Is that you, Twilight? Are you up there?”
The scratching continued. Probably just some branches scraping in the wind.
“The door ain’t locked, you know.” Applejack winced. “I mean... it isn’t locked. You’re always tellin’ me how ain’t ain’t a word. I mean... isn’t a word.”
She froze as a glimmer of light peeked through the edges of the door. Was that Twilight? Was she using her magic? The light wasn’t purple and there weren’t any sparkles. She’d probably used a spell to create normal, uncoloured light.
“All right, Twi. I’m coming up now. If you want me to stay down here, go ahead and say so.”
Applejack walked up the tiny ramp. The light continued to seep in, cold and pale. As soon as she pushed against the door, a surge of light blinded her and she heard something spill into the room... a heap of dry branches and twigs. She felt a swarm of tiny animals brush against her ankles. It startled her, but didn’t frighten her. She’d dealt with rats and mice before.
When her eyes adjusted, she saw what they were: the stick figures. The tiny shapes brushed against her ankles as they poured inside. The quartz crystals sewn into their bodies glowed with the cold light of a full moon. Their tiny legs and arms crackled as they moved, and they carpeted the floor and climbed up the walls. They moved quickly, with the irritating near-silence of a mosquito’s buzz.
Applejack did the only thing she could think of and charged outside. It was better than being trapped in a dead end. When she emerged she saw stick figures swarming over the whole clearing, crawling down from the trunk of the tree. They crunched under her hooves just like real twigs. They clung to her tail and legs as she charged past; as soon as she left the clearing, she shook herself violently. Once she settled down, she realized she’d been screaming since she’d left the shelter. Her throat was raw and sore.
All right, Applejack... get ahold of yourself. They’re just twigs, aren’t they?
She pressed her back against the nearest tree and listened to the distant crackling. After several deep breaths, she peeked around the trunk. The swarm of little quartz crystals illuminated the clearing completely.
At least they’re all lit up. I can spot them a mile away.
She took another slow breath and began creeping back towards the shelter. Her legs trembled with every step. She reached the edge of the clearing, and saw the swarm of stickmen pouring out of the shelter.
There. They’re leaving the shelter. That’s the end of that. Whatever they wanted, they must’ve...
Applejack tensed as she saw them carrying the crates and barrels: they moved like a carpet of ants, hoisting the larger objects overhead. They tugged and pulled at the last of the supplies, dragging them into the forest.
“The food!” Applejack’s fear vanished. She charged at the swarm. “Don’t you dare steal that! It’s all we have left!”
The stickmen rushed out of the clearing with their plunder. Applejack charged close and began trampling them into the dirt. The swarm split into groups and scattered, carrying each of the crates in a different direction. They were swift for their size, but not swift enough: She ran to the nearest group and shoved the box onto its side. By the time she’d trampled this swarm, the others had escaped. Applejack left the box where it was and gave chase.
The glowing stickmen were easy to see, but reaching them seemed impossible. She could barely see a few yards, and branches and trees blocked her path without warning. The lights grew faint and distant until, finally, she was alone.
Applejack slowed to a halt and looked around. She ran a few yards further, then turned back the way she’d came... the way she’d probably came from. She looked to the sky. No sun or moon. No stars. No landmarks.
“Twilight...?” Her voice sounded frail. It was like hearing somepony else’s voice. She took a breath and steadied her nerves.
“Twilight! You out there?” She turned in a little circle, searching for her own hoof prints. “Is anypony out there? Anypony at all?”
Applejack heard a heavy footfall behind her, and her mane prickled. Slowly, she turned around and looked at the giant shape behind her. It was too dark to make out any details, but its silhouette was clearly visible against the black trees. It looked like a pony, but massive. It’s neck rose up high, and Applejack realized it didn’t have a head. It had... something else. A second torso, with a pair of muscular arms and a bird-like head with long curving horns. It held a long, pointed lance at the ready.
Applejack stared at the impossible figure. “Ah... I don’t... suppose...”
The black creature roared at her. It’s guttural voice was a composite of every monstrous beast imaginable. Applejack yelled in terror, and fell to the ground as if struck.
The monster lowered its lance and charged. Its body clanked like heavy metal, but moved with the strength and speed of a steam engine. Applejack scarcely scrambled upright by the time it was upon her.
She awoke with a gasp but didn’t quite scream aloud. She lay on her sleeping mat for a moment, staring at the ceiling and waiting for her jitters to fade. Eventually, her heart and lungs calmed. She looked around the shelter and saw their stack of supplies. Another glance revealed Twilight on the mat beside her, fast asleep.
Applejack tossed off her quilts and rushed to the crates and barrels. A quick search revealed nothing out of place. She looked at the trapdoor exit and flinched when she saw light creeping in through the edges, but relaxed when she saw it was sunlight.
Just a dream. There’s nothing strange about that. Sure, it was scary... but you’ve been away from home for almost two weeks now. You sure won’t be dreamin’ about fritters and pies.
She thought about the dream. About how utterly, completely real it had felt. What if it was more than just a dream? They were in the depths of the everfree forest, after all. But even so, what could have caused such a...
No... oh, no! She couldn’t have!
Applejack ran to the makeshift writing desk she’d hammered together. She opened every drawer and shuffled through the neatly arranged scrolls and notebooks. She opened each of Twilight’s little cases: writing kits full of inkwells, quills, and other supplies. She found nothing and quickened her pace. She spilled a box of blank scrolls onto the floor and searched through the pile.
“Applejack?” Twilight sat upright, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing? Are those my scrolls?”
Applejack rushed to her, frantic. “Did you take one of them?”
“...Take one of what?”
“The stick figures!” said Applejack. “The ones hanging in the tree! You remember, don’t you?”
“Sure I do. I’ve been thinking about what a quartz crystal would be useful for, outside of a laboratory envirom—”
“You took one, didn’t you!” Applejack leaned forward, shouting. “How could you?! I told you to leave well enough alone! Why didn’t you listen to me?!”
Twilight shook her head. “What are you talking about? I never did!”
Applejack stopped and took a breath. “Twilight. Did you take one? If you did, you can tell me. I won’t be angry. I just—”
“I didn’t. I swear. Pinkie swear, even. I wanted to, but you asked me not to... I’d never go back on a promise to a friend. It’s a good way to lose a fr—” Twilight paused to glance about the room, scanning the crates and barrels.
“Twi?”
“...Nevermind. As I was saying, it’s a good way to lose a friend. Forever.” Twilight went to her desk and began tidying the mess. “Besides, you know what I’m like when I try to be sneaky. If I did take the stick figure, I’d never be able to keep it a secret from you.”
“But then... why...” Applejack looked at her sleeping mat, befuddled.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen while I was asleep?”
“Nothing. I had a weird dream, is all. It was spooky, and it felt so real... but that’s all.”
“What was it about?”
Applejack shook her head. “Dunno. Nothin’, probably.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Why? Do you think it was more than just a dream?”
Twilight smiled. “No idea. But I’m sure that talking about it will make you feel better.”
Applejack managed to smile, but a scuffling sound brought it to an abrupt end. She stared at the ceiling, ears tilted forward. There was something in the clearing outside. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Applejack cut her off with a wave.
“Stay here,” Applejack whispered, “and stay quiet.”
She went to the exit before Twilight could respond. She raised the trapdoor, just a crack, and peered outside. The clearing looked empty and the shuffling sound had stopped. She lifted the door all the way.
Twilight went to her side and looked around. “Anything out there?”
Applejack shook her head. “I dunno. I coulda sworn I heard something moving around. Did you hear it too?”
There was a guttural roar as something burst out from above the trapdoor. Applejack shrieked and tumbled back into the shelter, landing flat on the ground. She hugged herself, trembling all over.
“Bwa-ha-ha!” There was a thump as Rainbow Dash fell on her back and kicked her legs in the air. She could barely speak through her laughter. “You should have heard yourself! You scream like a girl!”
Applejack stood up, furious and frightened at the same time. “How could you pull such a prank at a time like this?! There could be lions and tigers ’round these parts!”
“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me!” Dash flipped over and rested her chin on the bottom of the trap door's frame. Her eyes widened as she looked inside. “Whoa... you built all this in less than a week? It’s like a country cabin in here! Is that a fireplace?”
Twilight went to the kiln and started a fire. “Of course we’re happy to see you. Applejack just had a strange dream last night and your prank probably didn’t help much.”
“Geez! I didn’t think you’d take it so personally.” She walked in with a grin and dropped a pair of baskets on the floor. “I don’t suppose these’ll make up for it?”
Twilight and Applejack peered into the baskets. They were both packed full of green fruit, smaller than the ones they were used to in Ponyville.
Applejack’s eyes widened. “Wild apples! You got these for me?”
“They’re for both of you. I figured you might be all out of food. Or at least, out of fresh food.” She pushed the basket over. “You go ahead and dig in.”
Applejack bit down on a stem and tossed her head back, catching the apple in her mouth as it fell. She ate it in one bite with a wet crunch.
Dash nodded to her. “Soooo... apology accepted?”
Applejack swallowed and answered her question with a smile.
Twilight carried the other basket inside. “Where did you find these? We searched for two days and found almost nothing to eat.”
“There’s a forest to the east between here and the mountains, and those trees have all kinds of fruits and nuts. I went there to sleep at night and came back here during the day to search for you two. I probably could have found you a little sooner if it hadn’t been for the trip back and forth, but it was the only decent place to camp out.”
Twilight’s raised an eyebrow. “You said there were mountains?”
“Sure. A whole line of ’em to the north east. It’s a long walk, but a short flight.”
Twilight’s horn glowed, and an array of writing implements hovered in the air and assembled themselves on the table. Twilight unrolled the map she’d been making, and sat with her quill at the ready
“Tell me everything.”