//------------------------------//
// She's Quite the Busy Bee 
// Story: The Left Behind. 
// by Prince_Nebula 
//------------------------------//

	The Everfree forest was damp and humid, but unlike the surrounding area, it was colder, cold enough to see your own breath as if it were super heated steam. As they trekked through the forest they came to a small opening, a familiar path to Spike, but something was wrong, the small tree hut that used to stand at the end of the path reduced to nothing but ash, but small embers still smoldering in the mound of black powder that covered the ground.

"This is a place you should not see...." A voice rang out in the darkness, seeming to hold back tears. "Exit now... And leave me be..."

"Zecora?" Spike's voice rang out and called. "Zecora.... What... What happened?"

As their eyes adjusted they could see the dark skinned woman on her knees in front of the ash pile and they exited the trees and moved towards her, hearing the sound of a pistol click into place and seeing the woman spin and pointing it at them with tears in her eyes. "Heed my warning and hear it once! Leave now or end up a Manricore's lunch!"

The four boys take a step back and put their hands in the air.. "Z-Zecora! I-It's me! Spike!"

"Who you are I do not care! For the Solar Empire outfits you four wear!" She continues to point the pistol at them showing that she wished to be alone. "The heathen Twilight and her cronies of Solar descent, told me I was the one to repent. They burned my home and sent it asunder, so leave now for I will not answer any more questions you wonder."

"Zecora... Please. we don't mean any ha-" Pipsqueek was cut off by the sound of a gun shot.

"Leave!" The woman cocked the gun once again and pointed it at them.

Spike took a look at the ash pile, then back to her before turning and heading down the path. "It would be best if we did what she said..." The three others looked at him then followed behind so they didn't lose him.

They remained quiet as they walked through the path and seeing the opening to the dirt path and as they exited they could see the smog coming from the orchard of dead trees, and knew they were close.As they made their way down the path they could hear the explosions of bombs off in the distance, and seeing the flashing of the fire spraying across the land.

"Hello boys~" A feminine voice sounded as a figure appeared into their vision.

The boys raised their guns and pointed at the figure in front of them. "Who are you!" Pipsqueek barked at the figure visibly shaking.

"Oh, no one special." The figure walked towards them, throwing a rather large object onto her shoulder, a very large object with a small, but visible flame at the outer end of it. "Just a girl looking for a party~" She gigglesnorted. "Know any I could go to around here?"

"P-Pinkie?" Spike lowered his gun and looked at the girl who was close to his, at least withing arms length. "Pinkie is that... Is that you?"

The pink haired woman bent over slightly so that she was eye to eye with Spike. "Sure is Spikey-Wikey~" Her blue eyes seemed to glow, and pierce through the darkness. "What brings you this far away from home hm?" She locked eyes with him, seeming to put him in a trance.

"I.... I'm on my way to Sweet Apple Acres...." He stuttered slightly, a bit from nervousness, and a bit from fear.

"Oh? Well, what's up with the Soldier get up?"

"I-It's.... It's for pro-protection..."

Pinkie didn't break the gaze, staring into his eyes before standing up straight and moving out of the way. "Alright. You can go~" She gigglesnoted again. "Oh, and happy birthday~" She leaned down and gave him ha kiss on the cheek while simultaneously slipped something into his back pocket.

"Spike? SPIKE!" Pipsqueek shook Spike and seemed to wake him up from his trance.

Spike shook his head. "Huh? What?"

"You alright?" Pipsqueek raised a brow.

Spike nodded. "Y-Yeah... I'm fine..." He continued down the path completely disregarding what had just happened.

As he continued down the path, the sun drenched the land in a light orange glow and exposing the small barn once red, was now covered in black soot coming from the pipes above it.

A simple sign sat just a few meters from the gate reading. 'Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! Sweetest Apple's around, and not just the ones we pick!' The sound of a shotgun cocking could be heard.