//------------------------------// // v - Forest of the Exiled // Story: The Path of Absolution - Punishment // by Morningstar1337 //------------------------------// Now exiled from their homes, the Cutie Mark Crusaders wandered the Everfree Forest. “Oh,” Apple Bloom said. “This is a disaster.” “Look on the bright side,” Sweetie Belle said. “What bright side?” Scootaloo said. “Our friends hate us, our town hates us, and we’re stuck in the Everfree Forest!” “Maybe we can get our cutie marks,” Sweetie Belle said. “Hey, that’s right,” Apple Bloom said. “There’s tons of things we haven’t tried here in the forest.” “Like what?” Scootaloo said. “Well, there’s exploration. I betcha that there’s places that nopony’s been to here.” “For good reason,” Scootaloo whispered. “Well we can’t return to Ponyville,” Sweetie Belle said. “Not after what we wrote in the Foal Free Press, and especially not with everypony hating us.” “It’s worth a shot,” Apple Bloom said. The next morning, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Applejack were packing for the Forest. Twilight was at her library packing her saddlebag with some books. Spike took out some extra books nearby. “Are you sure you want to go to the Everfree Forest? That place is dangerous and it’s cold out...” He took out the Supernaturals book and handed it to Twilight. “And besides, how are you going to find Apple Bloom and her friends anyway?” Spike asked. “I don’t know, Spike,” Twilight said. She used her telekinesis to place the books, then to wrap a scarf around her neck. “But I have to do something.” She left the library fully packed, and Spike closed it down and followed her. Meanwhile, Applejack was busy harvesting her food. She let her brother and Granny Smith know that Apple Bloom ran away from the town last night. She was busy harvesting the south field. Rarity had just entered the farm with several dozen suitcases and bags. Applejack took a long look at her luggage. “You have got to be kidding! Rarity, this is a rescue mission, not a month-long camping trip!” “Well, excuse me for making sure to bring my bare essentials,” Rarity said. “After all, who knows how much dust can get on our hooves?” Applejack rolled her eyes and continued harvesting. “That seems like a lot of apples, darling. I can help you with this," Rarity said. “Well,” Applejack said. She remembered the last time she tried to harvest the field on her own, and the urgency of their new goal. “Alright, Rarity.” Rarity used her magic to separate the apples form the branches and placed them in nearby baskets. “So why are you harvesting so many trees now?” she asked. “Well I need to make sure that the family has harvested enough apples for the next two weeks while I’m gone.” Applejack sighed. “I’m worried about them y’know.” “Darling, we’ll find them.” Rarity comforted her friend. After they harvested the field they took two days’ worth of food and headed to Fluttershy’s.          Twilight Sparkle and Spike were at Fluttershy’s home. Fluttershy was outside feeding the chickens. Spike saw Angel glaring at him from the window and knew that he would like the next few days. Fluttershy went out of the chicken coop and saw Twilight and Spike there. “Oh, thank you for helping with the animals, Spike,” Fluttershy said. She then gave him a list of things to do, including a shopping list for the pets and some details on their care. Spike then went inside the cottage. Rarity and Applejack were a few feet away from Twilight and Fluttershy and approached them. The latter two ponies noticed Applejack’s saddlebags were full of apples, and that Rarity was carrying even more stuff. By this point, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were entering the area, carrying 6 large canteens full of water. “So is everypony ready?” Rainbow Dash said. The other five nodded. “We’re ready,” Twilight said. She then levitated the canteens and gave them to everypony. Applejack glanced at Rarity. “Some might say too ready.” “So, what are we doing first?” “Well I was thinking we should visit Zecora,” Twilight said. “She may know where the fillies went.” The Crusaders saw a patch of blue grass. Their stomachs were growling. “Maybe we can eat the grass?” Sweetie Belle said. Apple Bloom took a look at the patch of grass. “I don’t know.” She knew that she had seen it before, but her stomach was growling too loudly for her to think. “I think we should avoid that grass.” “Oh, but they look so tasty,” Scootaloo said. They tried to leave the patch, but they couldn’t stop thinking about the grass. They hadn’t had anything to eat since they left last night and they hadn't seen any food to eat since. Scootaloo couldn't wait to have some lunch, and she ate the grass. In a few seconds, the other Crusaders chomped down the grass as well. They were eventually finished with their meal. Sweetie Belle let out a burp. “Wow, that grass was tasty.”. The three fillies were walking on the patch. Apple Bloom still felt uneasy over the grass. She knew she had seen the grass before, but for some reason couldn't recall what they were. Eventually she let the thought go. “You know, that grass wasn't that bad,” Scootaloo said. “Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “At least we know where to find some food.” “I’m sure we’ll get our survivor cutie marks in no time,” Apple Bloom said. The Crusaders left the flower patch and went east. Twilight and her group went to a small hut in the forest. She knocked on the door. Inside, a zebra was busy making a potion when she heard the knock. She opened the door. “Ah, Twilight and friends, how do you do? And what pleasure I have to owe you?” “Hi Zecora,” Twilight said. “We’re looking for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We were wondering if you’ve seen them.” “I’m afraid I haven’t seen them here, what makes you sure they’d be so near?" she said. “Cause an angry mob drove them to the Everfree Forest,” Applejack said. “They were writing for the school paper, and the town didn’t like what they were writing.” “So you wish to find them, but haven’t got a clue. I’m afraid that I cannot help you. I’m preparing a brew to protect from the weather, and as such, we cannot find them together. “I see,” Applejack said. “Thanks anyway, Zecora.” Zecora said, “I wish you luck finding your friends, be careful, or your journey may end.” The ponies left Zecora alone to brew her potion. A few hours later they were at a blue flower patch. The 6 mares recognized this place. It was a field of poison joke. “Better steer clear of that,” Applejack said. “Last thing I want is to be the size of a mouse again.” “Agreed,” Rainbow Dash said. “My flying was shot after walking through that patch.” “And I was unable to speak at all,” Pinkie Pie said. “I mean can you imagine how hard it was to talk...” The ponies walked around the patch to the western path, being careful not to let the grass touch them. Applejack noticed that some of the grass was missing but didn’t pay much attention to it. The Crusaders were walking on the eastern path. Scootaloo felt itchy as they trotted further on the path. “Ugh,” Scootaloo said. “I can’t believe this.” She scratched herself. “I think I’m allergic to something.” Sweetie Belle chucked. “Not funny,” Scootaloo said. “Here,” Apple Bloom said. “I’ll help.” She scratched her friend’s wings, then her back, and finally her belly. Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I needed that.” “You’re clewoem,” Apple Bloom said. “Huh?” The other fillies were baffled. “I said ‘you’re welcome,’” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shrugged. They then continued on the path. The rain began to fall as the Crusaders continued down the pathway. They ran and looked for shelter. Eventually they saw a cave and went inside for shelter. “Well hatt was lceos,” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle let out a laugh after that sentence. “What?” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle continued laughing. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were confused, though the latter was busy rubbing her back on a wall. Eventually they went deeper into the cave and slept for the night.