A scream echoed from the fringe of the Everfree Forest, followed by the sound of galloping hooves. Fluttershy burst from the underbrush, leaves and sticks tangled her mane, Angel clinging to her as she burst into a wide-eyed frantic flight.
“Fluttershy? What's the matter? Why do you look like a bush!?” Pinkie Pie chirruped curiously, her head tilting to the right ever-so-slightly as she almost collided with the panicking pegasus.
Fluttershy landed, her chest heaving as she stared back over her flank at the silent forest. “Something... something's in there!” She gasped softly, trembling as a whimper escaped her lips.
“Of course there is silly!” Pinkie grinned as she brushed a few sticks and leaves from Fluttershy's mane. “There's -all- sorts of scary things in there!”
“N...n-n-no!” The pegasus stammered, shaking her head quickly. “It wasn't... It wasn't one of the -normal- things!” She quickly looked over at the forest again and quivered. “It was a pony...”
~
“What do you mean 'a pony?' Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle blinked several times at her friend, giving Spike a rather confused look.
Fluttershy cowered a little, her tail curling against her legs. “You know... a... a pony.” She replied. “B... but something was wrong with it.”
Twilight’s head cocked to the left a little. “And by something you mean...?”
The pegasus took a deep breath, and ceased her cowering for a moment; trying to remember what it was she saw. “It had no colour! None at all!” She finally whimpered out.
“Are you sure you weren't seeing things? I mean, what were you even doing -in- the Everfree Forest anyway?” Spike asked, hopping up onto Twilight’s back.
“Well, you see... Angel and I were tending to one of the new critters I saved and it got scared! It ran off into the forest! I had to save it!” The yellow pegasus replied. “But... I... I feel awful because I saw the pony and got scared and I don't even know where the little guy is now.” She paused a moment and looked down at the floor. “I hope he's okay...”
“I'm sure he's fine, Fluttershy. Now, I'm pretty sure this 'pony' you saw was just your imagination. How can a pony have no colours? That's not even possible! I've never read anything about it in -any- of my books.” Twilight replied, moving over to stand beside Fluttershy. “Now, you should go home and relax for a while.”
“B-b-but Twilight!” Fluttershy started, but was cut off.
“But nothing. Once you've calmed down, we can all get together and go look for your friend together. Okay?” She offered the pegasus a calming smile.
Fluttershy hesitated, then gave in and nodded. “Alright, but only a -little- rest. I don't want him to get lost, or hurt!”
The unicorn nodded and smiled again. “Alright, well I'll gather everypony up and meet you at your place in... 15 minutes?”
“Sounds good. I'll see you soon then. Thank you, Twilight.” Fluttershy smiled and left the library-tree, heading home quickly.
Twilight sighed and closed the door, turning to face Spike. “I'm pretty sure it's all in her head, she gets scared so easily.”
Spike nodded and hopped off her back. “Well, true... Buuuuut... there are -all- sorts of things in there! We probably haven't even seen half yet.”
“Mmm, you are right. Perhaps we should go see Zecora after we find Fluttershy's friend, maybe she's seen this 'pony'; if it even exists.”
Spike nodded in agreement. “That's a good idea. She always seems to know what's going on with... everything.”
“Alright, well, then let's go find the others and get this over and done with!” Twilight said as she opened the door, waiting for Spike to hitch a ride on her back again. Which he did of course.
~
Fluttershy was waiting for them by the time the group arrived at her home. Twilight Sparkle had explained the situation on the way, so of course Applejack bought her lasso with her. Just in case 'the critter caused them trouble.'
“Alright Fluttershy! We're here and ready!” Rainbow Dash cheered as she zoomed down to hover just above the ground, pumping a hoof in the air.
“I even bought cake!” Pinkie Pie grinned a cake-infested grin. “Well... there -was- cake...”
Rarity snorted and rolled her eyes. “I don't know why we're -all- needed for this, I have so many orders I need to finish.” She tossed her head. “But, it's for a friend so... the orders can wait... I guess.”
“Alright girls. Let's get going then and find this... Wait...” Twilight looked at Fluttershy. “What is it we're after?”
“It's a little white kitty.” The yellow pegasus replied softly.
“Okay, let's go find this little white kitten!”
Everypony nodded and together they approached the edges of the Everfree Forest, their bravado diminishing the closer they got. “Okay everypony. Spread out, but not -too- far and look for this kitten.” Twilight ordered as she headed off to the left, searching every tree and bush for the lost kitten.
“Heeeeeeeere kitty kitty kitty!” Pinkie called, of course, too loudly. Her voice echoed through the dimly lit forest, causing everyone to stop and glare daggers at the pink Earth Pony. “Sorry!” Pinkie whispered loudly, giggling a little at herself.
Slowly, they moved deeper and deeper into the forest; every rustle, every creak from the trees sending shivers down their spines as the search for the kitten continued.
~
The echo of hooves stopped them all in their tracks and worried glances were exchanged. There. Again! To the north! The distinct sound of hooves!
“Perhaps, it's jus' Zecora?” Applejack offered, her ears twitching as she scanned the thick underbrush for any signs of movement.
“It could be, I mean... she does choose to live out here in the... ugh! Spiderweb! Get it away from me!” Rarity baulked as she almost walked through a rather large web, and darted around it quickly; checking herself for any that may have attached itself to her. Much to her delight, she remained free of web.
“I'll go check it out!” Rainbow Dash offered before flying off towards the sound before anypony could say otherwise.
It wasn't too long before she came back rather quickly. “Guys guys... it wasn't Zecora!” She flailed her front legs. “Fluttershy was right! -And- she has the kitten! But... the pony ran away...”
Fluttershy gasped and cowered a little again. “That poor kitty! He must be so scared right now! We have to save him!”
“Maybe we should go see Zecora first. Perhaps she knows of this pony.” Twilight suggested, glancing to each of her friends who nodded in turn.
“Uh... which way -is- Zecora's from here?” Applejack asked, looking around.
~
“Finally!” Rarity breathed a sigh of relief when the zebra's hut came into view. “I thought we were going to be lost in there forever.”
“It felt like forever.” Spike grumped from Twilight's back.
“Why are -you- complaining? You just sat on my back the entire time.” The purple unicorn frowned as she proceeded to buck him off.
Spike hit the grass with a soft thud. “I was... being a lookout.” He snorted defensively, crossing his arms over his chest as the hut door swung open.
“Twilight Sparkle and friends, what brings you to my home this weekend?” The zebra asked with a surprised smile, her turquoise gaze taking in the group.
The purple unicorn stepped forwards. “Zecora, do you know anything about a pony living in the Forest?”
Zecora's ears perked and she thought a moment. “Many times I have heard a strange sound, of hoofbeats; but no pony was ever found.”
“It seems she ain't got no colour. Not that I really know what that's meant ta' mean.” Applejack shrugged. “How can a pony have no colour?”
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both piped up at the same time. “She's all -grey-.”
Zecora looked at the two pegasi curiously for a moment. “A pony that is completely grey? Are you sure this is not just horseplay?”
“She ran when I saw her, if she was playing a joke; why'd she run?” Rainbow asked, extending her wings for a moment before folding them back in against herself. “Oh, and there was one other thing. I swear she had wings -and- a horn!”
“So she's an alicorn, or a winged unicorn.” Twilight informed the group. “Like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”
“An alicorn is a rare thing indeed, to find her a wise thing this would be.” The zebra replied with a nod.
“Well girls, it looks like we'll need to find out how to... catch this pony then.” Twilight Sparkle looked to the group, then to Zecora. “Do you think she's dangerous?”
Zecora shook her head. “No harm has come to me, when I have been out gathering seeds. Although, careful you all should be.”
“Thanks Zecora.” Twilight smiled as the group headed out, although Pinkie Pie lingered last in the doorway.
“Hey! Zecora!” A wide grin was on her face. “You're good at rhymes! What rhymes with orange?”
Her stupid question, was met with a deadpan glare from the zebra. Pinkie giggled, waved goodbye and trotted off after the others.
~
“Okay! So... we need a plan. No, we need a few plans in case the first plan fails.” Twilight paced back and forth in the library, her friends sitting in front of her.
Spike facepalmed and grabbed a few rolls of blank parchment, as well as a quill and inkpot. “Well, we don't even know that much about her so... where should we start?”
“We could sneak up on 'er and rope 'er!” Applejack suggested. “Although... sneakin' in the forest is a bit hard with all them sticks an' bushes makin' noise.”
“Not to mention it would probably terrify her more than ever.” Rarity added. “We could offer her some lovely clothing to wear to cover her... greyness. I can't imagine being all grey would look at all nice.”
“Oh oh! I could throw her a party! Everypony loves parties!” Pinkie bounced around the room. “Or give her lots and lots of cupcakes!”
“But if she's shy, we'd have to be quiet and gentle with her. S-she ran away from Rainbow, so maybe a quiet approach?” Fluttershy offered meekly.
Spike was furiously writing all the ideas down, he looked from Rainbow Dash to Twilight Sparkle. “Well, what are your ideas?” He poised his quill at the ready.
“I could fly over from the top and swoop down! Bam! Land right in front of her!” Rainbow pounded a hoof on the floor for emphasis. “She wouldn't even have -time- to hide!”
Twilight stopped her pacing, and thought hard. “All of those ideas have some good points to them, maybe we can make a plan out of all of them. Spike, can you read back the list please?”
Spike nodded and did so. “I don't think a party, or roping would be a good thing. Not that I don't love your parties, Pinkie. I just don't think that the Forest is a good place for one.”
Pinkie gigglesnorted and nodded. “I didn't even -think- of that! Maybe I can bring some cupcakes along, I mean, she's probably hungry out there!”
Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Well, how about we use Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to fly over the forest to see if we can at least spot her. Then, we can try being quiet and non-threatening. Although, Applejack bring your lasso; just in case anything goes bad. If she runs away, Rainbow can hopefully cut her off so we can at least speak to her.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I sure hope that kitty is alright.”
“So I guess, we get this done tomorrow. Hopefully.” Rarity looked out the window at the waxing moon. “Because right now, it's far too dark to go in there.”
“Right. Well then, everyone go and get some sleep. We'll meet here tomorrow after breakfast.” Twilight glanced at the group. “I just hope this works.”