//------------------------------// // In But Not Out // Story: Sweetie Come Home // by BlackRainboom //------------------------------// Chapter 2: In But Not Out Sweetie Belle trotted through the Everfree Forest alone. The sun was just starting to rise and a new day was beginning and soon the forest would be full of the sounds of woodland creatures. But for now everything was quiet and the only sound was the sound of Sweeties hooves on the ground. Her plan was simple, hide in the forest until about ten o'clock. Rarity would have surely woken up by then and noticed Sweetie was missing. Then Rarity would have to tell their parents and Rarity would get in trouble. "Bwahaha! This plan is perfect!" said Sweetie to herself as she manically rubbed her hooves together. Sweetie trotted on as the forest creatures began to wake. The birds began to chirp their song and the squirrels ran up and down the trees. Rabbit and other little creatures were coming out of their dens after a good nights rest. Soon the air was abuzz with the sound of the forest creatures. This is really nice I don't know why everyone thinks the Everfree Forest is so creepy. At this point it was about seven o'clock in the morning just three hours until Sweetie was supposed to leave the forest. She had keeping track of where she was going in her head so she would not get lost. In a few minutes she would turn around and go back the way she had came ensuring she would not get lost in the woods. The sun had at that point fully risen and was shining through the trees onto the forest floor. It looked beautiful like something right out of a postcard. Sweetie stared in awe for a few minutes. Man, I wish I had brought a camera this is beautiful! Sweetie Belle trotted onward into the forest. After trotting along for another five minutes Sweetie felt that it was time to turn around. Following the mental map Sweetie had made in her head, Sweetie went back the way she came. Sweetie twisted and turned through the forest stopping a few times to look at an interesting mushroom or a cute squirrel. She was taking her time as to ensure Rarity had woken up by the time she got back. Then Sweetie though about her fight with Rarity. I'm starting to feel guilty. I mean I ruined the dress she had been working on for months and then I run away just to get her in more trouble. I'm a horrible sister. I never should have run away. "Oh Celestia what have I done!" said Sweetie realizing how cruel her running away had been. "I have to get back to the Boutique before Rarity finds out I am gone!" said Sweetie as she started to gallop back to the Boutique. For thirty minutes Sweetie galloped as fast as she could trying to get out of the forest before Rarity noticed her absence. She was almost out of the forest and the next turn would take her out of the forest. Just turn here and I'm out of the woo- Her thoughts cut short as she turned the bend. It was not the edge of the forest, it was just more forest. "Oh no! I must have taken a wrong turn!" said Sweetie Belle who was now starting to panic. "RARITY! ANYONE! HELP ME I'M LOST IN THE WOODS!" screamed Sweetie Belle at the top of her lungs. She listened for a response, silence. [Oh man! I'm gonna be stuck in these woods forever! Sweetie Belle then stopped in her tracks. She heard a howl, and then another one, closer this time. Something was coming...