//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Masquerade // by Alpine~Dragon~Queen //------------------------------// Chapter 1 Applejack had always seen herself as a fairly brave pony with a strong stomach, but last night, that was horrifying even for her. That filly, that poor little filly, if only she and Big Mac had gotten there in time! Tears slipped from her bloodshot eyes as she hugged her pillow tight and a sob caught in her throat. The poor pony hadn't sleep since the finding, everytime she closed her eyes she saw the poor headless pony. Winona jumped up on to AJ's bed and sat in front of her, whimpering slightly in compasion. "Oh Winona, who would do such a horrible thing...?" ~*~ Little Apple Bloom stared up at her sister's door and gave a tiny sneeze. Apple Bloom had a cold and wasn't allowed to go outside so she wanted to play with her big sister since Big Mac was missing and she presumed that he was working on the farm. She had no clue that he was actually removing the remaining evidence of the poor filly that had been slaughtered the night before, all little Apple Bloom knew was that her big sister had locked herself up in her room and was crying for some unknown reason. "Applejack? Are you ok in there?" The little filly's only reply was the sound of more tears and sobs. Apple Jack hated listening to her sister like this, she needed to do something. "I know! I'll call Twilight! She'll know wha' to do!" She quickly galloped down the stairs and headed for the living room but was stopped dead in her by running head first into Big Mac. Bloom looked up at her big brother as he looked down at her with a somber expression on his face. Whatever had upset Applejack seemed to effect the large red pony also, he just continued on his way as his little sister slipped by him to the front door. She stopped as soon as she got there and stared stupidly at the door before sneezing again. "Wait! I'm not supposed to go outside, what do I do?!" She hung her head, a large mistake of her part because at that seconds the door flew open and hit her in the head. She was tossed into a roll and went across the floor then sprawled out on top of the rug. "Wha' in the world 'appened?!" Apple Bloom asked, her head in a slight haze. "Oh, Miss Apple Bloom! I'm so sorry!" A little brown pony laid a tray of food down on the hard wood floor before quickly rushing over to her and helping her up. "Caramel?" "Sorry! Grannysmith told me to bring you your breatfast, I didn't mean to hit ya!" Apple Bloom sat up and rubbed her head, then looked up at the male pony and smiled. "Caramel! This is perfect! I have a favor to ask!" "What would that be?" "Somethin's wrong with Applejack! I need Twilight to come and talk with 'er but I can't leave the house! Will you go an' fetch 'er for me?" Caramel stopped and thought for a few minutes before nodding. "Sure thin', Apple Bloom, I'll go an' fetch 'er right now." "Oh thank you, Caramel!" ~Down~You~Fall~ The yellow mare sat upon a throne of moss and stone as she looked out on her "children", her two eldest daughters erected the filly's head on to a short stone piller in the mare's throne room. "My little Reapers, you have done me well..." "Thank you, mother." The two earth ponies said in unison as they smiled from under hoods. The yellow mare turned her attention to the colt and the filly that just walked into the throne room. "Mother!" Happily cried the little green-maned filly. "Momma!" Chimed in the dark green colt with the pink mane. "Come, my little ones, momma has an important task for you." The two little ones trotted up and sat at the foot of the yellow mare's seat. "Pink~Tornato, Desert~Flower, momma needs you two to get ready." "For what, mother?" "You'll be going to school in Ponyville tomorrow, and I need you to scout out the 'specials' in the town for Ivy and Carnival to play with..." The pink-haired colt and the green-mane filly beamed at the fact their beloved mother need them for such a task. The two had never been used to find the "specials" before, it was a great honor that they thought only Ivy and Carnival would ever get as their mother's Reapers. Pink~Tornato placed his front hooves on his mother hoof. "Momma, do Desert and I get special titles too!? Like Ives and Carn?!" The yellow mare smiled and though you couldn't see her eyes behind her hood they did indeed sparkle with joy and bloodlust. "Oh yes, little one. You and your sister will be my little Ferryponies because you'll be the ones in charge of sending them to the Reapers so that they may go over the lovely River Styx." The two new little Ferryponies beamed and smiled before giving their mother a quick kiss, both kissing one cheek at the same time before running off to get ready. The dark mint colored Reaper known as Ivy marched up to the yellow mare with a black rabbit with dragon wings follow quickly behind her. "Ah, Ivy, Knightmare. How goes the plans?" "Good as always, mother." "Yes, mistress, the potions are almost completely ready." The yellow mare smiled at this. "I knew my two little alchemist would not let me down." She pulled her cloak closer around herself, "Ivy, take your little friend and you sister Carnival to hunt in the forest for the needed ingrediants.." "Yes, mother!" "Yes, Mistress!" Both gave a salute before running off. ~Down~With~The~Specials~ Zecora the zebra caught the sound of hooves moving almost silently through the forest near her tree home. She looked through the window, only to be greeted with a face overshadowed by a hood while her door flew open. "Zecora the zebra, we are in need of your reagents, we are here to commandeer them!" The purple Reaper known as Carnival said as she flashed an evil smile. ~Save~Me~ Twilight was lying in her chair reading a book with Spike and Owlowiscious when there was a hurried knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Spike piped up before rushing for the door. Twilight slowly getting up and following behind him. "I wonder who that could be...?" She said with a yawn, she had been up late reading so she was rather tired. She finally got to the main room of the library to see Spike standing next to a very tired looking Caramel. "Sorry to disturb you, Miss Twilight, but Apple Bloom said that she needs you down at the farm as quick as ya can. She says there's somethin' wrong with Applejack an' Big Mac!"