//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Quarantine: Ponyville // by Eclipse //------------------------------// The day started as any other, the friends woke up and met with each other like normal. But today Twilight was going to meet with Zecora for a new magical spell she wanted to try out with Zecora's help. They all were sad that they couldn't hang out like usual, but all decided to head into the Everfree forest with her; to protect her from any dangers lurking inside. Twilight smiled, and the six gathered their things and started upon their journey into the forest; though Fluttershy was hesitant to head into the dark forest. But eventually was pressured inside by all of her friends promising to protect her if any danger emerged from the forest; she nodded and head in with them, reluctantly. Pinkie was bouncing around humming her 'Giggle at the ghosties,' song they'd sung when they made their first journey into the forest to retrieve the Elements of Harmony. "I remember this tree! It had a scary face on it, I laughed it away! I could've sworn i even saw one of the trees cry a little!" Pinkie said giggling giddily. Everypony else just chuckling lightly to themselves at the pink earth mare and her unusual randomness. "And this is where the fearless Fluttershy calmed a Manticore all by herself!" Pinkie said, making comments at all the places they'd seen. The pink mare stopped bouncing and realized something, "Wait, why are we going this deep into the forest? Isn't Zecora's place somewhere back there?" she said as confusion wrought itself upon her. Applejack looked slightly scared, "Yeah sugar cube, why are we going into this part of tha forest? Don'tcha 'member the things we'd seen here?" Applejack looked around, trying to see if anything had been following them and sighed with relief when she saw nothing. "Ah don't know why we're goin' this far into this darned place. But ah'm sure Twi' has her reasons to do so..." Applejack said now nervously scanning the trees, and anyplace that they couldn't see very well due to the very dim beams of light that penetrated this far down. Twilight strained a laugh, "I used a locating spell that Zecora taught me. It's odd, but it appears she's near the exit of the forest! I'm not sure what's going on girls, but I think something is seriously wrong here. We'd best tread carefully from here on in. Applejack watch out for anything looking suspicious in the tree line; Rainbow Dash, Fly above us and see if there's anything blocking our path. Those trees a while ago really tired me out." Twilight finished looking at the map wondering why the magically rendered addition to the map, that was supposed to be showing them where Zecora was, wasn't moving; and in fact hadn't moved the full twenty minutes they'd been in the forest. It struck Twilight as odd, but maybe she was just waiting for them near the exit; a place with open space, and plenty of light. Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodded, Applejack anxiously checking the sides of the path once more; and Rainbow Dash fly slowly above them, checking to see if there were any stops, blocks, or forks in the path to come. Though Rainbow Dash was dreadfully bored with her slow flying, she knew that this part of the forest was even more dangerous, considering they'd never gone out this far before. The six girls continued along the path until the light slowly started to receed, baffling them as to why it was now so dark. Twilight used her magic to shine a light, revealing that in this part of the forest, the canopy completely blocked out the sun. The girls were now in utter darkness, the damp air filling their lungs, and the cold breeze chilling their very thoughts. It was starting to take its toll on poor little Fluttershy, already being afraid of everything, her fear now increased knowing that there was almost no sunlight in this part of the forest. The shy little pegasus hid behind Twilight, seeking protection from the eerie forest. Though even Twilight was scared of what would happen this deep in the Everfree forest. Everypony's thought raced, thinking that anything that wanted to, could attack them, and not have much of a fight to look forward to. Fighting in the darkness was not something anypony knew how to do. "The map says Zecora is close, but not being able to see very well won't help any. Girls look around a bit, I'm sure if Zecora really is out this far, she would've brought something to light her way. Not being able to cast a light spell like us unicorns can." Twilight said, the girls scattering looking for any light source, but upon returning there were no sources of light any where. This puzzled Twilight, she sat dumbfounded asking her self, 'Why would Zecora be out this far and not bring a source of light.' Something didn't make sense and Twilight felt it was her job to figure out why Zecora was out this far and why she had nothing to light her way. Suddenly a rustling eminated from the trees, and sudden swift movement, that shocked all of the ponies back to reality. All of the ponies huddled together in defense mode, ready to try and tackle whatever stood against them no matter what it may be. Big or small, the girls would try with all of their might to put a stop to it before it just may kill them all. The movements kept happening, the sounds of crushing leaves echoing in the forest floor. The sound was now getting closer as the creature was now in full sprint, whatever this thing was, it was fast! A dark figure emrged from the blackness, a pony-like structure. about the size of a full grown mare. It stopped before coming into view, it's breathing was labored slightly, it looked as if it had something dripping from its lips. They girls were horrified at the figure, wondering just what it was. The figure started stepping closer into view, but the girls couldn't make out the figure before it charged at them. The girls dove directly to the side, leaving Rainbow Dash to take the full extent of the blow, knocking her stright to the ground. She struggled to get it off of her, but the thing was strong; stronger than even Rainbow Dash herself. Rainbow Dash fubled slightly, losing her defensive edge, the biting figure bit into her arm as Rainbow Dash let out a bellowing, blood-curdling scream. The girls all ran to her, shocked at the firgure that appeared; the ponies gazed into the eyes of the figure. It was Zecora! Her eyes were bloodshot, her mouth was foaming, and her stance was in attack mode. She charged them without warning letting out a grunt, before getting a swift kick by Applejack's muscular back legs. This disoriented her for a while, but she soon chraged them again, each time getting faster ans faster. Applejack couldn't keep this up, everypony knew that to stop the zebra from charging again, was to kill her. Applejack gulped as she set up for a kick powerful enough to shatter bones, and released it right into the skull of the zebra, knocking her backwards; only to get up weakly for one last charge at them. And with one last kick to the temple by Applejack's hind legs, the zebra moved, no more. The girls ran over to Rainbow Dash who was crouched over in pain, holding a certain part on her arm that had a large bite mark in it. And another couple of bites in her chest; she was holding her screams of pain in, but they knew she was in immense amounts of pain. "We need to get her back ta' Ponyville stat!" Applejack cried out picking up the cyan-blue pegasus and lounging her on her back. Twilight nodded as they made their way out of the forest on the very path, their pace fast, and their hearts racing. All their faces overtaken with tears for the event that just unfolded before them. Each one was running on the artificial energy of adrenaline, fear, and panic for their friend. What awaited them later on, would not be pretty...