It had been about a half an hour since the crusaders had journeyed into the Everfree Forest, and they were beginning to get bored. Sweetie suggested for a quick snack break, but was declined and she just ate it while walking. The girls continued walking until suddenly Applebloom shouted. "Girls! I see a carnival gate!" What the Earth Pony said was true. There, in the lightning storm, was a grey slightly rusted gate. Laughing nervously, the yellow filly shifted her hooves. "Ok! We found it!Mystery solved! Time to go gals!" She turned around and headed for back home only to be grabbed by Scootaloo. "Oh come on! We can't just leave it without exploring! You want to get your cutie mark in being a wimp?" Applebloom shuddered and shook her head. "O-Okay, but only for a minute. Applejack is probably worried sick about me!" The three opened the gate and stepped inside. A crazed cackle echoed through it as a yellow pony with a grey mane and a spider dress stepped out of a shadowy haze. "Welcome to my carnival my little fillies! Stay with me and be left breathless!
"Big Macintosh!" Applejack stopped her brother before leaving with the weekend sale cart. "Applebloom and her friends went into the Everfree forest!" Big Mac practically dropped his bag of apples. "We have to save them, brother!" Macintosh '"eeup!"ed in agreement as the two headed out for the forest. Applejack was ahead, wasting barely any time for a breath.
"Oh Applebloom! Please be safe!" Because of their sped time, the siblings found the gate quicker than the crusaders did. "They must be in,... There!" Macintosh had decided to go ahead, in case there was any danger inside. Applejack followed behind, the two heading for the inside. CLANG! Applejack gasped as the gate closed itself, and left her on the outside! "Don't worry," she told her brother. "I'll be back for help. You go ahead and find them." Big Mac nodded and hurried further in the carnival.
"Who are you?" Scootaloo asked the mysterious pony. "Do you own this carnival?"
"Why, I do! My name is Catherine, and I hope to have fun with you three today! But," She frowned. "IF, you cannot have fun, then you're dead as a doorknob! Understand?" The three fillies nodded with a shudder. Catherine then returned to her slightly creepy yet cheery self. "Good! Now, over there is a ticket booth, feed it quickly please! It gets hungry and loves to eat gold bits!." Applebloom found it as a joke and went over to the booth and tossed in a bit. The cat was not lying. The CMC gasped as the tent then ATE her bit. Literally! Catherine in reply then giggled. "Oh, he's such a charmer, isn't he? Look over here! I have many parasprites, and they love children. Usually baked, though."
"We used to have parasprites that invaded our home." Said Sweetiebelle.
Catherine nodded. "I know. I know everything. Even the future!" The CMC's mouths dropped.
"You mean, you can predict when we're getting our cutie marks?" Applebloom asked with wonder.
Catherine smiled deviously. "Yes, but I'd rather you wait. They're surprises! Here, I want you to meet some friends of mine." In a flash, a horrifying group of ponies showed up. There was this shadowy figure named Sludge, a Merry-go-round pony named Springy because of her one springy eye, a short two-legged creature named Batty, and a small devil horned pony named Devia. All of them seemed like they wanted to eat the children except Devia. She just stared at them sadly and sighed. All three of the crusaders had seen enough, and were ready to go home. Scootaloo decided to speak for them. "Ok, miss Catherine, I think we've seen enough of your lovely carnival! I think it's time we go home."
Catherine chuckled. "No, no! You promised you would have fun here," She said, walking over to a lever. "You didn't keep your promise then!" After she pulled the lever, a giant cage swept up the crusaders and left them hanging in a cage. "Hang on! I'll be right back!" She and her friends then left the Cutie Mark Crusaders there, as the three huddled together and fear. "Oh Celestia! What have we done!" Sweetie cried.