"Mistakes are meant to happen. They can be averted but will always happen throughout life. But mistakes can be fixed, that's the beauty of them."
"What?! Whaddya mean she's gone?!" Applejack yelled, taken completely caught off guard.
"Twilight's not here and she left a note." Pinkie pointed a hoof at Rarity who was still reading it.
"Where did she go! Rarity?" The orange mare asked while rushing over to the mare.
"I'm reading! I'm reading!" Rarity spoke back. After a moment of silence she continued. "She doesn't say anything about where she went, only somewhere we won't find her."
"And I think Spike went off to find her. I found the note on the floor." Pinkie added in.
"But where would she go?"
"Twilight? You there?" A familiar voice called out from the other room.
"Who's there?" Applejack peered around the corner to see the cyan pegasus standing there with a look of hesitation.
"Applejack? What are you doing here?" Rainbow asked confused.
"Rainbow! Have ya seen Twilight or Spike?" She ignored her question and responded with one of her own.
"I just saw spike a not too long ago. Why?"
"Where did ya see him and where did he go? We have to follow him!" Both Rarity and Pinkie came up beside the orange mare while she was questioning their friend. The alabaster mare left the note back onto the table.
"I just saw him running through the marketplace in the opposite direction of here. What's up with you three? What aren't you telling me?"
"Twilight's missing and Spike went to go find her!" Rarity let on galloping out the door. "We have to follow him now!" She called out. The other three mares joining her instantly. Once they were outside Applejack gave her instructions.
"Rainbow go ahead and convince Fluttershy to come! We think Twilight's in the Everfree forest." Applejack spoke aloud, commanding the blue blur.
"Got it!" Rainbow saluted and flew off ahead, leaving the remaining mares to try and catch up to their younger friend.
"I hope both of them are alright." Rarity sighed.
"The faster we go the better our chances are! Now come on!"
All three mares ran as fast as they could possibly go with the exception of Applejack who had to adjust to their speed every once in awhile. She tried to encourage them to go faster but they weren't known for their athleticism compared to herself.
It took them a good half hour to make their way onto the dirt path that led into the Everfree and past Fluttershy's Cottage. "Do you think Rainbow has Fluttershy convinced? She was the one who was affected the most." Rarity questioned both mares.
"Of course. This is Dashie we're talking about. She won't take no as an answer." Pinkie answered but still silently hoped she was right. None of them had seen her so angry before.
"Ah hope so." Soon enough they burst through the trees and were welcomed by both pegasi looking antsy. As they got closer however they noticed Fluttershy did not look like her usual self.
"Finally you guys made it!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Fluttershy darling what happened to you?" Rarity asked with concern. The butter coloured pegasus looked as if she had a restless night full of nightmarish thoughts. Her eyes containing a slight tinge of crimson, bags underneath. Her usually well brushed curly pink mane was now lifeless and unkempt showing obvious signs of stress.
"I-I'm okay." She whispered weakly.
"Ya don't look so well sugarcube? Are you sure?"
"Y-yes. Let's go." Fluttershy steeled herself. I have to stay strong. It's my fault she's out there.
"Okay everypony we need to do this quick and fast. Rainbow and Fluttershy can ya both fly above us in case ya see either Spike or Twilight up ahead. If ya see them tell us. We can't get separated in there."
They both nodded.
"Alright let's go!" Applejack yelled rushing into the forest.
They all went into the forest determined to find their friend and hopefully clear up any misunderstandings and return the other.
(<~><~><~><~><~><~>)
"TWILIGHT!" Spike yelled for the tenth time, his throat was starting to hurt from the excessive yelling that had been done. He was hoping to find her quite easily but knew that the area to cover was impossible even for a trained group of diamond dogs. Where could she be!
Howl. The young dragon swivelled his head in every direction. It's okay. It's okay. Those were far away. He assured himself.
Another howl pierced the air, much closer this time. Spike was startled even worse this time and slowly walked backwards. Looking around once more, his slit pupils focusing on each open space between the trees and shrubs. Nothing's there. The wolves are just trying to scare me out. But he wasn't buying his own words. Each moment after he heard the second howl fear drove deeper into his mind. Images of timberwolves chasing him through the woods until they would corner him and mark the end of his short life. But they wouldn't end it quickly. No, they would take their time and enjoy his suffering. What was I thinking I can't do this alone. I'm just as useless as always. He berated himself mentally. If Spike was observant he would notice the menacing pair of eyes that lay beyond the bushes. The weak growl coming from behind the demonic eyes.
Slowly but surely the growling heightened until the unknowing dragon could finally hear it. He turned his head in the correct direction and saw his impending doom. The vigorous green staring directly into his very soul through the thick bushes. Spike's first instinct was to scream for help, but decided against it. There seemed to be only one Timberwolf and he knew that timberwolves could be outwitted much easier when alone.
Spike took his chance and bolted in the opposite direction. He could hear the wolf chasing him. It's heavy claws cracking against the weak grass. Its joints clinking and clattering it's wooden bones together. Spike got a good few meters before he had to start weaving to escape it's wrath. You can do this. Just remember what the book said.
It happened too fast for the young dragon to react. He tripped on a loose vine that lay across the ground and within seconds he was on the cold hard grass. His one advantage that he had was gone. He tried to recover from his fall, disregarding the small amount of pain compared to what he would feel if he stayed. It took him three seconds to recover however, enough time for the timberwolf that started to chase him to close the distance and take away any chance Spike had left for survival.
Any regular timberwolf would have just toyed with him, giving him a slight chance of hope and then take it away just to give it right back. Timberwolves do not need normal sustenance such as food and water. Timberwolves live off of fear and suffering of others. What better way to do that than terrorize any who come within their territory such as small animals but more importantly the ponies who live in the nearby town. They use a universal plan known by all the wolves. First they stalk their prey in the shadows until you notice them. Then once you start running they give chase until you are cornered. Lastly they come closer and closer until you could feel their rancid and warm breath stalking down your neck until you completely give up on hope. What happens next depends on your luck. The lucky ones leave with only nightmares, others return with minor cuts and bruises. Timberwolves have only one law that can never be broken. Killing is inexcusable no matter the situation. They become completely excommunicated from their pack immediately regardless of if they are the alpha leader or the lowly runt.
But this timberwolf didn't care about that at the moment. All it cared about was revenge. It wanted to end the life of it's prey for what Spike had done to it. Because of the timberwolf's failure and humiliation from being defeated by a pony, it was shunned and kicked out of it's pack. Spike tried to back away, his lower claws gripping the dirt and pushing away. It was a sad attempt and the timberwolf knew it had won. It started to cackle at him slowly getting closer and closer to him. "Somebody please help." He tried to yell out for help but it came out so weak even he could barely hear it. His throat had dried up in fear of the demon in front of him. Spike knew at that moment his life was over. So he merely closed his eyes and accepted his fate. This is how I die. All alone, lost in the middle of the forest trying to find my best and longest friend. Abandoned by the ones we called friends and even considered as a second family. Always went to one another when we needed help, fought through thick and thin in many battles, and protected Equestria many times.
He heard the growling from the wolf coming closer and closer until all of a sudden it was replaced by a large cracking sound. Spike was about to open his eyes to see if the wolf just toying with him when he was suddenly grabbed by a familiar pair of legs into the warmth of an embrace but with a very fast heart beat accompanying it. Spike opened his eyes stunned to see his life wasn't over, he was going to thank his saviour until his eyes focused on those before him.
"Spike! I'm so glad your okay." Rarity cried out, tears running down her eyes and onto Spike's scaly body.
"What are you doing here?" He replied coldly, pushing her away. The white mare tried to speak but was interrupted immediately. "I don't care about your excuses!" He started to walk off angrily when he was stopped by another familiar hoof.
"Spike. Where are ya going?" Applejack asked flatly.
"I'm going to find Twilight. Don't try to stop me." He retorted not even looking at her. She retracted her hoof and let him continue. "Because unlike you I care about her." Once he was a few meters away she let out her rebuttal.
"So how are ya going to find her." Giving him the same tone of voice.
"What does it matter to you? I'll find a way. Whatever it takes." He replied with his fists clenching, facing away from them.
"Do ya think you're being brave? No let me rephrase that for ya. Do ya want to know what ah see? Ah see a fool without a damn plan running blind in the darkest place in Equestria."
"APPLEJACK!" Rarity yelled. Before she could say anything or move towards the orange mare any further, Pinkie stuck a hoof in front of Rarity, knowing that she would try to say or do something.
"Let her finish. Applejack knows what he needs." Pinkie whispered to the white mare with a half smile.
"Yeah! So what if I am! I'm sorry if you don't understand that Twilight is my EVERYTHING! I'D DO ANYTHING FOR HER!" He roared back, shooting her a dirty glare then pointed his finger at the orange mare. "And whatever YOU all did took her away from me."
"Ah know what ah did was wrong. Ah wasn't saying you shouldn't be looking for her. But tell me what would have happened had ah not been here a few moments ago."
"I would have-
"Really Spike. Don't even think about lying. Ya do not come into this forest to do whatever ya damn please." She interrupted. "Ya know it yerself that ya don't come in here without a plan or even worse, completely alone."
"So what are you doing here then?"
"Ah'm-no we are here to find both you and Twilight, all five of us."
"You expect me to believe you?"
"No, no ah don't. But consider yer options." Applejack replied flatly. Spike knew from the very moment he walked into the woods that his chances were thinner than paper. "Now-
"APPLEJACK!" Rainbow flew down quickly alerting the orange mare of her presence.
"What is it?" Applejack questioned as the blue mare came closer. "And keep yer voice down."
"I think we found Twilight and I think she's in trouble!"
"What where!?" Spike yelled running towards Rainbow.
"Fluttershy saw flashes of violet light near the castle where we fought nightmare moon." Rainbow explained.
"Then let's go! Come on!" Spike started to run when he fell back down almost immediately. His legs couldn't carry him any farther. Before he could recover Applejack ran up beside him.
"Spike on my back now. No time to argue." Applejack commanded. She knew that he was weak and wasn't used to doing a lot of running. She didn't want an argument when every second could mean the difference of life and death in here. The drake obeyed immediately climbing onto her back. "Lead the way RD!" She ordered.
"This way!" Rainbow called back flying off with the other three mares right behind her. The castle was a good distance away from their current location. "Fluttershy! Are the flashes still going off?"
"Yes but it looks like it's getting weaker." Fluttershy said worriedly, now flying level to the blue mare.
"Horseapples. Applejack-
"Ah know! Come on girls!"
*Huff huff* "Rainbow, darling could you go on ahead and make sure the bridge is still useable." Rarity asked, breathing heavily. Silently the alabaster mare was hoping for some sort of break but knew that would be a terrible idea. All her friends would do the same for her anyways. Even Twilight.
"Good thinking Rare." Applejack complimented.
"I'll come with you." Fluttershy flew beside the blue mare.
"Okay. We'll wait for you guys on the other side." Rainbow flew ahead with her best friend beside her. The rest of the group still trudged on through the trees.
It wasn't long before they could see the flashing violet up ahead. It was faint, every time it seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. The bridge was finally in sight, the rope held steadily as they galloped across the creaky bridge, ignoring their fears. The group united once more, ignored greetings and ran inside.
They stayed together running through the corridors. The place had not changed since they were last here. Each wall with similar tapestries slightly torn. The walls themselves had cracks in random locations. They continued to sprint past the doors. It was something odd that they felt, but it was as if they knew exactly where she was. As they got closer and closer to their destination they finally heard something.
"AGH!" A voice cried out, coming from beyond the door that lay in front of them. Applejack sped up and swung the doors open. Disregarding what could be there. Her friend was here because of her and she was going to fix that.
What she saw however was something that made her blood boil, eyes redden in anger and teeth clench. Her brief exhaustion was removed completely as her blood was slowly being replaced by adrenalin.
"GET YER FILTHY HOOVES OFF OF HER!"