My Little Argonian: Family is Sacred

by Warren Peace

The Hut in the Woods (Pt1|Ch10)

My cast thumped quietly as I made my way down the stairs, empty bowl of soup from last night clutched in my hand. No other noise graced the sleeping cottage.
Dull light seeped through the windows of the ground floor of Fluttershy’s cottage. Not the warm yellow light of the sun, but the bluish hue that foretold of the celestial ball of fire’s coming. I noted quietly that Fluttershy still lay asleep, laying on the couch, her butter yellow side rising and falling with the peaceful rhythm of sleep.
Pausing, I considered for a moment waking her to find out if the dream I’d had had any truth to it. Luna had mentioned Fluttershy and some elements of harmony in the dream, if I confirmed this to be true, I confirmed that the visit wasn’t merely a dream.
Yes, because waking her now would be such a nice thing to do, wouldn’t it? my mind inquired sarcastically.
Fine, I replied, I’ll ask her later.
I limped past her, trying to make as little noise as possible with the hard cast around my leg. Making my way into the kitchen, I set my bowl down on a low countertop and looked around for something to eat.
My stomach gurgled as I spied a fruit bowl, the few gleaming apples resting in it beckoning me. Obliging, I made my way over and picked one of the lush-looking green apples from it.
I wonder where she gets those things from, they’re damned good, my mind commented as I gave the apple a quick once-over, habit making me wave my left hand over its surface. The gem of my ring remained dull and unlit, only confirming what I already knew.
I’ll ask her when she wakes up, I replied, taking a crunchy bite from the delectable fruit and finding it to be just as good as the others I’d had.
My stomach gurgled for more so I grabbed another apple from the fruit bowl in my left hand and looked around to see what else there was to eat. A few other oddities resided in the fruit bowl, none of which I recognized. Moving my eyes onwards I spied a loaf of bread.
Setting the right apple in my mouth to hold it for a moment, I drew my right knife and sliced off a chunk, taking it with me as I headed back out of the kitchen and, quietly, passed through the front door.
A fresh, morning chill greeted me, a trail of songbirds singing as they danced and flittered around the cottage. No clouds littered the dull blue sky as I made my way down the hill. The sun was just now peeking over the horizon, preparing to shed its warmth down upon the land.
So what’s first on the list today, Aram? my mind asked as I took another bite from the apple.
I want to test my aim, I replied, making my way down the hill, I need to make sure that I can still hit something with some degree of accuracy, pausing before the stream, I examined my surroundings, looking for a good target as I ate away at the green orb in my hand, my acolytes are coming tomorrow, I need to be in my best shape if I’m to teach them. Last night proved I can still fend off a few wolves, now I need to make sure I can still hit something with my bow.
Be in you best shape? How’s that cast feel? my mind inquired as I spotted a small stump many yards away at the edge of the Everfree forest.
The best shape that I can be in all other things considered, I retorted annoyedly.
My target found, I set my food on the grass at my feet before taking a solid stance and unslinging my bow from across my chest. Gripping the bow firmly, I reached back for an arrow with my other hand. As I brought it around and knocked it, my ring remained dull.
Good, don’t want to waste any of that poison, I mentally commented.
Pulling back, I tested the strength of my injured arm. The muscles began to complain as I got a bit over the halfway point, making me grit my teeth as my arm was engulfed in fiery pain. The pain intensified as I continued to pull back, my arm spasming and shaking my aim around.
My strength gave out before I could get to the three quarter point and I released the string, sending the arrow zipping off towards the stump. It fell short and to one side by a great many yards as I bent over with pain, cursing under my breath as I set my bow aside to massage the injured arm.
So the muscles still require healing, not much you can do about that but rest and try not to use them much, my mind commented, drawing your bow, for example, is not among the things that you should be doing.
Be quiet, I have an idea, I replied with annoyance, setting down my bow and reaching with my left hand to the small satchel at my side. Fishing around blindly, I found one of the young roots I’d collected and brought it out.
Bringing it to my mouth, I bit a small piece of one end off, spitting it away as I pressed the root to my injured right arm and gave it a squeeze, bringing tears of the painkilling liquid to bear. I dabbed them across my right shoulder and down my arm, feeling a chilling numbness take over as the liquid took effect.
Grabbing my bow again, I stood once more. Assuming my stance once more, I drew another unpoisoned arrow and knocked it before trying to draw the bow back.
It came with ease, the pain of my right arm suppressed. A few mild spasms wracked my aim as I drew back and a feeling of weakness made it a bit hard, but I was otherwise able to get it back to my ear. Sighting down the black shaft of the arrow I judged the distance and adjusted, giving a quick glance to the swaying branches of trees to get a picture of the wind I adjusted once more.
I filled my lungs with a large breath and exhaled slowly until the tip of the arrow rested right where I wanted it to be. Then I let my fingers slip from around the bowstring.
The arrow zipped forth, arcing across the distance and thwacking solidly into the stump’s dead center. A ghost of a smile crossed my face as I let my arms relax at my sides.
Good, then, that’s settled, my mind commented as I started the trek to retrieve the projectiles.

Fluttershy’s cottage...

Fluttershy rubbed a sleepy eye with a hoof as she entered the kitchen, trotting over to a cupboard and opening it. She produced a single teacup, her other forehoof hovering over a second. A slightly upset look took her face as she remembered what had happened the last time she’d offered Aram a cup of tea.
With a sigh she closed the cupboard, setting her chosen cup down on the countertop in front of her and noting with a curious expression the soup bowl sitting there. She glanced around the kitchen, remembering how the quiet argonian had been able to enter silently the day before, but discovered only that she was alone.
“He must’ve already gotten up, then,” she said quietly to herself, selecting her teakettle with a wing and taking the soup bowl with a hoof. She trotted over to the sink, filling the teakettle and setting the bowl down in the washbasin for later cleaning.
The pegasus set the water to boil and then turned from the kitchen, trotting over to the living room and quietly up the stairs to her bedroom. Cracking the door open, she peeked in to see if this was where her most recent patient was.
“Hello?” she inquired, pushing the door open more to get a better glimpse at the room and not spotting him, “Hm, maybe he went outside?” she wondered aloud, closing the door and heading back down the stairs.

Just outside Fluttershy’s cottage...

I opened the door, pushing inwards and feeling the door slam into something solid. A startled squeak from the other side told me what said object was, a yellow hoof coming around and opening the door all the way. I relaxed, having initially jerked back with a hand dropping to a knife.
“Ow,” said Fluttershy, rubbing her nose with the other hoof. A spark of surprise lit her face for a moment as she saw me, “oh, I, um, was wondering where you’d gone.”
“Just outside,” I answered, limping past her. She closed the door behind me, turning to face me.
Excuse me? I think that: sorry for just slamming a door into your face would be a far better thing to say, don’t you think? my mind interjected.
“Sorry about that,” I added, gesturing to Fluttershy’s face as she closed the door.
Much better!
“It’s okay, you didn’t know I was here,” Fluttershy accepted with a forgiving smile, her face lit up as she remembered something, “oh, also, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going on a morning picnic with my friend Rarity. Is there, um, anything you’d like me to get for you before I go?”
And there’s that Rarity character again, my mind noted with me.
“No thank you,” I replied. Taking in the room I noted a few piles of animal feed strewn about the floor, a vast array of different animals gobbling it down. A few of them gave me varying looks before I turned back to Fluttershy, “I’m fine.”
“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy smiled again, “I just wanted to make sure before I left.” She turned to the door and lifted a hoof to the handle before I stopped her with a question.
“Actually, I had a question,” I stated, staring down at her.
Her hoof retracted as she turned to look back up at me, “Oh? What is it?”
“Do you know of a creature named Luna?” I inquired.
“Do you mean Princess Luna?” Fluttershy asked.
And so a piece of the puzzle clicks into place! my mind commented.
“Yes,” I replied, “And she has a sister named Celestia?”
Fluttershy nodded, “Yes, they’re the co-rulers of Equestria.”
So that wasn’t just a dream, then, I thought, frowning in thought, that would mean that the regal sisters are them. That only leaves where they preside and where this creature of stone is…
“Um, if you want, Twilight might be able to get you an audience with them. I could ask if you’d like?” she suggested, though a tidbit of anxiety crossed her features.
My eyes flicked to Fluttershy as I considered for a moment, letting her simmer under the intensity of my gaze. Twilight could get me an audience with them? Then again Luna had mentioned that they were powerful ponies.
It could be a good way to find out about the creatures of stone, my mind put in, The leaders of a land should know about those who inhabit it.
Yes, I admitted, glancing down at my cast, though if the specific creature I’m to find resembles Sithis then I doubt that asking them for help would be wise. I may not know all there is to know about this land, but I doubt that something like assassination is highly tolerated. I’m in no shape to be running from guards at this point in time.
Fair enough, my mind replied, and the riddle said that you were supposed to train your acolytes before you searched for this creature anyways.
“No thanks,” I said to Fluttershy, relieving the bit of anxiety in her stance.
“Oh, okay. Though feel free to let me know if you change your mind,” she replied with a smile.
You can count on that, my mind commented, I said nothing.
Fluttershy turned to the door, lifting a hoof to it before hesitating. She pulled the appendage back a bit, throwing me an anxious glance that I returned with a frown. Fluttershy appeared to struggle with something for a moment before she looked up at me again, “I...well, um,” she stuttered, “Would...you like to come too?” she finally asked, “to the picnic, that is? I could introduce you to Rarity. She’s the one who fixed your, um…” a mildly disturbed look that she tried to suppress crossed her face, “...armor.”
Looking down at Fluttershy I considered for a moment, but only for that single moment.
“No,” I replied flatly, then added, “No thank you,” before my mind could berate me for not doing so.
“Oh, well, um, are you sure you don’t want to come?” Fluttershy asked, only looking a little uncomfortable in doing so, “I mean, I’m sure Rarity wouldn’t mind if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“No,” I repeated, “I have other things planned.”
Like what? My mind asked doubtfully. I replied with silence.
“Oh, sorry,” Fluttershy apologized with a slight cringe, “I didn’t know. So are you sure you don’t need anything before I go? I could make you something quick for breakfast if you’d like?”
“No thanks,” I replied, “I already ate.”
“Oh,” Fluttershy said, tone sounding a bit apologetic, “Well, I should be back around lunch-time. I know that you really don’t want to, but please try to get some rest today, okay? You’ll get better faster that way.”
“Okay,” I lied.
“Thank you,” she said, giving me a smile. Another flash of a childhood memory fluttered through my mind, too brief for even a glimpse, “I guess I’ll see you later, then.”
I replied with a nod and a quick grimace that was meant to be a smile. Fluttershy made her way out the door, closing it gently behind her. She made her way down a path towards what I assumed was Ponyville as I stared out a window after her, disappearing behind some lush green hills.
So what now, then? my mind inquired, How about that rest Fluttershy wanted you to get?
I had planned on harvesting some more ingredients from the Everfree forest, I replied, throwing a quick glance at the varying mass of animals also in the room. The pile of feed Fluttershy had given them had dwindled, most of the animals that had been eating it now gone, I need to start testing them to see if there are any other effects that Zecora didn’t mention. If I’m going to be teaching anything about alchemy I’d best know what to make the best poisons from. The sooner I can fulfill Sithis’ wishes and get back to Skyrim, the better.
Without further ado I made my way outside. The sun had risen a sliver in the sky, more songbirds singing scriptless choruses as they danced on the winds. A few rabbits and other small creatures meandered about the field, I paid them no mind as I turned towards the forest with ingredients on my mind.
As the shadows shed by the trees covered me, I slid the satchel Zecora had given me from my waist, loosening the drawstrings and eyeing the contents. It usually wasn’t a good idea to keep a vast assortment of different ingredients together due to the risk of cross-contamination, but there was little I could do to fix that now.
Retying it and attaching it to my belt again, I began to scour the forest for plants to use.
Following the route of my previous treks brought me to the small batch of fearcap mushrooms I’d discovered yesterday. I gathered up most of them, removing the spores from the last few and spreading them across the ground. The spores would be important for stamina potions, but the caps were even more valuable and I’d be getting more of them faster if I grew more.
Thinking a little too long term, Aram? my mind inquired, Do you really think it will take that long to be done here? With the training?
Who knows? I replied, It might.
Moving slowly from tree to tree, I dug around their bases with my knifes until I found a few worthy roots and added them to my satchel as well.
An abundance of the reeds that grew in smelling, swampy water drew me in their direction next. Wrinkling my nose at the putrid waters I gripped one at its base and pulled, making sure not to break the skin nor tear it at the roots. Zecora had assured me that damaging it in one of these ways was the fastest way to lose the anti-toxin it secreted.
Gathering only two more due to their unseemly lengths, another plant captured my attention. Taking care, I slid the three reeds into my quiver, making certain that the heads of my arrows wouldn’t damage them before proceeding to the new plant.
It reminded me of a grass pod of Skyrim, albeit much, much bigger and with a glowing pod head. The plant had a lengthy stem with a few sharpish leaves at odd intervals. The pod head, normally a splatter of green and red, gave off a light glow. Almost unnoticeable in the semi-darkness of the forest, the glow reminded me of the nighttime torchbugs of Skyrim.
The reeds around me crashed violently about as I moved closer to this new plant. Once close enough, I waved my left hand up the plant’s entire length. My ring stayed dull along the length of the stem, though glowed dully as I passed the occasional sharp leaves, giving me another ghost of a smile. The glowing pod also proved to be non-poisonous.
Curious, I brushed a gloved finger against the glowing pod. There was a flash of movement as it exploded at my touch.
“Fornication!” I spat, leaping away and bringing up my hands to shield my face.
Specks of yellow flew in every direction as I crashed backwards through reeds, landing painfully on my back. I could feel my quiver pressing uncomfortably between my shoulder blades, the mucky ground wet against my scales.
“What in Sithis’ name!” I exclaimed, getting painfully to my feet and glaring at the now exploded glowing pod. The stem appeared untouched, the only difference being the now missing pod at the top.
Perhaps touching things that you don’t know about isn’t the best idea, my mind commented.
How was I to know it would do that!? I demanded, adrenaline fading and my heartbeat returning to normal. Making sure I was alright I gave myself a quick once-over. There was no pain anywhere aside from a dull ache from my fall. Looking over my arms and legs startled me as I noticed something strange about my left arm, right below where the glove met scale.
What in the unholy name of Sithis! I mentally cried out.
Most of my entire forearm was now glowing with the same light of the glowing pod.
Well that’s not good, my mind put in.
I didn’t bother with a reply, shaking my arm to try to get whatever was on it off. The dull glow remained. I tried brushing the glow off on my side, only for the glow to spread to wherever I brushed it.
“Agh! Bastard!” I swore, trying to wipe it away with my other gloved hand. The glow failed to spread, but didn’t come off either, “What is this infernal glow?” I wondered, turning to the water.
Trying not to brush the glow to any other parts of my skin, I brought myself to a seated position at the water’s edge. I dunked my left arm in to where the glow ended, scrubbing with my right and bringing it back up. It was still glowing.
At least it wasn’t a poison bloom plant, my mind reassured, drawing forth a memory of my short time with the Dawnguard…

“You don’t want to go near that one,” Agmaer warns me as I eye the odd flower. I glare back over my shoulder at him, a look he doesn’t catch in the darkness of Darkfall passage.
Stupid nord, I mentally growl, doesn’t know anything. I turn back to the flower, a set of yards away. Its dark colors scream that it is poisonous, beckon me to go see what it is.
“Are you seeing anything yet, Beleval?” Agmaer calls out to the Bosmer woman.
Noting that he isn’t watching me, not that I’d care if he were, I quietly make my way over to the flower.
“Nothing!” she calls back, eyeing the ground, “No prints, no droppings, no nothing!”
The nord gives an annoyed sigh, “I’m starting to think that this ‘invading family of falmer’ are just another case of Hakar being Hakar,” Agmaer mumbles to himself, arms crossed, “I wish he’d just stayed in Rorikstead. Dawnguard would do better without him.”
As I near the flower, its web-like fronds open, as if beckoning me.
“Hey! Aram! Isran warned us to stay away from those plants!” the nord calls from my back.
“I’ll be careful,” I spit back, tail giving a single lash of annoyance.
I don’t know, Aram, my mind warns, It might not be a good idea if Isran…
Before my mind can finish, the flower of the plant detonates, spewing bitter-tasting gas into the air. I stumble back, coughing, vision blurring as it stings my eyes…

Perhaps Zecora knows of a cure? my mind commented, drawing me from the memory.
Obviously, I growled, looking around, But it isn’t as if I know where she is!
Maybe you should try licking it off, my mind suggested unhelpfully.
Shut up, I replied, giving my left arm another glare.
Remembering that the leaves had made my ring glow, I tore a few off and dumped them into my satchel along with everything else before making my noisy way out of the army of reeds.
Fluttershy might also know what to do, I thought, the reeds now behind me, Though she said that she’d be away for a while.
Well then just hope it doesn’t kill you for the next few hours and you should be fine. At least it doesn’t appear to stick to clothing, just bare flesh.
So far, I replied, eyeing my left glove suspiciously for any signs of glowing.
Opting to continue on despite my newfound glow, at least until it started showing dangerous signs, I trekked further through the brush, constantly listening and looking for danger. So far the forest had continued its safe sounds. Animals chattered, squawked, and squelched in the distance, telling me that there were no major predators in the general area.
The wind as well continued to scratch through the branches and leaves of the sickly trees growing about the forest.
More drakesbeard was added to my satchel as I spied bits of it clinging to the trees I passed by, filling it almost to its full capacity. I made sure not to crush anything down, lest I increase the chance of cross-contamination.
Time to head back, then? my mind inquired.
Not just yet, I replied, scanning over the forest around me with careful eyes, I’d like to find more skullstalk mushrooms. They’ll certainly come in handy for any poison I wish to make.
It took a while, but eventually a few bits of black and white shone through the sharp leaves of a small bush. Lifting away the bush revealed a small set of skullstalks sitting in the bush’s shade. I plucked them from the ground and added them to my satchel.
Now I’m ready, I thought.

Edge of the Everfree Forest...

It wasn’t hard finding my way back to where I’d entered the Everfree forest. I’d made certain to keep an eye on my path and not make the same mistake I’d made with Zecora.
By now the sun was high in the sky, the day in full bloom. The temperature, as with the days previous, was only a little bit chilly and not a single cloud had wandered the sky.
Entering Fluttershy’s cottage, I scrounged around in the kitchen until I’d found a serviceable mortar and pestle. The thick, wooden bowl and large serving spoon would have to do for now. Munching on another apple, I took my tools to the living room and took a seat on the couch. The annoying glow of my arm met my eyes once more, turning my face sour for a moment.
The glow hadn’t changed at all, which was both good and bad. Good because a lack of any pain or irritation meant that it was hopefully harmless. Bad because, simply put, my arm wasn’t supposed to glow. Hopefully Fluttershy would know what to do when she returned around lunch.
Everything else accomplished, I set to testing my different gathered ingredients.
The makeshift mortar and pestle would suffice for simple potions and testing, but they were nothing compared to the alchemical lab I’d used back at the sanctuary. I would simply have to make do until I could acquire something better.
Testing with the fearcap mushrooms showed that their fear-inducing poison lay in a liquid secreted when pressure was applied to the cap.It was probably a defense mechanism to keep animals at bay. Dry, the cap appeared to be devoid of any effects at all. I cursed the fact I had no flasks to store the liquid before moving on.
Thinking for a moment, I created another batch of drakesbeard paste. This time, however, I used the painkilling liquid of the young root to wet it. The liquid stayed with the paste, creating something that would both stop bleeding and numb the pain of a wound. Consigning the recipe to memory, I decided to put it to paper later.
There was no way I was going to test the skullstalk mushrooms, already knowing their highly dangerous nature, and the caps were too small for me to retrieve their spores without special tools. When separated, the stalks appeared to be poisonous as well and knowing that the fungus was known as skullstalk I didn’t risk a self-test.
Before I could continue further, a knock erupted from the door. Setting everything aside, my hands dropped to their respective knives as my suspicious eyes latched onto the door.
Maybe Fluttershy returned early? My mind proposed.
Maybe… I replied, standing and limping to the door, ...maybe not.
Oh, you’re too paranoid, my mind commented.
You’re not paranoid enough, I retorted, lifting two fingers from my left knife’s hilt and gripping the door knob with them. Preparing myself, I twisted sharply and yanked the door open, knifes at the ready as I glared down at…
Three startled cries met my ears as the cutie mark crusaders leapt back from my undoubtedly frightening form. Their eyes grew wide, ears pressing against their skulls as they huddled together.
Oh no! You’re outnumbered! Run! my mind teased.
Giving a mental growl as a reply, I quickly sheathed my weapons and greeted the three younglings with a smile. Their scared expressions, which made me want to kick myself in the head for causing, faded fast as they recognized me.
“Oh, hi there, mister Falíe!” Applebloom greeted me with a nervous smile, “You scared us there for a moment.”
“Sorry,” I apologized.
“It’s okay,” Scootaloo chimed in, “We were just wondering if Fluttershy was home?”
“No,” I replied, “She said that she’d be gone until lunch.”
“Aww,” the three chorused sadly, looking forlornly at the ground…

“Do I make myself clear!?” the old crone demands.
“Yes, Grelod,” I reply sadly, keeping my eyes on my boots…

I gave my head a quick shake, dislodging the memory from my sight.
“Why do you need to see her?” I inquired, regaining their attention, as I wondered if there was a way I could help. The three perked up at my question.
“We were just going to ask if she could take us into the Everfree forest,” Sweetie Belle replied.
“Yeah! We’re going to try out being Cutie Mark Crusaders castle explorers!” Scootaloo exclaimed, wings buzzing excitedly, “We heard about this cool old castle in the Everfree forest and we want to explore it!”
“But after our last trip to the Everfree forest as Cutie Mark Crusaders chicken rescuers, we need to have ‘adult supervision from a responsible adult’,” Applebloom said the last part in an annoyed tone, “We were gonna ask Sweetie Belle’s sister, Rarity, but she said she was having a breakfast picnic with friends.”
“Who has a picnic for breakfast anyways?” Sweetie Belle wondered aloud, annoyed.
“I know, right?” Apple Bloom seconded, looking to her friend for a moment, “anyways, we tried practically everywhere else. My sister couldn’t do it, neither could Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, or any of the others.”
“Fluttershy was the last pony on our list,” Sweetie Belle said with a sigh, ears drooping in defeat.
I frowned at their predicament, unhappy that they were unhappy, as I tried to think of a way to help...
“Hey! I know!” Scootaloo said, perking up once more. She turned to me with a pointing hoof, “Do you count as a responsible adult? Can you supervise us in the Everfree forest?”
The three looked up to me with expectant eyes, wide and bright with childhood innocence. I didn’t hesitate.
“I don’t see why not,” I replied, a small smile still on my face.
Shall I list the reasons? My mind asked.
Shut-up, I replied.

The Everfree Forest...

“So where is this castle?” I asked as the four of us made our way through a wide game trail cut through the brush. The three trotted a few steps ahead of me, Apple Bloom in the lead, all with expressions of sheer determination.
“Well we’re not entirely sure,” Apple Bloom replied with a glance back to me, “So we’re gonna head over to Zecora’s place first to see if she knows.”
“And you know where Zecora lives?” I asked, just making sure.
“Yep,” the little pony replied, “It’s just down this here trail, not much further if I remember right.”
A noteworthy trail to memorize, then, I thought to myself, throwing a quick glance back over my shoulder to ensure that I had the path set in my memory.
“Oh yeah,” Apple Bloom continued, “She’s a zebra, by the way, so don’t get scared or nothing that she looks or talks funny.”
“I’ll make sure not to,” I replied with a flash of a smile at the thought of me being afraid of Zecora.
What’s a zebra? my mind wondered.
Whatever Zecora is, I replied.
Oh, well I never would have guessed that, you smart-ass! my mind exclaimed sarcastically.
I don’t know what it is any more than you do, I countered defensively.
The three younglings speeding up their steps drew me away from my inner dialogue and I spotted the hut that Zecora called home. None of the lights that had been on the last time I’d seen it were on, but I assumed that was due to the fact it was still daytime.
“Hey, Zecora! You home?” Scootaloo exclaimed, rapping at the door with a hoof. With a quiet creaking sound the door slid open as the little pegasus’ hoof made contact, causing her to hop back a step, startled.
The inside of the hut was nearly pitch black, harsh shapes in the nigh-impregnable darkness the only things visible.
The crusaders shared uneasy glances with each other, the forest growing very quiet all of a sudden. Whether it had been quiet all along or not I was uncertain. My hands found their knives as I scanned the area.
The forest isn’t usually this quiet… I noted with caution.
“Z-zecora?” Sweetie Belle called uneasily into the darkness of the hut.
Silence replied promptly.
“Zecora? Are you in there?” Apple Bloom tried, taking a few cautious steps forwards, her forelegs now on the threshold of the entrance, the darkness sucking at her face. Again there was no reply.
Apple Bloom glanced back at her friends and me, a questioning look on her face.
“Maybe she’s not home?” Sweetie Belle put in, an underlying tone of fear in her young voice.
“Or maybe she got ponynapped!” Scootaloo exclaimed, striding forwards with purpose in her step, “Let’s head inside and see if we can find any clues. Maybe there’s a ransom note!”
“Ponynapped?” Sweetie Belle squeaked, a doubtful expression on her face, “Really, Scootaloo? I think you’ve been reading too many of Rainbow Dash’s Daring Do books.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Scootaloo countered with a roll of her eyes, moving past Apple Bloom, “C’mon, Apple Bloom let’s look for clues!”
“Right behind ya, Scoots!” Apple Bloom replied, both ponies disappearing into the darkness of the hut.
“Are you sure they should be going in there like that?” Sweetie Belle asked, turning to me.
“So long as they play safely and don’t break anything they should be fine,” I replied.
“Oh, well I dunno. I really don’t think that we should be going in uninvited,” Sweetie Belle warned, her face shifting uneasily despite my words.
Perhaps letting them trespass so blatantly isn’t the best idea, my mind agreed, uncertain as the young unicorn.
I was under the impression that they already know Zecora, they should be fine, I dismissed, still keeping a wary eye out on the forest. Everything remained quiet, no distant animals calling out in fear or hunger as they should have been.
“C’mon Sweetie Belle! Now look who’s being a chicken!” Scootaloo replied teasingly from the darkness, giggling playfully and making clucking chicken noises…

...We play in the backyard, children chasing each other around with happy squeals and cries of delight. A shadow falls over us and we stop as one, joy turns to fear as eyes fall on the old crone.
“What did I say about keeping it down, you rabid little bastards..!”

...I shake my head, lip curling into a quick snarl.
She got what she deserved in the end, I comforted to myself.
“I’m not a chicken,” Sweetie Belle retorted, a look of determination on her face as she trotted purposefully into the dark hut. I gave another quick glance to the surrounding forest, looking for something out of the ordinary. Gnarled trees swayed slowly on a silent breeze, little light penetrating their sick looking canopy. Brush stood still and a twilit darkness stretched beyond.
I turned and headed in after the younglings, not spotting a pair of glowing eyes that narrowed as I disappeared into the dark hut.