Do we even need to say anything this time, my little human? I think not. On to the story!
I muttered something and sat down in my little hideout. Buster curled up next to me, nuzzling into my side. I giggled and gave him a pat, pulling out my list and crossing off Rarity.
Twilight
RainbowFluttershyRarity
AJPinkie
I smiled and set the list down. I had left little Opal alive, she never did anything to me. I sighed and looked at the entrance to the cave. Which one next? I couldn't kill Fluttershy...Not after what she'd done for me. I shook my head and thought. Rainbow maybe? No, she was too strong. I needed to get her more...Defenseless. I smiled and picked up my list again. "Her..." I whispered. "It's perfect." I grabbed my knife and hopped up, "Come on, Buster. I need you to distract a certain doggy." Buster, 'err'd and got up, following me out of the cave.
I hummed quietly and peeked through the trees. It was nearly night time, the sun was starting to set over the hills, and the trees were swishing steadily with the wind. I smiled and closed my eyes for a second before my ears perked at the sound of barking. Buster tilted his head and took a step forward. "Not yet." I whispered, holding the confused dragon back. He huffed and turned in a circle, sitting down. I rolled my eyes, "Oh pouty pout." I giggle quietly and turned my head back to the trees.
I yawned and rubbed my eyes. It was hard to stare at a field for an hour, especially when you have the attention span of a goldfish. I looked at the sky and grinned, "Finally. Buster, go get the doggy, maybe?" Buster looked at me and tilted his head before running off. Sometimes I could have sworn that little dragon could understand me. I snorted and grabbed my knife, walking out to the orchard.
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Buster trotted up the porch, his walking somewhat crooked as he shuffled up the stairs. He walked muzzle first into the door and blinked. He snorted and yipped. Winona lifted her head from inside and gave a small bark, wiggling out of Appleblooms' arms and trotting down the stairs. She followed the yipping to the front door and gave a small bark back. Buster tilted his head and yipped again, receiving another bark in return. He 'err'd and scratched at the door. Winona did the same and barked.
"Dangit Winona! Shush!"
Winona perked her ears up and barked again.
"Winona!"
Buster tilted his head and scratched at the door before he heard hoofsteps. "What are ya barkin' at?" Applejack opened the door and blinked. "A dragon?" She leaned down and picked Buster up. "Well, ah don't think you're a normal dragon." She looked at his collar tag and frowned. "Buster?" Buster yipped and squirmed. "Hold on, little fella." Applejack flipped the tag around, "Who's yer own-" Applejack gasped and dropped Buster, scurrying inside and slamming the door shut. Winona blinked and looked at Buster. Applejack left her out here. Buster snorted and yipped, running off. Winona barked and chased after him.
Applejack swallowed and reached a hoof out to grab Winona, only to realize she wasn't there. "Ohhh, horseapples..." Applejack bit her lip and slowly peeked out the window. She whined and opened the door ever so slightly. "Winona..." She whispered, sticking her head out. "Winona!"
Nothing.
She whined again and stuck a cautious hoof out the door, taking a few steps. "Winona!" She looked around before swallowing again and walking out completely. "Please, PLEASE, don't tell me she went out to tha orchard..." Applejack scanned the trees. "She did..." Applejack bit her lip as she heard barking and yipping. "Luna protect me." Applejack muttered, shutting the door behind her. She took a step off the porch and swallowed, heading towards the orchard.
Applejack looked around. "Winona!" She whispered, her ears flattening against her head. "Please Winona..." She swallowed and took a step forward, her head snapping up at the sound of rustling. "Winona?"
Silence.
"Winona, i-is that you?" Applejack took a step toward the sound.
No answer, again.
Applejack took another step forward before taking a step back as she saw a flash of blue. She tilted her head and jumped as Winona and Buster ran by her. "Winona!" Applejack turned around. She watched as Winona and Buster circled around, coming back to the tree. Applejack blinked as Buster skid to a stop and stared at her with as much pity as he could with his wall-eyed self. He turned back to Winona and tackled her, rolling her into a nearby hay stack. Applejack frowned and took a step forward.
"Don't move..."
Applejack froze and looked around, "Wh-Who's there?!"
"Don't. Move."
"Who are you!" Applejack took a step forward.
"Why can't you follow directions?"
"Show yer self!"
"....Look up."
Applejack blinked and looked up, backing up quickly as she saw two bright blue eyes staring back at her. She stared back. "Dear Celestia...P-Please..."
Doodle Bug tilted her head and smirked. "You sound like someone I knew..." She giggled, "Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned that you should never trust anypony, no matter how many chores they help you with, no matter how many times they help you bake cookies, and no matter how many times they write you book reports because you asked." Doodle Bug giggled again, showing her knife. Applejack whimpered as tears starting streaming down her cheeks. Doodle Bug looked at her knife, "You like it? It's from the Cakes' kitchen. One of the best knives in Ponyville. You should be proud that it's going to slit your throat. And then your sisters'." Applejack blinked.
"N-No...Not Applebloom! Ya can't kill 'er!"
"And who's going to stop me? If I do it quietly enough, nopony will ever know. Until they wake up in the morning and see the two beloved Apple sisters hanging in the orchard." Doodle Bug shrugged slightly before her simple stare turned into a glare. "Don't you dare try to move. I will catch you, no matter how fast you can run."
"A-Ah wasn't t-tryin' ta-"
"Don't lie to me, AJ. You're the Element of Honesty, after all."
"A-Ah..."
"Enough chit chat, nighty night, AJ." Doodle Bug hopped down from the tree, landing on Applejack. Applejack screamed and went to buck before Doodle Bug plunged the knife through her chest. Applejack wheezed and tried to push Doodle Bug off. "Ah ah ah..." Doodle Bug pushed her back down. "No leaving." She smiled and snatched the knife out of Applejacks' chest. "By the way, you look nice with your mane down." Doodle Bug hopped off her, starting to walk away. "Buster." She called, the small hedgedragon running out from the hay pile and following her.
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Grey Steam blinked his eyes opened and looked at the calender beside his hospital bed. One more day. Then he would walk again... He smiled and sat up. One more day and he could find her.