A few months after Apple Bloom was born, the family’s grandmother, Granny Smith, Mint Orange’s mother, moved in.
To welcome her, they were going to Granny Smith’s favorite place to go to as a filly: Neigh York.
The family was going to take the Friendship Express, a train service in Ponyville.
But, for directions to the station, the family had to go to a wise zebra named Zecora. They would go to her hut in the Everfree Forest for directions.
“Come on, whipper-snappers! Into the wagon!” Granny Smith said as she put 4-month-old Apple Bloom into Big Mac’s lap.
Mint Orange picked up Applejack and put her next to Big Mac. While he did so, his usual cowboy/cowgirl hat fell on her head.
“Huh. It looks better on you, I guess.” he said and left it on her. Applejack hugged her father and thanked him for the hat.
The Apple Family went into the frightening Everfree Forest, the horses on the reins leading them.
Apple Bloom got alarmed by the dark place and began to cry. Sweet Apple grabbed her from Big Mac’s hooves and put in her pacifier.
But Sweet Apple did that too late. Green, glowing eyes peered through the dark forest.
“Ma, Pa, what are those?” Applejack asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Mint Orange gasped. “Timberwolves!”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed, but there was a hint of fright in his voice.
“Mom, stay with Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Applejack. Sweet Apple and I will go fight the Timberwolves.” Mint Orange told Granny Smith, and he and Sweet Apple leaped out of the wagon.
The minute they did, the Timberwolves dug their huge claws into Sweet Apple’s chest and gave her a huge, painful scratch.
“Ma!” Big Mac and Applejack yelled.
“Mama!” Apple Bloom yelled (she had started saying small words, some of which weren’t even words, when she was 3-months-old).
Big Mac tried to leap to her, but Applejack stopped him by grabbing a hold of his tail and yanking him back into the wagon.
“The Timberwolves are out there! You can’t risk life to help Ma!” she yelled.
It was just Mint Orange and the Timberwolves.
“I’ll take you with my bare hooves,” Mint Orange challenged.
But instead, the Timberwolves began to beat him up until he lost consciousness.
The Timberwolves left the scene.
Applejack and Big Mac leaped out the wagon and looked at their unconscious parents.
Mint Orange and Sweet Apple half-opened their eyes.
“Go to Zecora’s hut,” Sweet Apple whispered.
“Yes. Don’t ask for directions to the station. Ask her about what will happen to us.” Mint Orange added.
The two siblings nodded and went back into the wagon.
When they reached the small house, Granny Smith knocked on the door.
“Who is it? I don’t know if you’re dears. I don’t let some creatures in here.” a voice said.
“Oh, Delicious Delight Smith, which is me, and my grandchildren, Big Macintosh, Applejack, and Apple Bloom,” Granny Smith answered.
A zebra opened the door.
“Come in,” she said.
The Apples went inside.
“What do you seek? Knowledge, wisdom, or how about a beak?” Zecora questioned.
“Actually, a question,” Applejack began. “What happened to our parents, after the Timberwolf incident?”
Zecora turned her teacup upside-down. She waved her hooves over it and a smoky green light covered the cup. It showed an image only she could see.
“Oh? Oh. How tragic. You won’t be able to have a funeral with, maybe some lilacs?”
“What? What do ya mean?”Applejack asked.
“Your parents are dead, as my image says. Also, the Timberwolves took their bodies with them, and are now feasting on them.” Zecora explained.
“Nope!” Big Mac insisted.
“He’s right! They aren’t dead! They were the ones that told us to come here and ask 'bout them!” Applejack agreed.
“Those were their last words. You’re lucky that they were heard.” Zecora said solemnly.
Applejack fell to her knees and began to sob. Big Mac comforted her and shed a few tears. Apple Bloom, who didn’t know what was said, cried at the sight of seeing her siblings cry.
Granny Smith thanked Zecora and the family left, depressed that their greatest friends had died.