It was a quiet morning; cool, breezy and the scent of rain hung in the thin fog. The only sound was birdsong filling the air. To anypony else, this was the kind of morning to ether sleep in or go outside just to breath in the peace.
Not everypony had the means to simply enjoy this morning. Applejack was the first to wake up. Actually, it was debatable whether or not she slept at all, her hair was messy and the skin under her eyes was dark.
“Bring back our little saplin'.” Granny Smith smiled, her worried eyes betraying her face. Big Mac sniffled and there were tears in his eyes.
“You betcha, Granny.” Applejack tried to smile, but it faltered quickly. Putting up a brave face had never been natural to her, and it was even more difficult now. Helping her family feel better just didn't seem important next to finding a missing member, especially Apple Bloom.
Her friends were quiet, feeling the tenseness of everything. The only one who didn't look it was Pinkie, who seemed eager to begin the search. She was probably anticipating another high adventure. She was always smiling through these smaller missions, as though she didn't understand the weight.
Rarity and Rainbow stood on ether side of the remaining crusaders protectively, who themselves were in their crusaders' capes. Apple Bloom's cap was draped over the bars on Scootaloo's scooter. One got the feeling that should they approach ether filly with so much as a mean expression, they would have one or both mares to answer to.
Silver Spoon made it a point to not speak and try to look small, as if she wasn't sure whether or not she belonged here. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ignored her, as did Applejack.
That's way it was so confusing when a yellow wing brushed her side in a comforting gesture. Fluttershy smiled at her. It was one of the most genuine smiles she'd ever seen; certainly a far cry from the mocking smirk she was used to seeing from Diamond Tiara.
“Spike, are you sure you'll be okay here?” Twilight asked as the young dragon hopped off her back and walked over to join the apples.
“Everything'll be fine.” Spike said confidently, though he chuckled nervously.
He caught Luna's gaze for an instant and it seemed an understanding passed between them. That he would stay behind unquestioning for his own protection, and she would keep the nightmare he'd had last night between them.
Luna felt guilty for putting him through such a thing, but she had this feeling that it would be especially dangerous for Spike. She wasn't sure what told her this, but she had this feeling it would be foolish to have him along.
“Okay, if you're sure.” Twilight said uncertainly, feeling the little dragon was hiding something from her, but she decided not to pursue it at the moment. A look passed between the seven mares and they started out.
They'd decided on the Everyfree Forest last night, figuring it was the only way out of town so concealing. If Apple Bloom had headed for Canterlot or Las Pegasus, she surly would have been spotted yesterday.
The main path was quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary today. In fact, it seemed more like any other forest, just not the dangerous Everfree. The most excitement their was was a gentle breeze blowing the ponies' manes.
“How long have we been walking?” Rarity asked.
“We only just started five minutes ago, Rarity.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in annoyance, anticipating some whinny complaint about being tiered.
“No, she's right.” Twilight said, stopping in her tracks. “How long have we been out here? It feels like we should have run into some trouble by now.”
“Keep your guards up, my friends.” Luna said. Even a fleeting look would make it clear that she was on edge. Her wings were closed, but their stems were tensed like she was ready to snap them open at any moment, her neck was a bit lowered and her eyes were darting around. “I don't know what it is, but I have this uneasy feeling.”
“Wh-what feeling?” Fluttershy stuttered, trying to hide behind Applejack.
“That there's something close. It feels very familiar, but I can't put my hoof on it. I can't remember.” Luna said.
“Okay.” Twilight nodded. “We'll keep our eyes open.”
The ponies' alertness would end up being useless on the surface because the rest of the day bore the same quiet peace. In some respects, it was even more suspicious. In other respects, it was quite exhausting lumping and tensing at everything.
Luna was just raising the moon as the ponies settled into their campsite that night. They had no camping gear, but Twilight had casted a protection spell around them – they'd be able to rest easy tonight.
Silver Spoon looked over to Sweetie Belle, who was looking down at her cape, apparently in her own world.
“Scootaloo?” the unicorn filly asked. “Do you think Apple Bloom's safe?”
“Hey, come on! She's a Cutie Mark Crusader, she'll be fine.” Scootaloo scoffed in a manner rather reminiscent of Rainbow Dash.
Sweetie locked eyes with the little pegasus, who's brave face fell quickly when tears appeared in her green eyes. She looked almost...afraid. “It's okay, Sweetie Belle. We'll find Apple Bloom and bring her home, and we'll all be best friends again.”
Silver Spoon was confused. She'd never seen such a display before, even outside of herself and Tiara. She thought to herself that Squeaky Belle and Scootaloser – er, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo – must have really cared about Apple Bloom.
“You bet!” Rainbow chimed in and Scootaloo smiled when she ruffled her hair.
“Let's get some rest.” Applejack said. “We'll start out early tomorrow.”
“Right.” Twilight nodded.
Applejack watched as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle snuggled up with Rarity and Rainbow Dash and her lonesomeness and worry returned full-force. She forced her tears to stay hidden as she lay down on her own.
Silver Spoon was more lonely than worried seeing this, and she was still too scared to ask if anypony would snuggle with her. So she lay down and shut her eyes prepared for a night of cold, when something wrapped around her. Something warm and soft like...feathers.
Silver briefly opened her eyes to see that Fluttershy had wrapped a wing around her. The gray filly smiled as she fell asleep.
At the same time, Apple Bloom's mind was far from returning home. All day she and Night Shade had played and talked about their old lives. At the moment, she was sitting near a pond, looking at her reflection ans straining her memory.
“Hey, Apple Bloom,” Night Shade asked.
Apple Bloom looked back at her friend with exhausted eyes and sighed. “I'm trying to think of some good times back home. I mean, there must'a been some good times before.”
“Sure.” Night Shade scoffed angrily. “Ponies who tell you where to go or how to dress.”
“Well, I've been trying to think of a nice memory, but there's nothing.” Apple Bloom said. “If things where really like that, don'tcha think I'da run away a lot sooner?”
“I know what you need.” Night Shade grinned. “Come with me.”
Night Shade's house had turned out to be a bazaar cave-like place. It was all pale brown stone with the occasional pale gem here and there, a river and a couple of ponds. There was an odd light that seemed to come from nowhere, as she never saw an opening that would let light in.
Apple Bloom's mind was too tiered to question such things as she followed Night Shade to a huge door, which opened to reveal a hall of mirrors.
She walked into it tentatively and looked in each mirror. She was met with her own memories. She saw herself being reprimanded by Applejack, arguing with the crusaders, being teased by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Their voices wrung in her ears.
“Sorry little sis, but your apple-sellin' days are over. Home. Now.”
“I know how to call a chicken. Scootaloo! Scit-Scootaloo!”
“Quite it!”
“Blank flank!”
Apple Bloom's eyes blurred with tears as she turned hoof and kicked the mirrors with all her might – shattering them. The broken glass seemed to dissolve into nothing before it hit the ground.
All that was left in the room was a small, sobbing filly surrounded by broken mirrors. Night Shade bounded up to her and looked down at her with a peaceful, if not jaded, expression.
“Apple Bloom, do you get it now?” he asked. “You can think you had friends and family before, but you really didn't. They never appreciated you like I do.”
He allowed himself to smile only when Apple Bloom stood up, her tear spent. “Nopony's ever understood me like you do, Night Shade.”
More of these bad memories swam around in her head, building up a rage in her heart. Night Shade had to work to keep a straight face.
'The hatred, the misery. It's delicious!' he thought. 'Just a little more, and it'll be complete.'