The Mane Six and Discord finally arrived at Hollow Shades at noon. Although they knew the sun would be high in sky, at Hollow Shades, it was different. It was dark and there was barely any light peeking through the trees. It definitely wasn’t gloomy; it was more like…homey. It had a comfortable feel to it that didn’t make you feel on edge or jumpy. Despite how dark Hollow Shades was, it was more like a den than a pit.
“Wow!” Pinkie cried. “It’s so dark I can’t see anything!” “Oh, Pinkie.” Discord scoffed. “You’re just exaggerating.” Just then, Pinkie rammed into a dim streetlight and fell down. “Then again…” Discord reconsidered.
The group didn’t have much luck with the residents they met. If Hollow Shades was known for one thing, it was privacy. The town and the forest themselves served as refuge for any wanted crook, framed pony or creature, hermits, or ponies wanting to get away from civilization. As a result, the group’s questions didn’t get through much. They then decided to try somepony who had established themselves here.
They eventually found Trail Mix’s Supply Store and saw that the sign also said that he offered directions. “Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity sighed. “I was getting tired of this drab and bleak place.” They went inside to find a lot of equipment, but no owner. Twilight asked, “Hello? Is anypony here?”
Suddenly, they heard a rustling on the other side of the small building. This made them jump a bit before an Earth stallion popped up from behind the counter. “Oh, I’m sorry!” he spoke as he adjusted his glasses. “I usually scare ponies when I do that.” They walked up to the counter and Twilight introduced herself and her friends.
The stallion broke into a smile and chuckled, “I just can’t believe my luck! Princess Twilight and her friends are here! You’re known all around Equestria! Oh! And Discord, too? The one and only master of chaos and disharmony? It’s surely a pleasure to meet you all!
“I’m Trail Mix, the fine owner of this establishment. How may I help you?” Applejack spoke, “Well, see, we’re looking for a sorceress around these here parts. Do you know her?” Trail Mix scoffed, “Shucks! We’ve got many magical creatures here!
“There’s the wizard down the street, the one by the library…Oh! And also three of them on the corner of Three-Way Avenue.” Discord waved his paw and claw and said, “No, no, no! You see, this particular sorceress we’re looking for is cloaked and can be the only one who can help us find an alicorn.”
Trail Mix beamed, “Say, I know where you can find an alicorn!” The Mane Six and Discord leaned close to hear what he said as they asked, “Yes?” Trail Mix nodded and said, “Yes! She’s right there!” He pointed at Twilight as he continued, “How blind are you?”
Discord shook his paw and claw in exasperation and growled, “No, that’s not the alicorn we’re looking for!” Twilight specified, “You see, she’s neither one of the princesses or me. She’s somepony we never met before, and we hope that finding this particular sorceress can help us find her. She wears a cloak and has a short mane with her ends curled up.” “Er, which one are you talking about?” Trail Mix asked in confusion. “The alicorn or the sorceress?”
Rainbow Dash clarified in an annoyed tone, “The sorceress! Duh!” He chuckled, “Oh, right! Sorry. I got confused there.” He turned his back to the group as he scoured through the items behind his counter. He continued, “Okay, I think I know the pony that fits your description.”
He turned back towards them and laid out some records and a photo of the sorceress. He explained, “Her name is Rose. She showed up one day and lives at the foot of Foal Mountain.” Discord couldn’t help but wonder when he looked at Rose’s picture. Though she had red and blue streaks in her mane, a pink coat, glasses, and blue eyes, she looked amazingly like Teardrop! He thought about the possibility that she could be Teardrop’s twin. He also considered that the reason why Zecora didn’t call her a unicorn was probably because she was an alicorn!
He soon disposed of those thoughts because he thought it wasn’t possible for a pony to be born an alicorn…especially if it was twins! Trail Mix continued, “She’s a very skilled and powerful unicorn. She comes to the village every now and then for food and supplies. She usually brings her daughter along, but only at night.” Twilight asked, “She has a daughter?”
“Yep,” he replied. “She does baby-sitting jobs and helps people at night. She’s only ever around at night.” Pinkie asked, “Why does she only appear at night?” “No one knows for certain,” he answered, “but it’s probably because there are crooks around and her mother probably doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her.”
“Well, isn’t it less safe at night?” Twilight asked. Trail Mix replied, “Trust me. It gets too dark at night for any crime to happen. You’re more in danger of disappearing into the woods than for any random crime.” Fluttershy stammered, “Um…are-are there by a-a-a-a-any chance…” She gulped and continued, “…B-b-black Forest Bears in those woods?”
Trail Mix chuckled, “Why, sure there are! But that’s only if you’re deep in the woods enough to be sensed by them.” “Excuse me?” Twilight asked. “’Sensed’?” He said, “You see, it’s so dark that their sight isn’t so good. They rely on their other senses such as hearing and smell. Why, they can even detect heat!”
Fluttershy shook behind Rarity as she whimpered, “See? This is why they’re so scary!” “Oh, come on, Flutters!” Rainbow Dash scoffed. “You’re seriously not going to let the BFBs get in the way of finding Rose, are you?” Trail Mix asked, “BFBs? Is that what you’re calling those bears?”
His face lit up and he smiled, “I gotta use that nickname! It’s a cool one! Thanks!” Rainbow Dash winked, “No problem!”