• Published 3rd Aug 2018
  • 651 Views, 5 Comments

Into the Everfree - Bookpony579



Twilight and her friends come face to face with the 'witch' of the Everfree.

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Chapter 1

Twilight looked up from her map, looked around the area of the Everfree they were in, and nodded. She then pulled out a pencil and began adding to it.

"Are ya sure this is a good idea?" AJ asked, momentarily setting down her back pack.

"Don't worry, I've done some research and conclude that most of the dangerous creatures only come out at night."

AJ raised an eyebrow. "Most of them?"

"...More or less..."

AJ just shook her head, wondering how she got herself roped into this. Twilight had decided a few days ago to chart a sort of 'Atlas' of the Everfree forest. That way, if any of them had to come back again, they would have a better understanding of the area. She had brought with her various cameras, compasses and notebooks to both survey the area and record the various plants and wildlife she found.

"Remind me again why you wanted me to go?" Aj asked, looking around nervously for any monsters.

"Because your the strongest of our friends." Twilight said, writing down more data. "If I do happen to get into trouble, I'll have you here to help me out."

Twilight looked up and saw AJ giving her a flat look.

"...That and you were the only one available to help me carry these supplies. Twilight admitted with a nervous grin.

AJ just grinned and went back to looking around. They had remained on one of the few natural 'paths' in the Everfree, but the area was still darkened with the tall trees casting ominous shadows around them.

"You do realize that braver people than yourself have tried to chart this place and never succeeded, right?"

Twilight waved a non-chalant hand. "That's usually because they didn't have adequate supplies, got scared off too soon, and they didn't often battle against monsters and evil mages of the sort."

AJ had to give her a point there.

Still, she remained on the look out for anything that would jump out at them.

*CRACK*

AJ and Twilight jumped when she heard the distinct sound of a branch snapping.

"Ok, whose there!?" AJ said, getting her magic ready. "Come on, show yourself! I know you're there!"

The bushes shuffled again as Twilight stood beside her friend, her magic ready.

The bushes shuffled as the thing got closer. AJ and Twilight got tense.

The first thing they saw as the creature stepped out was.......


....a familiar pink bow.

AJ's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the thing.

"Applebloom!?"

Applebloom gave a nervous grin. "h-hey sis. Hey Twi..."

"What are you doing out here!?" AJ stomped towards her sister. "Didn't I tell ya it was too dangerous to come with me!?"

Applebloom hung her head in shame. "A-ah'm sorry sis! But I just wanted to see the Witch!"

AJ shook her head and groaned. "Not that silly story again."

"'The witch'?" Twilight echoed, tilting her head in confusion. "What witch?"

"The witch that moved into the Everfree forest a few weeks ago!" Applebloom exclaimed. "Didn't you know?"

"Huh?"

AJ sighed. "It's just some dumb rumor that started a few days ago. Some people thought they saw someone moving around the forest and imagined her a some kind of witch! What load of applesauce!"

"It's true!" Applebloom jumped up. "Rumble said he saw her shadow a few days ago! A-and Twist saws she knows a guy who saw her moving trunks here before that!"

"Applebloom..." Twilight stepped forward. "I'm sure that's just a story made up by someone to scare some people. You can't believe every rumor you hear."

"Besides.." AJ spoke up. "Who in their right mind would willingly live here?" She gestured to the forest around them. "They'd have to be plum crazy!"

*SNAP*

*RUSTLE*

The trio quickly looked around. Applebloom went pale.

'Ah would reckon now would be good as time as any to pack up now?" AJ asked, casting a glance at Twilight who nodded and began to rapidly pack up her supplies.

Twilight had just finished when the rustling continued again, causing the girls to tense up.

After a moment of nothing, the girls relaxed a little....

.....just as a cragadile jumped out of the bushes and roared at them!

AJ shot a blast of magic at the beast before yelling over her shoulder. "RUN!"

Twilight grabbed Applebloom's hand and took off followed by AJ then the even angrier cragadile.

They raced into the forest, dodging trees and jumping over rocks and logs.

"Hey!" AJ ran in another direction. "Over here you overgrown rock!" She looked over at the other two. "Keep going! I'll catch up in a bit!"

"But-" Twilight tried to argue.

"GO! I'll be fine! Just keep mah sister safe!"

With the cragadile's attention on her friend, Twilight raced off, dragging the younger girl behind her.

"W-where are we going!?" Applebloom asked.

"Away from the cragadile!"

"Fair enough!"

The kept going as the sound of the cragadile grew faint before they finally stopped to catch their breat.

"Ok...I think...we lost it...." Twilight wheezed.

"But what about Applejack!?" Applebloom asked. "We've gotta go back for her!"

"Don't worry." Twilight reassured her. "You're sister's strong, both literally and figuratively, I'm sure she'll be fine." She took a quick look around. "The only problem now is figuring out how to get out of here!"

They began walking through the forest, this time being more careful of their surroundings.

"W-what if we run into that witch?"

"I told you: there is no witch. But if there is something out here, then I'm ready for it!"

Twilight began moving some bushed aside and stepped forward....

......only for the ground to crumble away, sending her tumbling down a small cliff!

"TWILIGHT!" Applebloom shouted, before sliding down after her.

Thankfully, the cliff wasn't too big or too steep, and Twilight still rolled the way down before landing in a bush.

However, she had still received several bruises and cuts from her tumble, and her head was starting to spin.

"Twilight!? Twilight!? Are you ok!?"

Applebloom's voice began to fade and Twilight struggled to keep her eyes open.

Her vision fuzzy, Twilight could just make out a figure in a brown cloak approaching them.

She blinked, and then her world turned black.