> Skrrriiitchhhh!
>  by Mister E
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A new room, and a dinner date.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been coming for a long time. The sleepovers with her friends were the start of it. A minor inconvenience at first. But as their crusading became more serious, they began coming over more and more often. The clubhouse was a good idea, but it was too cold for them to use in the winter, and there was no way any member of the Apple Family was going to put a fireplace inside of a tree.

It got worse when Applejack finally, finally, started dating. Every time she brought somepony up to her room, without fail Apple Bloom would find some excuse to come barging in. Applejack even started keeping track of them. So far she was up to eight “I forgot my bow,” three “I need to get my crusader cape,” and two “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t know anypony was up here.” It was on the second of these that Dusty Trail had had enough, and just up and left on the spot. This made Applejack twice as mad, considering they were leaning in for what promised to be the greatest kiss two ponies had every shared in the history of the world. At least that’s what Applejack was thinking at the time. And this was what led to the conversation that she was currently having with Granny Smith.

“Consarn it Granny! She did it again!” Applejack said, throwing her hat on the floor for emphasis. “That filly just will NOT respect my privacy! Every time. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have company come ta call, she finds some reason ta bust in on us.”

Granny Smith just smiled. “Well, she’s just becoming a young mare, and I’m sure she’s a might curious what her big sister is getting up to. I remember not all that long ago a certain orange filly was doing the same thing to HER big brother.”

“Yeah… well...” Applejack paused, her face coloring. “But it isn’t just that. Even if I don’t have a pony over, then she’s all the time having Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle come stay the night. Now don’t get me wrong, they’re as nice a pair of fillies as you could find… well, most of the time. But it’s like I just don’t have any privacy anymore.”

“Well, it’s true that’s she getting to be pretty big to be sharing a room with her sister. And if you wanted her to have her own room that would be fine with me, but you KNOW what that would mean. Are you saying that you’re okay with that? I know Mac wouldn’t mind. And after all, it is only a room. But it’s up to you dear.” Granny said, not trying to push.

“Ya’ll mean Momma’s room of course.” Applejack said, lowering her voice. “I know I’ve been hung up about that for a long time now. An I really appreciate you letting it stay the way it was all this time. I just… I just couldn’t let go y’know? It was Momma’s room. All the way back to when it was Mom and Pop’s room. I guess I just needed it to be like it was. So I could hold onto a little piece of how things used to be.”

Granny looked at Applejack, not unkindly. “I know youngin’, it all happened so sudden like. I could understand what you needed. But darlin’ you’ve been talking about it past tense like. Does that mean, that you’re finally ready to let it go?”

Applejack was quiet, as she thought it through. Part of her was still terrified of losing that last small oasis of the past. But surprisingly, another part of her considered the idea, and came to realize that it didn’t hurt to be considering it. She still loved her Momma. She always would. But it just felt like the time had come to carefully pack up the pictures and the quilts, and all the little knickknacks that her mom loved to pile on any unused surface she could find. It felt like she was finally able to let go of the sadness that had been clinging to her for all these years.

She turned back toward Granny Smith, and said quickly, before she could change her mind. “Yeah, Granny. I think I am ready. Let’s… let’s go tell Apple Bloom that’s she’s about to get her own room.”

She looked up to face her Granny as she spoke, she knew there were tears spilling down her cheeks, when she did, she was surprised to see that Granny’s cheeks were wet with tears as well.

“Call her down here,” Granny said, “and get Mac too, it’s gonna be a special thing for her, and he ain’t gonna want ta miss it either.”

‘Special’ was hardly able to cover it after Apple Bloom received the news. Completely oblivious to the reasons why, she simply assumed that her family had just decided that she was old enough to have her own room. This was reinforced by a short speech from her sister, telling her that she was expected to keep her room clean and tidy, not to eat in bed, and to not stay up past her bedtime, because Applejack WOULD be checking up on her from time to time.

To all this Apple Bloom enthusiastically agreed. Heck she would have agreed to eat nothing but strained spinach for a month if they had asked her to, considering the reward was a room of her very own, so she considered a little cleaning to be coming off light.

After school the following day, Applejack agreed to take her into town, to go shopping for a few things to make her new room feel like her own. While they were gone, Granny and Big Mac went about carefully packing up all the personal items that had been left inside ever since the three siblings mother had passed away.

Granny was thankful that she had her grandson there with her, otherwise she didn’t know just how she would have managed. She let it show less than the youngins, but she felt her daughter-in-law's loss just as strongly as any of them. Still, with Mac’s help they managed to get everything boxed up, and moved to the attic. There, Mac placed everything next to the possessions of his father. He took a few moments to linger, as the light of the afternoon sun caused dust motes to dance in front of the attic window. He let his thoughts drift to his memories of a time when both of his parents where still there, of picnics, and parties, and just gathering around the fireplace on a cold winter’s morning. Far from being sad, Mac suddenly found himself at peace. It was as if a well remembered page had been turned, and a new one filled with the unexpected had opened up before him. Before he turned and left, he allowed himself to vocalize his feelings to an attic not filled with boxes, but with memories.

“Eeyup.” He said, before closing the door, and descending the stairs.  

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and an increasingly frustrated Applejack, had been making their way from shop to shop. Applejack hadn’t objected when Applebloom wanted to tell her two best friends about her new room, and she was fine with them tagging along on their shopping trip… at first. But as the afternoon wore on, it quickly dawned on her, that the CMC were taking every acquisition as seriously as she would if she were buying a new stetson. Each time Apple Bloom would hold up a find, it had to be scrutinized by her two friends, then discussed, then argued about, then be put back, walked away from, returned to, argued about AGAIN, and finally either be accepted or discarded.

“Apple Bloom,” AJ said in exasperation, “I told ya we’re only picking up a few things to go with your room, we ain’t out here ta replace everything you own!”

“But we’ve only bought a few things so far, “Apple Bloom wheedled, and we’re takin our time an makin sure we don’t waste any of your bits. Isn’t that what you want me to do?”

Applejack let out a long sigh. “Well, that IS true. It ain’t like your wasting money. But ya’ll need ta start wrapping this up. We need to be back at the farm before sundown. Unless you want to wait until tomorrow ta get moved in?”

“No, no no,” Apple Bloom said quickly. “Just this one last shop, then I PROMISE we’ll be done. Okay?”

“Alright. This one last shop.” Applejack says smiling, as the trio hurries off. “Darn youngin is getting spoiled rotten. I never got me no fancy new things when I got MY room. Shoot, even my hoof-me-downs were hoof-me-downs.”

There was really only once choice for their final destination. The largest variety shop in Ponyville, Barn-Mart, formally Rich’s Barnyard Bargains. After learning of Rarity’s success with her second boutique, Filthy Rich had, according to rumor, partnered with a savvy investment firm to franchise his store into a chain that would soon span across all of Equestria.  

However, one of the first recommendations that they made was to change the name.

“Rich’s Barnyard Bargains is just too long,” One of the red maned ponies had said.

“It doesn’t roll off the tongue,” the other, his brother, had said.

“You need something catchier,” chimed the first,

“Edgier,” agreed the second.

And the next thing you know, Mr. Rich had hoofed over a handful of bits, and the following day his family’s business had a new name. A day after that, the two brothers were on the first train to Canterlot with a substantial investment from Filthy, and a promise that in a matter of days he could expect to receive a summons to the groundbreaking ceremony of the upcoming Canterlot branch. This had been six months ago. Filthy was beginning to become a bit concerned…

“Alright you three, ya’ll go find whatever geegaws you can, I’m just gonna sit out here a spell, but I want you to be out here in half an hour. If I have ta come in after you we’ll be leaving WITHOUT you spending any more of my bits.” Applejack said, a serious expression on her face.

Without a word of reply, the trio quickly entered the store.

There they just as quickly came to a halt.

“Thirty minutes? Sweetie Belle said, “this place is huge, where should we go first?”

“Applejack was kidding right? She wouldn’t just cut you off, she was just trying to make us hurry, right?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, you don’t know my sister.” Apple Bloom said sadly. “She’s gone out of her way to let me buy a few things, but she’s really tight with our bits. If we aren’t outside in time, she’d come in and get us with a smile on her muzzle.”

“Well, I say we check out the music section. You can’t your own room without something to play music with.” Scootaloo says.

“Well, I think she needs some posters to put up. How can you have a young mare’s room without posters of cute stallions to stare at?” Sweetie Belle counters.

“Look, we’re just wasting time. How about we each go in a different direction, and meet back up here in twenty minutes, I’ll look over what you guys pick and decide then.” Apple Bloom said.

Her two friends nodded in agreement and quickly hurried off.

Meanwhile Apple Bloom made her way causally down a random isle. Truth be told, she wasn’t in any real hurry. The excitement of decorating her new room was still there, but as she made her way past shelf upon shelf of glittering pieces of useless junk, she came to realize that it wasn’t what she was buying that mattered, it was the fact that she finally had a room of her own. She wasn’t considered a foal anymore. Her family was acknowledging the fact that she was growing up.  

“That’s right”, she thought to herself. “I’m practically a grown up. I need to start makin grown up decisions.”  

She was thinking these thoughts as she began to round the corner of an isle. There in front of her was a kiosk. Behind the counter sat a young stallion, who was speaking to an older one in a smart business suit. It occurred to Apple Bloom that she knew who the younger one was. For a moment her heart sped up, and a blush began to creep onto her cheeks. She quickly backed up so the two couldn’t see her until she could get herself under control. She was however, close enough to hear their conversation.

“Not a very large turn out I must say.” The older of the two said.

“Well, this isn’t a very large town.” Replied the younger. “But the ones that did show up were really happy to see me, and in the end, that’s all that matters.”

“Well, THAT, and the substantial amount of money Mr. Rich paid to have you appear here today.” The older said.

From the sigh that escaped the younger one’s muzzle, Apple Bloom could tell that the two of them had been down this road before.

“Mr. Bruin, it’s always about the bits with you. You’re a good manager and all, but there’s more to life than money. What about the fans? What about making ponies happy?”

“That’s all well and good young sir, but I get paid in commission. Twenty percent of a smile doesn’t put food on my plate, or a roof over my head.” The older said, the beginnings of a grin tugging at the edge of his muzzle.

“Oh, Scutter,” the younger said in mock despair, as he couldn’t help but grin himself, “Whatever am I going to do with you?”

“A substantial raise comes to mind. But failing that, how about helping to pack up all these unsold albums and posters? I’m going outside and will pull the cart up around back. Then we can see Mr. Rich, and I can collect my twenty percent, and then maybe, just maybe, I’ll treat you to dinner.” Scutter Bruin said, with a smirk.

“Fine. The younger one said, beginning to pack up the first of several boxes.

While all this had been going on, Apple Bloom hand been trying to get a handle on her emotions.

“Calm down Apple Bloom,” she told herself. “You just got done tellin yourself that your almost a grown up. There’s no way your sister would get all worked up like this. He’s a pony, just the same as you are. An incredibly handsome, talented, famous pony, with dreamy eyes an… NO! Get a hold of yourself. You have a chance to speak with him in person. DO NOT MESS THIS UP!” She almost yelled at her self.

It was then that she saw the older pony leave, and the younger begin to pack up all of their merchandise.

“This is my chance,” she thought.

And taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Apple Bloom stepped out from the corner of the isle and causally made her way up to the kiosk. The young stallion had his back turned as she approached, and was startled when she spoke.

“Got a lot of stuff to pack up there.” She said, proud of the fact that there was no tremor in her voice.

The young stallion jerked his head up in surprise. “Woah, you um… startled me.” He stammered, taking in the sight of the country pony before him. He could tell that she was three maybe four years younger than him, and very, very cute. He found an unexpected blush creeping up his neck.

“Um, can I help you? Did you want a poster, or an album, or an auto-” He began.

“Well, it seems ta me,” Apple Bloom interrupted, “that I should be the one askin that.” And without waiting for approval she began to help the perplexed young stallion box up his wares.

“Well… thanks.” He said finally, and moved to help her with a huge stack of albums. “I um, didn’t catch your name.”

“Why it’s Apple Bloom, thanks for asking.” She replied in a calm voice, while inside her heart was beating faster than a butter churn race.

“I, um, suppose you must not know who I am,” he said awkwardly. A situation that hadn’t occurred to the young stallion in several years.

“Why sure I do,” Apple Bloom said, allowing herself a small smile. “You’re Mustang Bieber.” she said, as she calmly began stacking up the boxes that she had already packed.

“Ah, well… yes. Yes I am.” He said, still off his game. “I must say, you’re not behaving like I would expect you to.”

“Really?” Apple Bloom asked innocently. “How’s that?”

“Well, normally when I’m recognized, mares and fillies tend to do a lot of screaming, their eyes go all wide… well, let’s just say they tend to make a big deal of it.” Mustang says, becoming embarrassed to admit it out loud.

“Yeah I can see that.” Apple Bloom responds, still calm and controlled. “You’re handsome, and talented, and you seem like a really nice stallion.” She finishes, as her hooves begin to tremble as her control starts to crack.

The latter goes completely unnoticed by Mustang, who offers her a large smile. “Well, that’s a very nice thing of you to say. You know, all I ever hear form pretty young mares such as yourself, is an endless tirade of ‘how wonderful I am’s’, or ‘you were singing that just for me’s’, it’s great and all, and I’m glad they like what I do, but they never know anything about me. I do believe, that you are the first pony outside of my mom who has ever called me ‘nice’.”

“There’s a reason for that.” Scutter says, directly behind Apple Bloom, causing her to scatter posters across the floor.

“Scutter! That wasn’t nice at all!” Mustang chides. “I’m sorry, Scutter is known for being a terrible prankster.” And then to Scutter, “just for that I’m telling mom no homemade molasses cookies! For a month!”

A stricken look crosses, Scutter’s muzzle. “Now, now. Let’s not do anything hasty here. How about I treat the young lady to dinner with us, as my way of apologizing? She seems to be much more mature than your usual fans.” He adds approvingly.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t even know if she LIKES my music. She just saw me packing, and decided to help out.” Mustang says, causing a look of surprise on Scutter’s face.

“Well, I never said I didn’t like your music,” Apple Bloom ventures, still trying to maintain her composure. “I’ve got one or two of your albums at home, (in actuality she had all but the newest, and that was only because the release date was set for next month). But as for dinner, I’d have to ask my big Sister. She’s waiting outside while me and my friends shop.”

“Well, I tell you what,” Scutter says, I’ll go see Mr. Rich about collecting our pay. Mustang, if you’ll take these out to the cart,” Scutter says pointing to the boxes, while Miss- I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.

“Apple Bloom,” both she and Mustang say at the same time. Causing them both to blush.

“I see.” Scutter says, not even bothering to hide a VERY trollish smile. “As I was saying, while Apple Bloom goes and asks her sister if they she can join us. Then we can all meet back here. Sound good?”

“Works for me, Mustang said, as he begins to carry the stack of packed boxes toward the back. “But still no cookies!” He calls back, not seeing the stricken look on Scutter’s face once more.

“I’ll go ask her, just as soon as I get all these posters boxed up.” Apple Bloom says, bending to grab the nearest.

“Now Miss, that was all my fault, you don’t have to go to any trouble.” Scutter says contritely.

“Ah shoot, this is nothing. Back on the farm, I usually average ten bushels of apples before lunch, and that’s on a slow day.” Apple Bloom brags.

Scutter trots off, shaking his head in bemusement, muttering about molasses cookies, as Apple Bloom continues to pick up the scattered posters. Finally she allows a huge smile to split her muzzle, while inside she is all but screaming to herself. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! YES!!! I talked to Mustang Bieber. I have a DATE with Mustang Bieber! Well, not exactly a date, and I’ll have to talk Applejack into letting me go, but still… MUSTANG BIEBER! SQUEEE!”

It was then that an all too condesending voice, cut through her clouds of happy thoughts like Rainbow Dash on cloud scattering patrol.

“And what do we have here?” a haughty sounding voice said, filled with derision. Apple Bloom looked up to see an angry looking female unicorn in a security uniform scowling down at her, and all of the spilled posters. “And what do you think you’re doing? Destroying Mr. Rich’s merchandise? Just like a mud pony! Stay right there you, while I call the police.”

“Now hold on right there.” Apple Bloom says, whiling around. “I ain’t destroyed nothing. I’ll have you know I was cleaning all these up before some other pony stepped on them.”

“Yeah, right. THAT’S a likely story!” The unicorn says, snatching the posters from out of Apple Bloom’s hooves. “More likely you were trying to steal them, and fell while making your getaway. Why else would some dirt pony like you be in Mr. Rich’s store? It’s not like YOU could ever afford anything WE sell. Why else would you be in here?” She says, every word laced with spite and venom.

“Actually, she was here to meet me for lunch.” A voice says, from over the guard’s shoulder.

“And just WHO do you think YOU-” She begins, turning to face this new pony. “M-M- Mustang Bieber?!?” She finishes, her eyes going wide.

“Yes, we all know who I am.” Mustang says with derision. “But who exactly are YOU supposed to be?”

“I-I- I’m Caring Egoistic. B-but you can call me Caring. I-I’m chief of security at this store.” The guard stammers out in shock, as Scutter comes trotting up to stand beside Mustang.

“Is everything all right?” Scutter asks.

“Not at all, but it WILL be.” Mustang says to his friend and manager. “Scutter, make a note, under no circumstances are we to EVER make another personal appearance to any business owned by the Rich’s.”

“Yes sir.” Scutter replies dutifully.

“Also, let Mr. Rich know of the deplorable behavior of his head of security.” Mustang continues.

“Of course,” Scutter replies.

“Have you collected our payment for today?” Mustang inquires.

“Yes, I have, down to the last bit.” Scutter says.

“Good, then our business here is concluded. I don’t want either myself or my date, to have to endure this vile establishment any longer than necessary.” Mustang says, taking Apple Bloom by the hoof, and leading her toward the front entrance.

“D-date? Wait. You’re going on a date? With HER?” Caring yells in shock to the retreating backs of the three ponies.

“Not that it’s any of YOUR business, but yes. Apple Bloom is one of the kindest, most mature young mares I have ever met. Certainly far more so than yourself. And did I mention that she is cuter as well? Because yeah, that’s a thing.” Mustang says, over his shoulder.

“That last bit was just mean” Apple Bloom whispers to Mustang, too low for Caring to hear.

“But true,” Mustang whispers back, nearly causing Applebloom’s heart to burst with joy.

Unseen by any of the three, the security pony falls to the floor behind them, looking helplessly at the retreating form of Mustang Bieber. “But… but, I am your biggest fan.” She says quietly, as tears began to form a river down her cheeks.  

She sat there quietly crying until eventually she was escorted to the manager’s office, where she had to give a full accounting as to what transpired. Despite attempting to put her own twist on things, the security camera footage proved to be her undoing. She was summarily dismissed on the spot.

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom had almost made it to the front doors, when she saw that Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and irate looking Applejack had been waiting for her.  

As soon as she caught sight of her, Applejack stepped forward. “Dag nabbit Apple Bloom, I said thirty minutes, and that was ten minutes ago. We were just about to come looking for ya. Now just what in tarnation took you so long?”

“Um, that would be my fault. You see, I was having some trouble packing up some boxes, and your sister was kind enough to offer me some help.” Mustang interjects.

“Well, shoot, that’s okay then, I me-” It was then that Applejack realized who she was talking to. “Mustang Bieber?!? She said, her eyes going wide. She pointed a shaky hoof at the young stallion, “you’re M-Mustang Bieber.”

“Mustang Bieber?!? AHHHHH!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle screamed in unison.

Mustang turned to Apple Bloom, “See, THIS is the reaction I was talking about.” He said with a wide smile.

“Well, I suppose not all ponies can be as mature as I am.” Apple Bloom replies demurely, giving his hoof a squeeze, and causing him to blush.

“Oh my sweet Granny!” Applejack continues, “I’m standing here speaking to Mustang Bieber! My lil sister is holding hooves with Mustang Bieber!” Then AJ’s brain kicks into gear. “Hey, wait just one apple bucking second. Why is my lil sister holding hooves with Mustang Bieber?!?”

After several minutes of explanations involving posters, lost cookies, and Diamond Tiara, Applejack had the full picture. Applejack agreed to let Apple Bloom go to dinner, but only of she could come along as a chaperone.

“You just want to have dinner with Mustang Bieber.” Apple Bloom accused.

“Maaaaybe.” AJ replied, batting her eyelashes coyly at Mustang, causing Apple Bloom to roll her eyes.

“I don’t suppose...” Scootaloo began.

“That you two could come too?” Mustang asks. “Of course you can. Any friend of Apple Bloom’s is a friend of mine.”

“Yay!” they both cheer.

“And there goes my commission.” Scutter says in mock dismay.

“Oh lighten up Scutter, this one is on me.” Mustang says. “But still no cookies.” He adds, eliciting a disappointed groan from Scutter.

It was late that afternoon before two emotionally exhausted Apple’s made their way back to the farm. They all had a wonderful time at dinner. Swapping stories, and laughing as they joked around. Mustang hadn’t had such an enjoyable trip in his life, and promised the next time they were near Ponyville, they would come to the farm for a visit. Applejack in turn offered to let them stay as her guests, and promised them the best home cooked meal they ever had.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were allowed to take a ton of pictures, with all of them getting to pose with Mustang which they both intended to take to school the next day. Applejack made sure to get her fair share as well, some of these turning out to look decidedly predatory, next to a slightly uncomfortable Mustang.

After they got home, and all the stories were told about their day, an exhausted Apple Bloom made her way upstairs, to pin up her brand new autographed poster, and to sleep in her new room for the first time.

“Today, was the greatest day of my life,” she said to the poster of Mustang, before she climbed into bed and pulled up the covers, preparing to fall into an exhausted sleep.

Little did she know, just how accurate that statement would prove to be…
> Odd occurences begin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apple Bloom suddenly heaved in a huge breath, as she sat bolt upright in her new bed. Her wide eyes frantically scanned the room, her heart thudding in her small chest. The light of the moon, streaming through the window, was more than enough to make out the face of the little wind up clock by her bed stand. It read 1:00am and fifteen seconds.

She sat there motionless, her rapid breathing gradually beginning to slow.

“What woke me up?” She wondered in the quiet of her mind. A silence mirrored by the waking world, broken only by the steady tick of her bedside clock. “Did I hear something? Was I having a nightmare?” She asked herself, looking about the room once more.

As she did an eerie feeling began to creep over her. She had shared her old room with Applejack for as long as she could remember. But now for the first time, she was sleeping by herself. This room, now hers, cast unfamiliar shadows as she looked around. She suddenly had conflicting desires arise inside her. The first was ‘look under the bed’, the second was ‘don’t under ANY circumstances, look under the bed’!

She looked out the window instead. There she saw a clear moonlit sky. A light breeze was stirring the branches of the pin oak tree her late mother had planted outside next to her window. Apple Bloom watched the shadows of those branches pass over the surface of her bed sheet. To her increasing dismay they seemed to resemble wicked looking claws that threatened to pull the covers off of her at any moment.

“I need to calm down,” she told herself, taking a deep breath. “I probably just had a bad dream an it woke me up. After all, didn’t I just have the best day ever?” She asked herself, as she eased back down onto her pillow. Reminded of this thought, her muzzle relaxed into a smile. She fluffed her pillow briefly allowing the events of the past day to wash away her anxiety. She was just hovering at the point of reentering the embrace of Morpheus…

“SKRRRRRIIIITTCCH!”

“Huugh,” Applebloom gasped, as she bolted upright once more. Her heart was beating like a hammer in her chest, as she frantically whipped her head back and forth.

There was nothing there. The room, once again, was completely silent, save for the subdued ticking of her little clock.

She glanced once more at the clawed shadow on her bed, and followed it back to the window. There she could still see the branches swaying slightly in the night breeze.

“It was the wind,” she told herself, “the wind blew a branch across the side of the house, that’s what it was,” she told herself, lying back down once more. 

Still, she wasn’t able to find sleep again for some time, as she stared out of the window at the darkened swaying branches.

Dawn came, in her opinion, far too early, as she drug herself out of her new bed, and down to breakfast the following morning. She made her way past the pitcher of juice (apple), the fritters (apple), and the bowl of fresh fruit (also, of course, apple), to the large pot of coffee on the stove, (thankfully NOT somehow apple), and poured herself a large mug with plenty of cream and sugar.

“Well, looks like somepony had a late night,” Granny commented as she spread a generous portion of zap apple jam onto her toast. “Whatsamatter youngin? Too excited bout your new room ta sleep?”

“Naw that wasn’t it Granny,” Apple Bloom said with a yawn. There was a branch off that pin oak tree kept scraping against the side of the house, kept me up all night.”

“Hmm, that’s odd.” Granny said, rubbing her muzzle. “Mac just trimmed that tree back less than a month ago. I’ll have a talk with him about going over it again after lunch. Don’t you worry sweetie, you won’t have any more trouble out of it tonight.” Granny said with a wink.

“Thanks Granny,” Apple Bloom said as she stacked up some hotcakes. “I’m sure after the crusaders get done telling all the kids at school what happened yesterday, that today is going to be a real long one. I’ll be lookin forward to a good night’s sleep when I get home.

“Aw shucks,” Granny said, preparing to go into story mode, “why when I was your age, I was up till almost midnight doing chores, then back up at sunrise to go wake up the chickens and get them fed, and then after that-”

“Sorry Granny, gotta run, don’t want to be late for school!” Apple Bloom said, stuffing hotcakes in her mouth and dashing for the door.

“Land sakes,” Granny said, shaking her head, “Kids today are always in such a hurry.” 

Apple Bloom slowed her pace down to a canter, once she cleared the front gate of her families farm. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had come out to meet her so they could all walk to school together, and discuss their plans for the day.

They quickly agreed on a course of action for operation ‘spill the beans’. Sweetie Belle would trot past Miss Cheerilee, and accidentally drop one of the pictures they took yesterday with Mustang Bieber. Everypony in class knew that Miss Cheerilee was a huge Mustang Bieber fan, and would of course ask Sweetie Belle about the picture. Then Sweetie would bring out all the rest, passing them to their teacher first, as they all explained what happened the day before. It was going to be awesome! Every kid in school would be talking about it, then when they got home they’d tell their folks, and they would tell other ponies, and by the end of the week, the CMC would be the most popular kids in Ponyville.

The CMC’s little plan went off without a hitch. Miss Cheerilee almost fainted when she saw all the pictures the friends had taken. She cast a particularly baleful glare at the ones where Applejack had been getting far too cozy with Mustang. And she made Apple Bloom promise that the next time Mustang was in town, to see if she could get an autographed picture with him as well.

All in all the school day was the best Apple Bloom could remember. All of her classmates were talking about her, and for once, it was in a good way. 

After school, the CMC went back to their clubhouse, but for once none of them felt like working on their plans to assist other ponies with their cutie marks. Instead the three spent the afternoon, talking about their classmates, and yesterday, and Mustang Bieber. Finally Sweetie Belle remembered to ask.

“So, how was your first night in your new room?” 

“Yeah,” Scootaloo added, “I almost completely forgot about that.”

“Ugh, not good.” Apple Bloom said tiredly. “There was a branch or something that kept scraping across the outside of my room. It kept going ‘SKRRRRRIIIITTCCH,  SKRRRRRIIIITTCCH’, I thought I’d never get to sleep.

“Aww, sorry Apple Bloom,” Sweetie said.

“No worries,” Apple Bloom replied, “Granny said she was gonna have Big Mac, trim the limbs back today before I get home, I should be able to sleep fine tonight, no problem.”

“Heh, well maybe it wasn’t a limb at all,” Scootaloo says, slyly.

“What do you mean?” Apple Bloom asks.

“Well, what if it was something else? What if… you’re new room is haunted?” Scootaloo says, trying to sound scary.

“Haunted?” Apple Bloom says, her eyes widening slightly.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!” Sweetie Belle says.

“Is it?” Scootaloo retorts. “Think about it. That room hasn’t been used for a lot of years now. Must be a pretty good reason no pony was allowed to.”

“Now that’s just wrong,” Apple Bloom interjects. “The reason nopony used that room was ‘cause it used to be my mom’s. And Applejack, well, she just didn’t want nopony messing with mom’s stuff.”

“Oh. I’m sorry Apple Bloom, I didn’t know.” Scootaloo says apologetically. “I was just messing around, I didn’t mean nothin by it.”

“It’s okay,” Apple Bloom replies. “I never really knew mom like Big Mac and Applejack did. It doesn’t bother me the way it did her. And anyway, she was the one that let me move in there, so it’s all okay now anyway.”

The three shared a quick hug, and all thoughts of haunted rooms were quickly forgotten as the trio went back to gossiping once more.

Later after they said their goodbyes, Apple Bloom made her way home for dinner.

“Hi Granny, Mac, where’s Applejack?” Apple Bloom asked as she settled in at the dinner table.

“She’s out back seeing to Winona. Seems the poor thing has come down sick last night. She’s been huddled inside her dog house and hasn’t come out all day.” Granny said.

“Aww, I hope it isn’t serious. Applejack really loves her.” Apple Bloom replies.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac confirms.

Hearing a word from Mac reminds Apple Bloom about Granny’s promise.

“Hey big brother, did you take care of that scritchty limb outside my window?”

“Eenope.” Big Mac says shaking his head.

“Nope?” Apple Bloom echo’s. “Why not?”

“He didn’t take care of it, cause there was nothing to take care of,” Granny supplies. “We both went out there, and there wasn’t a single limb anywhere close to the house. I don’t know what made that sound you heard, but it wasn’t coming from that tree. Maybe we got some varmints in the attic or the walls. I’ll see if Fluttershy can come around and check. If there are any in there, I’m sure she can get them to come out.”

“Well dang,” Apple Bloom says, “I was sure it had to be a tree limb, it was so loud, must be a big ole varmint ta make that kind of noise.”

“Well, you never know what kind of critter might wander out of the Everfree. I’ve lived here most all my life, an every year that forest gives up something new.” Granny says, ladling out dinner. “Ya best keep ‘Cindy’ with you tonight, just ta be on the safe side.”

Now Cindy fell under the category of one of the ‘Apple Family Secrets’. Applejack and Apple Bloom had been on their way back from a delivery through the Everfree Forest one day, and came across the remains of a timberwolf. The entire area around it hand been scorched black. Applejack had surmised that it had either gotten in a fight with some fire breathing critter, or it had been unlucky enough to be hit by lightning.

Either way the poor thing had been charred almost beyond recognition, except for on long stout piece of wood that had remained untouched. Without fear, Apple Bloom had reached in and pulled it free. It felt warm to the touch, as if it were alive. And somehow it seemed to give off a feeling of gratitude, as if it were thankful that Apple Bloom rescued it from the wreckage.

Now no one really understood timberwolf anatomy. They seem to be living constructs of wood, but they still thought for themselves. Applejack examined the piece that Apple Bloom had found, and felt the same sense of gratitude from it.

Try as she might, she couldn’t come up with a reason for Apple Bloom not to keep it, after all, this was probably the least magical thing that had happened to them in the last week alone. A ‘happy’ stick didn’t cause any of the family to even bat an eye. In fact, the next day Big Mac had sanded and planed all the rough edges off of it and gave it a nice coat of protective lacquer. 

When returned to Apple Bloom that day when she got home from school, she announced that Big Mac had made ‘Cindy’ very happy. Mac asked why she named it Cindy. Apple Bloom responded by saying it was because she found it in the cinders of a fire. After that the name stuck. The family quickly decided however to keep the origins of Cindy a secret, just in case Twilight or somepony else might want to take it away to ‘study’ it. Granny told them that most times that ponies take something out of the Everfree to ‘study’, it usually never finds its way back.

So Apple Bloom went upstairs into what was now Applejack’s room. She crawled up on her old bed, and carefully took down Cindy from the hooks that were hanging it above her headboard. As always Cindy felt warm to the touch. Apple Bloom carefully laid her on the bed and began unscrewing the hooks that had held her in place. Then she took all three to her new room, and began screwing them into place above her new bed.

As she picked Cindy up to put her into her new home however, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but notice that something seemed wrong. Cindy was giving off a feeling that Apple Bloom couldn’t describe. If she were forced to put a name to it, the closest thing she could come up with was ‘anxiousness’.

“It’s okay Cindy,” Apple Bloom said, not at all self conscious to be talking to a piece of wood. “It’s probably just cause this is a new room and all. I’m sure you’ll get used to it in no time.” She said, petting the surface of the wood, before placing it in its hooks.

Apple Bloom made her way quickly downstairs, and seeing that Applejack still hadn’t returned, she went outside to see how Winona was doing. By the time she made it to her dog house, the matter with Cindy had been forgotten.

Later at dinner, the issue of Winona was brought up once more.

“I just don’t understand it Granny,” Applejack said around a mouthful of greens. “Winona seemed fine yesterday. Heck she was bouncing around like a puppy. But today she’s all huddled up in the back of her little house and won’t come out fer nothin. I tried once to reach in and get her, but she darn near bit my hoof off. Somethin must be REALLY wrong.”

“Well, I was already going to ask you to see if you could bring Fluttershy by the house ta see what was going on with Apple Bloom’s room.” Granny said, “I think there might be some kind of critter in the attic or walls. Might as well ask her if she’ll look in on Winona as well.”

“That’s a good idea Granny,” Applejack says, perking up. “If any pony can figure out what’s wrong with Winona, Fluttershy can.”

“I have no idea what’s wrong with her,” Fluttershy said the following day, after finally managing to coax Winona out of her house. It had taken several hours, and had ultimately resulted in Fluttershy having to use her ‘Stare’. She hated doing that to animals in distress, but she knew that if she wasn’t able to examine her, and she was sick, then things could end up being much worse.

“Isn’t there anything you can tell me?” Applejack said desperately.

“Well, I do know that whatever it is, it isn’t caused by a germ or a virus.” Fluttershy says, scratching Winona behind her ear. “To be honest, Winona’s behavior suggests that she’s completely terrified of something.

“Terrified? Winona’s scared of something? Are you sure?” Applejack asks, looking sadly at her dog.

“Trust me Applejack, of there’s one thing I understand really well, it’s being afraid. And I would say your poor little dog is about as scared as a doggy can be. Has there been anything strange going on lately? Anything to cause her a fright?” Fluttershy asks.

“No, nothing that I can think of.” Applejack says.

“Maybe she heard the same thing I did last night.” A weary looking Apple Bloom said, as she rounded the corner coming home from school.

“You still hearing that noise sugarcube?” Applejack asked, alarmed at how haggard her little sister was looking.

“Yeah. Same as before. Just as I was drifting off to sleep,  SKKKKRRRRRIIIITTTTCH!” It scared me so bad I must’ve hit the headboard ‘cause next thing I knew Cindy had done fell off the wall and landed right in my lap.”

“Cindy?” Fluttershy asked.

“Oh, just a piece of wood Apple Bloom found after a fire.” Applejack said off hoofedly.

“Oh I understand completely,” Fluttershy says knowingly, “mine has 4 eight bit nails sticking out of it, I named him ‘William T, Clubb”,or ‘Billy’ for short. He keeps me company on long trips.”

“Billy Clubb, I like the sound of that,” Applejack says approvingly.

“Yeah well, Cindy might’ve been of use, if I could’ve found what kept making that awful sound. I looked all over the place and never could tell where it was coming from.” Apple Bloom said unhappily.

“Well, I brought a couple of my little mouse friends along. I’ll let the crawl around inside your walls and see if they see anything. Applejack, you hold onto Winona until I get back, okay?”

“Sure thing Fluttershy,” She said, trying to calm Winona down.

Fluttershy followed Apple Bloom upstairs, and into her new room. There she told her mouse friends what she wanted them to do. She warned them that if they did see anything dangerous, to scamper back as fast as they could.

They seemed hesitant at first, holding their noses up and sniffing the air nervously. But finally after some gentle prodding they ran off to their task.

As the mice were making their way between the walls, Fluttershy to a moment to look around Apple Bloom’s new room.  After gazing for a minute out the window, her eyes fell upon the poster of Mustang Bieber that was hung on the door of Apple Bloom’s closet.

“Oh, so you are a Mustang Bieber fan too?” Fluttershy asked eagerly.

“Well, yeah,” Apple Bloom says, and then adds, “but it’s a little more than that. See what happened was-” and then Apple Bloom explains everything that went on the day she acquired her new poster.

“Oh my gosh!” She said, before lowering her voice, “don’t tell Discord, but I am SO jealous!” she said before gazing at the poster once more. Oh, um… Apple Bloom?”

“Yeah?”

“You said Mustang gave you this poster himself?” Fluttershy asks, awkwardly.

“Sure did, and autographed it as well, right before we said goodbye. He promised to send me an advanced copy of his new album in the mail as well.” Apple Bloom says proudly.

“Oh, um… that’s really nice of him. But um, Apple Bloom does anything strike you as odd about this poster?” Fluttershy says hesitatingly.

“Odd, well I don’t know, it was just like all the others I helped pack up that-” suddenly Apple Bloom stops speaking, as she sees what Fluttershy is talking about. Well, I see what you mean. That does look… a little… disturbing.” she says, giving the poster her full attention.

“I suppose it must have been a printing error,” Fluttershy offers.

“Y-yeah, that makes sense,” Apple Bloom agrees. “Me and Mustang boxed up a whole bunch of these and I never really looked at mine closely. He probably didn’t notice it when he signed it. Heck, I didn’t notice it until you pointed it out.” She says running her hoof across the place in question.

“Well, I’m sure he will give you another, the next time you talk to him,” Fluttershy says, turning away from the poster, and suppressing a shudder.

“Yeah, for sure he will,” Apple Bloom says, as she too turns away. In her mind though she keeps asking herself, “did I just not notice it? I was SURE it didn’t look like that when I hung it up. But it must’ve looked that way, posters just don’t up and change. But, how would I have NOT noticed that?” she thinks, glancing back at her poster. A poster that has, instead of the smiling happy face of her new friend, one that appears to be casting a disdainful leer in the direction of anypony viewing it. Such a sinister visage of her new friend, was something Apple Bloom was having trouble coming to terms with.

Later, after what seemed like hours, although only fifteen minutes or so had passed, the pair of mice returned, no worse for wear. They squeaked a bit at Fluttershy, before scampering up her hoof to settle once more into her mane.

“Oh my.’' Fluttershy said when they were finished. “Well, it seems that they did see quite a bit of scratch marks on the other side of the wall planks. But they said that the scratches were really old, nothing recent at all. They said there was an odd smell, but they couldn’t detect any animal scents. I know that doesn’t help much, but at least you know there isn’t anything living in the walls.”

“Well, thanks anyway Fluttershy,” Apple Bloom said in disappointment, trying to forget the face on her poster. “I appreciate you and your friends having a look around.”

“Of course Apple Bloom, what are friends for?” Fluttershy said with a timid smile. “Now I think I need to go talk to Applejack about Winona. I’m going to see if she will let her stay with me for a few nights. Just until she’s calmed down from what ever has frightened her so.”

Apple Bloom lingered in her new room after Fluttershy had gone. She spared a quick glance at the poster before putting her other thoughts in order. She hadn’t quite told Fluttershy and her sister the whole truth about last night. For one thing, she knew for a fact that she didn’t knock Cindy into her lap. Cindy had landed there on her own, right after the first scritching noise. But it was the other thing that happened that had worried her the most. It was the fact that while Cindy was lying there across her lap, she was trembling. Trembling as if she were afraid...
> Holes and Secrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things settled down somewhat after Fluttershy left. Applejack had reluctantly agreed that letting Winona go with her was the best thing to do. The family went inside and got cleaned up for dinner, as Granny set the table.

Dinner conversation was subdued. There was the usual small talk. What went on at school, what Applejack and Mac did that day, and whatever gossip Granny had picked up. It was amazing how the eldest Apple was able to accumulate so much gossip considering how rarely she went to town. Yet she always seemed to be caught up on current events.

“I heard Filthy Rich made it to Canterlot.” She was saying. “Apparently he was none too happy that he couldn’t find hide nor hair of his new ‘business partners’.” She said, a knowing grin on her muzzle. “As far as that goes, I wouldn’t be surprised if the two of them weren’t sunning themselves on some beach in Jamareca by now.”

“Now Granny, how in Equestria could you possibly know that?” Applejack asked skeptically.

“Oh, I have my ways. My old earth pony farmin ways. My dark witchy ways,” she said with a sly wink toward Apple Bloom.

“Ponyfeathers.” Applejack stated before taking a pull of cider. “Granny you been spoutin that same nonsense ever since I was a little filly.”

“Nonsense is it?” Granny said, shakingly rising to her hooves. “Tell me it’s nonsense the next time you’re eating zap apple jam. Tell me it’s nonsense the next time you need a poultice ta cure you of the timberwolf trots. Heh, tell me it’s nonsense the next time I tell you there’s a storm comin, and the bottom drops out of the sky.”

“Granny all those things have a perfectly good explanation for them. There ain’t nothin witchy about ‘em.” Applejack states stubbornly.  

Both Big Mac and Apple Bloom had heard this argument more than a dozen times before. Without a word they began to clear away the dishes, all the while the two stubborn Apples continued to bicker. About the time they had finished the dishes, both Granny and Applejack had begun to wind down. They had done this so many times by now their internal clocks told them when to stop and get ready for bed. Mac and Apple Bloom shared a look, both rolling their eyes at how stubborn ponies in this family could be before making their way upstairs to was up.

Finishing early had it’s merits, as there was plenty of hot water for both her and her brother, and Applebloom said her good nights to her sister and her Granny as she passed them in the hall.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” Apple Bloom muttered to herself, “please let me get just one good night’s sleep.”

For once, it seemed that Apple Bloom may have gotten her wish. She had gotten settled in and said her prayers, with nary a scritch or scratch. She cautiously had lain back, silently waiting for her nightly alarm call to occur, but all seemed quiet and calm. She wanted to say awake a little longer, just to be sure, but lack of sleep the previous nights caused exhaustion to quickly claim her, and she drifted off to a soundless sleep.

“Skrrrrrrrrritch!”

Apple Bloom was instantly awake.

“Aww ponyfeathers.” She mumbled, too tired to be more startled. The clock beside her bed read 1:00am

“Skrrrrrrrrritch!”

“By the Sky Stallion, just shut up!” Apple Bloom said to the empty room.

“Skrrrrrrrrriaatch!”  

The sound had changed. This was new.

“Skrrrrrrrrraaaatch!”

Well, at least there was some variety. Now if it would just scratch out a lullaby of some sort.

“Skrrrrrrrrraaaapplebloom!”

“HAAAHHHH!” Apple Bloom yelled, sitting bolt upright in bed. “AHHHHH! AHHHHH! AAAAAHHHHHH!” she screamed until her brother and her sister came bursting into the room.

“Oh my gosh, what is it? What’s wrong!” Applejack said, swiftly covering the distance to her bed and drawing her into a tight hug.

“The...the… the scratching noise!” Apple Bloom forced out between gasps of breath.

“It’s still there?” Applejack asked worriedly.

“It… it changed.” Apple Bloom said, her voice trembling.

“Changed? What do you mean?” Aj asked.

“First it was like normal, just scritch, scritch. The is changed and was like scratch, scratch. B-but that last time…” Apple Bloom pauses as a shudder passes through her. Forcing herself to continue she says, “That last time it went… it went… scrrrrraaaapplebloom!” She stops again, fighting back tears. “It said my name Applejack, IT SAID MY NAME!”

Applejack looked to Big Mac, a concerned expression on her face. Without a word Mac methodically began stalking around the room. He checked under the bed, in the closet, and looked out the window, studying everything outside.

“What about it Mac, did you see anything?” Applejack asked, still clutching her terrified sister to her chest.

“Eenope,” Big Mac replied, before coming to sit down beside them.

“C’mon lil sis,” Applejack said, cradling her sister in her arms. You’re sleeping with me tonight.” She gestured to Mac to bring her pillows and covers, and AJ carried Apple Bloom back to her own room.  

After seeing that the sisters was comfortable and settled. Big Mac went down stairs and brought up two of the dining room chairs. He went to the door of Apple Bloom’s new room and firmly wedged one of the chairs under the door knob. After he was satisfied that even he couldn’t budge it without breaking the chair, he made his way back to his sister’s room and quietly peeked inside. Both of his sister’s were huddled together on Applejack’s bed, and had fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Big Mac then closed the door and sat the other chair directly in front of it. Then he sat himself down on it and stared intently at the other door and the chair wedged under the knob. He strained his ears, trying to hear even the faintest of scratching sounds, but he was met with only silence.

The following morning found Mac still sitting guard on his chair. Granny, as usual was the first one up. As she exited her room she saw Mac sitting in front of Applejack’s room, leaning back on his chair fast asleep.

“Big Macintosh, what in tarnation are you a doin!” Granny said, startling Mac, and causing him to crash to the floor.

The sounds of all this commotion caused Applejack to come out the door in a hurry.

“What is it? Has something come outta Apple Bloom’s room?” She asked, her head darting around as she gazed out into the hallway.

“Land sakes! What is wrong with you youngins today?” Granny asked in confusion.

“Oh, uh sorry Granny,”Applejack said, as Mac picked himself up off of the floor. “But you see Apple Bloom heard that noise again last night and she got real scared. She said she heard it callin her name. So we come and took her back to my room. Mac’s just been sort of keeping watch for us.”

“Oh for Celestia’s sake!” Granny exclaimed. “I can’t believe she got you too making such a fuss over some scratching noises. Why, between critters and tree limbs, and stuff getting blowed onto the roof, it’s a wonder that you can hear yourself talk in here. But that ain’t no reason ta go makin some big fuss over it.”

“But Granny, she said it called out her name.” Applejack countered.

“Ponyfeathers!” Granny said flatly. “More likely she was dreaming it, and she woke herself up. You both know what’s REALLY going on here, you just won’t admit it. She just got her own room for the first time, and she’s got the night frights because she’s sleepin alone. You both know I’m right, you both did the very same thing. Heck I’m surprised Applejack hasn’t been doing it all over again, seein how she never was cured of it before Apple Bloom came along.”

“Hey now! Wait just an apple buckin minute Granny.” Applejack said indignantly. “You know darn well, I ain’t had no problems takin care of myself ever since...” Here she paused, but then forced herself to go on. “Ever since what happened with mom.” She concluded.

“Yeah well,” Granny conceded as she calmed down somewhat. “It’s true since then you’ve grown into a fine young mare. But darlin, if you want Apple Bloom to do the same, you can’t be coddlin her like this. Shut in her room with her sister, while her brother guards the door. It’s like you were under siege. Can’t you see how doin stuff like this is only gonna make her take it MORE seriously?”

Applejack and Big Mac share a glance.

“Well, maybe… maybe we did kinda get caught up in things last night.” Applejack admits.

“Eeyup,” Mac confirms.

“She just seemed so scared, I guess it never occurred to us that maybe she just dreamed it all up.” Applejack says rubbing her muzzle with her hoof, thinking things through.

“But I didn’t!” Apple Bloom yells, throwing open the door. “I heard it! I heard it say my name! You can’t think I would lie about that!” She says, looking up at her sister, her eyes searching for some sign of agreement.

“Now, Now, calm down youngin,” Granny says, stroking Apple Bloom’s mane. “Ain’t nobody said we don’t believe you heard something. But can you really be for sure that you weren’t dreaming? Ain’t it possible that you might have been asleep, and dreamed it woke you up, with it’s scritchin? Then when you thought it said your name, then it woke you up for real like?” Granny asks.

“Well… but, but I...” Apple Bloom starts and stops. “I-is it possible? Could it really have just been a dream? But I could SWEAR it happened.”

“There now child.” Granny said soothingly. “Dreams are like that. Why one time I dreamed I won the Miss Ponyville Beauty Pageant… while I was wearing ball gown made outta peanut butter and marmalade jam. Course the dream got even better when I got ta dance with the most eligible bachelor in Ponyville. He was wearing a three piece suit made out of toast.” Granny said, her cheeks going red.

“Three piece suit, or three pieces of toast?” Applejack couldn’t help but ask.

“First one, then the other,” Granny fires back with a cackle, cause all three of the siblings to blush and try to shake the image free from their minds.

“Eww,” they all said in unison.

“Aww, ya’ll hush up and go get ready for breakfast.” Granny snaps at them.

“Yes Granny,” they all reply.

Before she goes downstairs, she can’t resist turning back and adding, “and go ahead an decide what kind of jam you all want, ‘cause suddenly I have me a craving for toast!”  

“Granny!” Applejack calls after her in vain. Before shaking her head. “Well, are you feelin any better now?” She asks Apple Bloom.

“Yeah, a little,” Apple Bloom replies.

“Think you’ll be okay to get your things from your room? Or do you want Mac to go in and check things out first.”

“Well...” Apple Bloom says hesitantly. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble...” She says, looking up at her brother.

“Eenope!” Mac replies, and then quickly trots down the hall, and begins removing the chair under Apple Bloom’s door.

“Sorry I’m actin like such a scardy pony,” She says to Applejack.

“Ah shoot, ain’t nothin to be ashamed of. Why from what you tole me, I reckon any filly your age would be scared. But don’t you worry none, me an Mac’ll make sure nothin bad will happen to you.”

“You promise?” Apple Bloom asks seriously.

“I promise.” Applejack replies. “Cross my heart n’ hope to fly, stick a cupcake n’ my eye.” She says solemnly.

Moments later make emerges from Apple Bloom’s room.

“Any problems Mac?” AJ asks, “you see anything?”

Mac hesitates the barest of a fraction before he says “Eenope.” He quickly decided he had no intention of mentioning what he felt as he passed in front of Apple Bloom’s poster of Mustang Beiber. He could swear the eyes of it were following him around the room. And what was with that evil leer? Is that what young mares were into nowadays? Mach shook his head, to dislodge the unsettling image, which Applejack only interpreted as confirmation.

“See Apple Bloom. Mac says it’s safe. And when your brother says somethin, you can believe it’s true.” Applejack said, as she ruffled her sister’s mane.

“Thanks sis, thanks big brother.” She says as Mac trots back up, before she gives them both a big hug.

“Well, glad that’s settled. Now you’d better get your things and get down to breakfast. I reckon the last thing any of us want right now is leftover toast.” AJ says with a shudder, cause both her sister and Mac to hurry off.

After breakfast, Apple Bloom hurried off to join her friends for school, while Big Mac and Applejack took to the fields for their daily chores.

Granny finished up the morning dishes, then made the beds, saving Apple Bloom’s new room for last. Granny didn’t really think Apple Bloom had been hearing voices, nevertheless, she did keep an ear cocked then entire time she was in the room, just in case. Yet the chore proved uneventful, and Granny went downstairs to prepare to do the washing.

Wash day was usually only once a week, since most of her family didn’t usually wear much. Usually it consisted of towels, and bedding, with the occasional scarf or bow. Granny decided that with Winona gone, she would take this opportunity to wash the quilt that Applejack had made for her doghouse, to keep her warm in the wintertime.

Granny went out by the back door, and came around the side of the house and made it all of two steps before she froze in place. About twenty paces in front of her was the pin oak tree her daughter-in-law  had planted when she first moved to Sweet Apple Acres. It still stood tall and true, it’s branches reaching past Apple Bloom’s window. At the base of it, was her headstone, hoofmade, but still beautiful, and smoothly polished. But it was what was in front of it that had caused Granny to stop. The longer she stared at it, the more concerned she became.

For at the base of the headstone was a large hole. A hole of freshly dug soil. A hole more than large enough for, say, a pony, to crawl through. Even more disturbing was the single set of hoof prints that led away from the hole, only to disappear on the hard packed soil beneath Granny’s hooves. Granny stared at them for a moment, before coming to a decision.

She turned and trotted to the barn and returned with a garden rake. Carefully she erased the hoofprints, and then, turning the rake on the flat side, smoothed out a path leading out and away from the hole. Then she returned the rake to the barn, and went to find Mac and Applejack.  

“Tarnation,” Applejack said, as the three approached the hole. “Right out from under Momma’s grave, that’s a sad thing.”

“Yes, it really is. I reckon one of them big millerworms was up under the tree the whole time. That must have been what spooked Winona, and was making them limbs sway and scritch on Apple Bloom’s room. It musta come up through your mom’s grave ‘cause the ground was the softest around there.” Granny said knowingly.

Now a millerworm was a creature from the Everfree Forest. It was part worm and part millipede. And a fully grown one could be as broad as a pony, and as long as a barn. They usually dug their way along underground, and seldom broke the surface, but every now and then one would turn up at the farm, and would have to be caught and taken back to the forest.

“Do… do you reckon we outta dig mom up? Put everything back to rights an such.” Applejack said, with obvious trepidation. The thought of seeing her mother’s decaying remains causing her to go pale.

“Eenope.” Big Mac said, a similar expression on his face.

“No youngins.” Granny said, shaking her head. “There’s no tellin what we would find by now. And your mom has long been gone to a better place. Best we just fill this all back in all respectful like.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right Granny. Mom’s been through enough, no sense disrespecting her… remains, anymore than has already been done. I know she wouldn’t want us… wouldn’t want us to see her like that.” Applejack finishes, with obvious difficulty.

“It’s okay to bee upset sweetie. This is hard for all of us to see.” Granny pauses for a second, before making up her mind. “Tell you what, since I won’t be much use with a shovel, how about I go and pick some of your mom’s favorite flowers, and make a nice wreath to lay, once you two get finished.”

“Well, I reckon mom would really like that.” Applejack says with a small smile.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac agrees.

“But Granny, those flowers only grow in the Everfree Forest. You sure you don’t want one of us to come along with you?” AJ asks, with concern.

“Fiddlesticks!” Granny declares, her orneriness resurfacing. “I’ve been running around in that forest since I was a filly. I know every plant, critter, and sand trap. I reckon I can handle going and picking a bunch of flowers on my own Applejack.” She says sharply.

“All right, all right. No need to get your bun in a cinch, I was just askin.” AJ says placatingly to the retreating form of her Granny.

Granny pauses by the barn and picks up one of the many empty baskets used for the harvest, and makes her way toward the entrance to the Everfree Forest.

“Sorry for bein so snippy youngin,” Granny says softly to herself. “But I didn’t want you comin along an askin questions on why I was heading to Zecora’s hut, instead of picking flowers first.”

Granny picks up her pace once she is out of sight from the farm. She needs to hurry if she is to have time to both gather her wreath, and see Zecora. As her protesting joints began to relax into a trot she considers what she saw, and what it could potentially mean.

“I could be wrong,” she mutters, “but I can’t take the chance that I’m right. I can’t go to Twilight bout this. Then the whole town would have to know. No, Zecora is the only one I can trust. I’m sure she still hates my guts, but she knows more about this kind of thing than anypony. She’ll know what to do. Even after everything that’s happened, she still won’t turn away family.

And if I’m really lucky the youngin’s will never have to know… will never have to know what really happened to their mother...”
> Lost Apples
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Granny made her way as quickly as possible through the dangerous byways of the Everfree. She strode with the confidence of lifelong familiarity as she walked down the familiar paths of her youth. Before long she found herself approaching Zecora’s cabin.

She paused a moment to catch her breath, while bittersweet memories and family secrets played across the landscape of her mind. She remembered the last time she was here. The last argument. The realization that they were both too stubborn to EVER back down. She remembered what they said to each other as Granny had stomped off.

“Away with you benighted hag, and never again darken my door, t’was you that caused my best friend’s death, you’re haggard visage I now abhor!” Zecora shrieked, tears falling from her cheeks as she raged at the departing form of Granny Smith.

“I’m leaving, you evil child. You’ll have your wish. But never even think of stepping onto Apple Family property ever again. You have no place there! Keep to your twisted forest with your twisted plants and potions. You’re the real reason she’s dead! And now, somehow, I have to raise three grandchildren on my own! But I’ll tell you this. No matter how long or how hard that struggle will be, its still better than ever having them know the likes of you!” Granny shouted, before disappearing into the forest.

“Oh, she’ll just love this.” Granny mutters to herself. “After all these years, here I am, crawling back. And why? Just so I can swaller everything I said last time and beg for help. Oh yes, she’ll just eat this up... But what choice do I have?”

“Indeed, that I too wish to know,” a well known voice said from over her shoulder, nearly causing Granny’s heart to stop. “Just why your muzzle you dare to show. After what was said when last you came, I had hoped never to see you again.” Zecora said, a scowl firmly set into her face.

Granny heaves a huge sigh. “I know. Believe me I know. An I was all set ta forget I ever knew you. But something happened on the farm. An Apple Bloom seems ta be involved. And, unfortunately, you are the only pony I can turn to about it.” Granny says bitterly.

“But you have banished me from the farm.” Zecora says smugly. But still, she cannot help but to ask. “But Apple Bloom… has she come to harm?”

“No, not yet,” Granny says in a worried tone. “But I’m powerful worried about what MIGHT happen.”

“Seems, I’ve heard THAT song before. And had you then left well alone, my friend and I would still be fine, and you would not have so much to atone.” Zecora stated hotly.

“You can blame me all you want, but if the two of you hadn’t been meddlin with things you shouldn’t have, it never would have happened in the first place. And you know full well that I took care of her the best I was able. No pony could have done better back then. It wasn’t as if Twilight Sparkle was around, or I had the ear of a princess like pappy did.” Granny said bitterly. “An besides, where were YOU when it got really bad? She kept callin for you, but you never came. Not until it was too late...”

“How DARE you say such things to me, in a mocking voice so proud and sure! I labored long both night and day! Unceasingly searching for a cure!” Zecora yells, pointing an accusing hoof toward Granny. “Took care of her? That is a lie, unless by care you mean locked away. Tied to her bed, and often gagged, with no hope to ever get away.”

“Don’t be a fool.” Granny fires back. “You know how she was toward the end. Did you WANT her to get loose? Come after me and the foals? See us all dead? Would THAT have made you happy?”

“Now YOU it is who is the fool, to think I’d wish them any harm. The only Apple I know like that, is the one who runs the family farm.” Zecora retorts.

“Stop… just stop.” Granny says wearily. “We’ve done this over and over. I admit I did all I could think of to do at the time. And… and I’m sorry for what I said back then. Lookin back I realize that you were doin everything you could to try an save her, even if it meant you ran out of time to save yourself. But please, even if we can never put things right between us, please just hear me out… for Apple Bloom’s sake.”

Zecora was completely stunned by Granny’s admission. Not once in all the long years since their last tragic meeting had she ever admitted to anything being her fault. Had anypony asked, Zecora would have been confident that Granny would go to her grave before ever even speaking to her again.

“I… I have no idea just what to say, you’ve never said such things before. But I cannot just turn you away. Please... come inside and shut the door.” Zecora says, quite shaken, as she leads Granny inside her hut.

Granny makes her way inside. Not having been here for over a decade, she marvels at the interior. “Land sakes youngin, looks like you really took this zebra thing to heart.” Granny says looking around, while running a hoof across a voodoo mask.

“I find it helps when visitors come, to make me seem mysterious and wise, how I wonder would they would feel, if they knew I was an Apple underneath the lie?” Zecora said, as she made Granny a cup of herbal tea.

“Hah, we should find out one day. Have you show up at the next family reunion. Bet that would turn a few heads.” Granny said with an unexpectedly honest smile.

Zecora gives a quick snort, but then a giggle escapes her lips. “Oh little Braeburn would have a fit, if he were to see me now. Quite the crush that little colt, carried for me for quite a while.”

“Oh he ain’t so little anymore. An from what I hear, you may have been the last MARE he ever had a thing for. Course that’s just from the rumor mill.” Granny said sipping her tea.  

Granny sits quietly for a minute. Thinking.

“Zecora… Clivia,” Granny says haltingly. “This is… nice. What we’re doin. Chatting like this. This is nice.”

“Clivia… a name long past, so strange to hear, and yet familiar to my heart, this is going better than I had feared… perhaps, we could… make a new start?” Zecora probes, both Granny and her own feelings.

“I… I didn’t expect we’d have much to say to each other.” Granny admits. “I reckon I thought we’d be at each others throats from the get go. But I knew I had to try, for Apple Bloom. Maybe, maybe after all this is over… maybe I can come back? To catch up on things? Maybe we can see how it goes...”

Zecora sips her tea as she takes a moment to think. Granny doesn’t notice, but Zecora’s hoof is shaking so badly she is practically rattling her cup. “I think,” she says at last. “I think I’d like that, very much. To spend time with you after so very long, and… and call me Clivia if you like, and perhaps I could again call you… mom?” Zecora says, holding her breath.

“Well.” Granny says, quite surprised to ever hear that word again out of her long lost daughter’s lips. “Well, I reckon, that would only be fair.” She says, a single tear rolling down her cheek before being quickly wiped away.

“Well… that is… good,” Zecora says, trying to pull back from the mire of emotions that has begun to swirl inside of her. “But as to why you came, please tell me what has you so scared, and who it is we have to blame.”

“Well, as to that” Granny says, sitting back in her chair. “It’s a long story. And I’ll go ahead and warn you, you ain’t gonna like it.”

“There’s been… an incident.” Granny begins. “And I’m afraid it involves Pear Butter.”

“The situation must be dire, to bring you here beside my fire. A moment please, before we continue, there is one thing I think I must do.” Zecora says, rising from her seat and retrieving a small vial of blue liquid from one of the many racks beside her massive cauldron.

She returns to her chair, and giving Granny what could only be described as a mischievous smirk, she quickly drinks down the contents.

In a matter of moments Granny witnesses a startling transformation. Zecora’s coat changes to a light yellow, while her mane and tail grow out full and lush and red. Her cutie mark changes as well to reveal half an apple beside a mortar and pestle.

“Oh my stars!” Granny exclaims, nearly falling from her chair. “You did it, you found a cure!”

“Well, yes and no,” The red maned beauty says, looking sad. “I managed to find a way to temporarily inhibit the poison’s effects, but I’m afraid it only lasts about two hours. Also, taking it more than twice in twenty four hours has… side effects. Very unpleasant side effects. Still, if we are going to attempt to have our first serious conversation in over ten years, then I’d rather do it without being forced to rhyme every single question and response… Mom? Are you okay?”

“Oh my girl, my sweet little girl. I’d forgotten how beautiful my twin angels were.” Granny says, as tears start to well up in her eyes.

“Oh mom. Don’t you start. I’m hardly little, and we both know I’m not at all sweet.” Clivia says, choking back emotions of her own.

“Sorry… I’m sorry. It’ just… seeing you like that, alive and talking to me. It’s just something I never thought I would see again. It’s twice as hard since you look like yourself again… and like... him.”

“Yeah, I understand. The only way to tell us apart as fillies was by our cutie marks.” Clivia says, her mind filling with memories. “Remember when we were little, and used to cover ‘em up, and drive all the kids crazy trying to guess which of us were which?”

“Yeah.” Granny says smiling. “You two were always both destined to be heart breakers. I figured your dad was going to have to fight ponies off with a stick. But we both know how THAT ended up turning out.”

“Eeyup,” Clivia nods sagely. “I reckon one thing runs true in this family. We were all good at keeping secrets. Especially HIM”

“All those years, and I never knew until it was too late.” Granny says sadly. “An now we end up with something even worse going on.”

“Worse?” Clivia says in surprise. “What could possibly be worse than what HE did?”

Over several cups of tea, Granny explains what has been occurring at Sweet Apple Acres. Starting from when Apple Bloom moved into her new room, all the way until Granny’s grim discovery this morning.

“One set of hoof prints leading away from the hole. And you said no hoof prints leading TOWARD it?” Clivia asks.

“Eenope.” Granny replies. “Just one set leading away, off toward the forest.”

“You think… you think she’s still alive? After all this time?” Clivia says incredulously.

“I know it sounds crazy. But the only other thing I can come up with is that she’s some kind of zombie. Either way, the only pony I could turn to if I wanted to keep this quiet, was you.” Granny says looking her daughter in the eye.

“Well, I see some things haven’t changed.” Clivia said looking right back across the table. “More Apple Family Secrets.”

“And it’s a good thing I keep our secrets.” Granny fires back. “Imagine what your new friend Twilight would say if she found out that her mysterious zebra friend wasn’t a zebra at all. Or what kind of experiments you and Pear Butter got up to. Why I reckon she’d have you locked up in some lab or another, picking apart your brain, and doin who knows what kind of experiments on you. Or am I wrong?”

Clivia begins to answer. Then, thinking about how Twilight gets when she has a new mystery to solve, she quickly changes the subject.

“Getting back to the matter at hoof,” She says evasively, “I don’t think we are dealing with a zombie. She’s been in the ground far too long for any flesh to remain on her bones, and that’s not counting what we … did to her, before she was buried.”

So we’re thinking the same thing then.” Granny says more as a statement than a question.

“I’m afraid so,” Clivia confirms. “She must still be alive. Even after all we tried, that poisonous brew must have still been able to bring her back. It just took all this time to do it’s work. And considering the roots of her stupid pin oak tree were probably feeding off of her remains the whole time, that would explain the scritching, and other noises.”

“What in Equestria are we going to do?” Granny asks, concern filling her voice. “The only reason we won last time is that we caught her off guard. She’s not going to fall for that again.”

“You said the tracks were leading off into the forest. Do you think she might have just been running away? Trying to get as far away from the ponies that buried her as possible?” Clivia asks hopefully.

“Oh I really wish that were so,” Granny says. “But you remember how she was right at the end? She was obsessed. She wanted us all dead. That poison changed her, just like it did you. Only she got it so much worse. No, she’ll be coming back. Coming back after all of us. And when she does, we need to be ready for her.”

“So what can we do about it? If what we did before didn’t kill here, and over ten years in the ground didn’t kill her, then at this point I don’t know that she CAN be killed.” Clivia says.

“I don’t rightly know,”Granny admits. “I had my hopes up for a minute there when you changed back to normal. I thought you had a cure that we could use on her.”

“Mom, that’s it!” Clivia says excitedly.

“What? What’s it?” Granny asks in confusion.

“We can use my cure, we can dose her with it! And then, when she turns back to normal, we can...” Here Clivia falters, unable to voice what she has in mind. “We can… can...”

“Shove a big sharpened stick through what’s left of my daughter’s heart, and lop off her head?” Granny asks her other daughter.

“Well, yes. Something like that,” Clivia admits reluctantly, shuddering outright.  

“It’s a pretty grim idea youngin,” Granny says, placing a hoof on her shoulder, “but I reckon it’s the only thing we can do. Best make up a big batch of that ‘cure’ of yours, and meet me at the house at sundown. I’m not going to tell the others why ‘Zecora’ is really paying a visit. Or just what we are up against, but I’ll tell ‘em something. Maybe a shapeshiftin critter from the Everfree, that you are coming to help put down. That would cover it.”

“You just cannot tell ANY pony the truth can you?” Clivia says in frustration, favoring Granny with a bitter glare.

“And what exactly do you want me to say? Hmm? Oh sorry youngins, yer maw is back from the dead, trying to kill us all, cause that’s what made us put her in the ground in the first place. And, oh yes, Zecora isn’t really a zebra, but your long lost aunt, and that story ‘bout her being eaten by a hydra was just so you’d not go running off to the Everfree, and end up like your momma and her did. And then of course there’s your pappy-”

“All right, all right, I get it!” Clivia says becoming upset. “If you tell them some of it, you’d have to tell them all of it. I understand.” Then after a moment. “Wait, a HYDRA? Really?!?”

“Well, I had to tell them something. I mean after the accident, you left to try and find a cure, and then when you came back, an what I made you help me do... Well, you didn’t want anything to do with me, after that, and I’d be lying if I said the feeling wasn’t mutual. So I just figured that would be the best all around ta keep them out of the forest, and away from you.”

“Of course.” Clivia says bitterly. “And I’m sure you had nothing to do with all the mistrust that was generated in Ponyville, every time ‘Zecora’ came for a visit?”

“Well...{mutter, mutter}” Granny mumbles.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Clivia says icily.

Granny sighs, “I said, it might be possible I know something about it...”

“As I thought.” Clivia said, shaking her head in derision. “My own mother...”

“I was trying to protect my family.” Granny exclaims.

Clivia favors her mother with a cold stare.

“The REST of my family. The ones that COULDN’T take care of themselves.”  Granny clarifies.

“Oh of course, of course.” Clivia says condescendingly.

“Youngin, I reckon we’d better stop right here before one of us says something that the other is gonna regret.” Granny says, getting her stubborn up.

“As if YOU ever regretted anything you ever did in your bitter, hate filled life!” Clivia fires back.

Granny is about to speak. About to offer another hurt filled scathing remark. “Blast this stubborn child” she thinks to herself. “Why did I come her in the first place? I don’t know what I was thinking.” Then she remembers Apple Bloom, and Mac and Applejack. “They can’t survive what’s coming.” She thinks, “and I can’t protect them. Just like I couldn’t protect...”

“I couldn’t save you. Either of you.” She says in a sad broken voice, to a still angry Clivia.

“W-what?” Clivia said, brought up short by the unexpected confession.

“I knew it was all MY fault, after I done it.” Granny confesses bitterly. “When I can bustin in, all sure of myself, all sure I was doin the right thing. You warned me, you both did. But I was filled with my ‘righteous’ fury, bustin' up all your stuff. And then the last thing she did before the explosion was to push me clear, push me out to safety, and for that she took the worst of it, and got covered in that… that poison, from hoof to mane.
You were always right to blame me for it. Always right to hate me. But I was angry, and hurt, and I couldn’t take that blame on myself. So I turned it around. I placed it all on your shoulders. Made out like you were fools, and were messing with things you knew nothing about.
But it was me.” Granny says, as fresh tears begin to fall. “I was the fool. I couldn’t accept that you two could do something the rest of us couldn’t. I- I was jealous, jealous of my own daughter... but I never EVER could admit such a thing, not even to myself. And because I was a fool, I lost the two of the most important ponies in my life.”

“M-mom. What… what are you saying?” Clivia says with wide eyes, her heart beating faster in her chest. “You were jealous, of US? That was the real reason you came busting in that day, the day of our final success? Mom. We had done it, we could have changed the world. And you… and you...” Clivia trails off bitterly.

“Yes, I know.” Granny says quietly. “My sins can’t be forgiven. And I kept goin down that road, makin it worse an worse. I put the blame on a young mare who just lost her sister-in-law, and her life’s work, an her very identity. I blamed and blamed until she started believing it herself, and then I cast her out. But not until after, of course, what I made her help me to do to her best friend...”

“Hah,” Granny laughs bitterly. “Applejack and her friends have taken down Sombra, and Tirek, and think they’ve gotten rid of the worst Equestria has to offer. But I’ve been here this whole time… here this whole time.” Granny says, then noticing what Clivia is doing she asks, “you’re packing a bag?”

“Of course,” Clivia replies briskly, “there is no telling what else I may need besides my cure at this point. Better safe than sorry.”

“Y-you mean... you’re still going to help me?” Granny asks, incredulously.

“Oh Hells no, you bitter hate filled nag.” Clivia says cheerfully. “But I can’t very well entrust the safety of my nieces and nephew to someone who’s only skill is to make things worse now can I.”

Granny wipes a tear from her eye, smiling as she gets down off of her chair. “Eenope.” She says, before trotting over to help her daughter pack.
> Further Fears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had taken longer than expected for Granny and ‘Zecora’ to finish packing up everything she though they might need, and return to the farm. Zecora had already reverted to her zebra form by the time they were clearing the edge of the forest, and had begun making their way back to the farmhouse.

There, on the porch, a furious looking Applejack sat waiting for them.

“Where in tarnation have you been Granny!” She exploded as the two traveler’s approached. “It doesn’t take half a day to pick a garland of flowers. We were getting worried sick. I was just about to send Big Mac in after you, and then I see you and Zecora trotting back, calm as you please. I also notice that you don’t even have any flowers with you. Ya got anything you want to tell me? Hmm?”

“Now don’t you take that tone of voice with ME missy!” Granny fires back. “I INVENTED that tone of voice! Why I was usin that on your granpappy back before they invented candles… Darn inconvenient too, always havin to carry torches around all the time. Why I remem-”

“What I believe your Granny is trying to say,” Zecora says, nudging the older mare in the ribs to interrupt her diatribe, “is that I’m the reason she was delayed.

“Wazzat now? Oh… right.” Granny says, coming back to the present. “Well, I hate to tell you this youngin, but I wasn’t bein exactly honest with you about why I went into the forest.”

“Oh really,” Applejack says, her voice dripping sarcasm.

“Yeah. Truth to tell, I wasn’t really goin after any flowers. I just needed ta talk to Zecora here bout what made that big ole hole.” Granny says, glancing around. “Does Apple Bloom know about that yet?” Granny asks.

“Naw, she ain’t been around that side of the house today. She could see it from her room for sure, but she ain’t been back in there yet either. So why exactly did ya need ta lie to us about going to see Zecora?” Applejack asks, bringing the subject back on track.

“Well, see I wasn’t for sure about what it was, but I had my suspicions. I wanted ta check with Zecora before I went an worried any of ya’ll about it in case I was wrong.” Granny said.

“So, and what did ya’ll figure out? We got us a big ole millerworm or what?” AJ asks impatiently.

Granny and Zecora share a glance before Zecora begins speaking.

“I’m afraid Granny’s worries have come true, tis not a worm that is plaguing you. From what your Granny has described to me, it’s a different creature from the Everfree.” Zecora says, going along with the story Granny had concocted.

“So, what exactly are we dealin with then?” Applejack asks.

“It’s a… scavenger that fills me with dread,” Zecora says after a moments thought, “that can change it’s shape to that which it has fed.”

“What? So there’s some kinda shapeshiftin critter that dug it’s way out of momma’s grave? And you mean ta say it could be running around lookin like her? We need to get after it!” Applejack says in alarm.

“No need to hunt the creature down, as long as ponies are here, it will stay around. For if what I believe is true, it wont be long before it comes after you.” Zecora says, pointing at Applejack.

“What Zecora is trying to say, “Granny interrupts, with a scathing glare toward Zecora, “is that thing has got a taste for ponies now, and it’ll probably stay around the farm hunting for more. Furthermore, she was telling me how this thing is really hard to kill. So she brought some special potions with her which will weaken it, and lock it into the last shape it took over.”

“It will?” Zecora says in surprise, “I mean of course it will, as Granny has said, and when it does we must kill it dead.”

“So you’re sayin that it’s gonna be looking like my mom, but then we have to kill it?” Applejack says, with growing unease. “This whole thing is a might hard to swallow.” She says scratching her head.

“Um, it seems pretty straightforward, at least to me, what with all I see in the Everfree,” Zecora says, trying to smooth things over.

“Well, I suppose.” Applejack says, still not sounding entirely convinced. “So what exactly are we supposed to do?

“Well, first I reckon we need to get the family together. And then explain to them what all is going on. The get them all armed with some of Zecora’s cu-… um, I mean potions. Once you dose the thing good, you need to kill it quickly. Those potions won’t last for very long. I know it’ll be hard, what with it probably lookin like your maw, but we just don’t have any other way to stop it. It’s too strong to trap, and you saw how it could dig, so a pit would be out of the question.”

“What about Twilight, and my friends? I’m sure they could probably help.” Applejack says hopefully.

“Um… well...” Granny begins.

“We don’t have time to go to town,” Zecora interjects, “with this beast so close around. Also you might lure it there, and it could escape to who knows where.”

“Yeah, what she said,” Granny chimes in. “We got enough ponies to take care of it here. No sense giving the critter a chance to escape.”

“Well, I guess that makes sense,” Applejack says slowly. “Alright, well we better get inside and tell the others then.” She says before getting up and walking inside.

“I hope you are proud, I lied for you,” Zecora whispers to Granny between clenched teeth. “what in Equestria, have you gotten me into?”

“Hush up now. We both agreed it’s for the best.” Granny whispers back. “If we stick to our story, we may actually be able to pull this off without them ever knowing.”

“That you would allow patricide makes me wonder, if in helping you I have not blundered.” Zecora whispers back in anger.

“I said hush,” Granny hisses. “You know we ain’t got no choice. It’s just like last time, only worse. The only good thing we have goin for us is that she doesn’t have any idea that we have a way to stop her.”

Further conversation was cut off as the pair entered the dining room where Big Mac and Apple Bloom were finding their chairs. Applejack had gotten a jug of cider, and was pouring everypony a mug before sitting down herself.  

Granny and Zecora stood at the edge of the table, and began to spin their yarn. After a few minutes of questions, many of which Granny or Zecora made up answers to on the spot, the family was brought up to speed.

It was decided that the family would split up into teams. Applejack and Apple Bloom, would be together. Zecora and Granny would be paired up, and Big Mac would be a team all by himself. A prospect he didn’t mind at all. The three groups would scout around the farm, meeting back up at the front porch. If anypony saw anything they were to let out a holler and the others would come running. The idea was for none of them to try and take the critter on their own, but two ponies together should be able to hold it off until the rest arrived.

By the time they had laid their plans, the sun was already beginning to set. Mac made some torches out of old rags and kindling and passed them out to everyone. Mac began to make his way around the house, while Zecora and Granny headed over to check the barn. Applejack and Apple Bloom were to stay and guard the house in case the critter decided to try and break in.

After the others had left, Applejack went around securing the doors and windows, while Apple Bloom went upstairs to get the third member of their team, Cindy.

Twilight had already begun to cast it’s long shadows into the window of Apple Bloom’s new room by the time she slowly open the door. She peered cautiously inside, her nerves on edge. She had no reason to believe that the creature Granny and Zecora had described had somehow gotten into the house, but she was still filled with unresolved doubts over her room. Questions that had not been answered to her satisfaction.

She strained her ears before entering. But was rewarded with nothing but silence. Quietly, she tiphoofed over to her bed, and gingerly removed Cindy from her hooks. Once again she paused and cast her gaze around the room. Her eyes caught sight of her poster of Mustang Beiber in the fading light. Getting that poster seemed a lifetime ago now. He happiest memory tainted by the events that followed.

As she looked at the poster once more, she all but gasped aloud. That face! It had changed again. And this time there could be no doubt. It WAS different than before. Different than the last time she looked at it. And the change was definitely for the worse. The handsome face of Mustang, that before had been twisted into a leer, was now glaring at her with unmistakable hatred. It was a malevolent gaze, an evil hate filled gaze. The pony in that poster wasn’t her friend. The pony in that poster looked like he was just about to reach out and take her by the throat, squeezing until the very life left her body.

Apple Bloom gave a horrified shudder, and holding Cindy to her chest, she quickly made for the door. But she hadn’t gone two steps before she heard it…

“Skrrriiiiiitch. Skrrrrraaaaaatch. SkrrrrraaaaAPPLEBLOOM!”

Apple Bloom was frozen in her tracks. Her heart pounding in fear.

“Skrrrrraaapplebloom... Sssssttttttaaaay aaaaaapplebloom... Ssssssooooo hungry... Sssssooooft aaaaaaapplebloom… ssssswwwweeeet aaaaapplebloom… taaaaaaassssty aaaaaapplebloom.”

Apple Bloom could clearly hear a scribbling at the window. As if something were frantically trying to get in. Her throat was constricted with fear, she was unable to scream for help. The sound of breaking glass was what finally freed her from her paralysis. As her window was breaking she finally found her legs and bolted out the door and down the stairs as fast as she could go. She frantically wasted minutes searching the house for Applejack, before finally spotting her.

The front door was open, and Applejack stood on the porch, facing outside, her back to the inside of the house. She was motionless. Strangely so, as if whatever it was that she was looking at help her attention completely. Apple Bloom had stopped as well. For some reason the sight of her sister, her back to her, looking out at who knows what, filled Apple Bloom with dread. Suddenly she was deathly afraid of Applejack turning around. She was sure that if she did, there would be something horribly wrong with her face. Would it be eaten off? Horribly mutilated? Or would she just turn and stare at her, with that horrible face from the poster in her room.

Apple Bloom was transfixed between two terrors. The one behind her, upstairs, that for all she knew was coming after her, could be behind her even now if she dared to turn around. And the terror before her, from the strange unnaturally stillness of her sister, for what she dreaded to see in her sisters eyes.

She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know which way to turn. But after only a moment, the burden of choice was lifted from her, as her sister spoke.

“Apple Bloom,” her sister said, her voice somehow devoid of inflection.

“Y-yes?” Apple Bloom asked, her voice trembling to match her legs.

“Come here Apple Bloom,” her sister said again, still unmoving.

“I...I...” Apple Bloom said, inching forward as slowly as she could.

“Come here Apple Bloom,” her sister said once more.  

Then, as Apple Bloom had moved closer to her sister, Applejack suddenly spun around, and grabbed her shoulder with a hoof, the other raised high, something tight in it’s grasp. Apple Bloom looked up terror stricken into her sister’s face, a face contorted into a manic grin…

“It’s about time! Hahahaaa. I have something for you Apple Bloom,” her sister said, all the while smiling that ghastly smile.  

“AAAIIIEEE” Apple Bloom screamed. The echos of which were swallowed up by the encroaching darkness.
> Unmasking the truth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What in tarnation is wrong with you Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked appalled. “Yer yellin loud enough to wake the dead.”

“Bu- but I… you… what?” Apple Bloom asked in confusion, as Applejack lowered her hooves.

“I was just gonna hand you this here poster, and show you who Big Mac caught snooping around that tree outside your window.” Applejack explains, as she moves aside to reveal her brother, Big Mac holding two very familiar ponies off the ground by the scruff of their necks.

“Let us down. I DEMAND that you let us down. Do you have any idea who I am?” The smaller of the two squawks in outrage.

To answer your questions, eenope, eenope, and eenope, in that order.” Big Mac says giving the two a shake for good measure.

“What’s goin on over here. I heard Apple Bloom screaming, and who the heck are these two ponies?” Granny wheezes, as she and Zecora gallop up to the porch. “Actually, just gimmie a minute on all that.” She pants holding up a hoof. “I’m getting to old to be galloping across the fields at night.”

Apple Bloom trots closer. The light of the torches that everypony is carrying makes it easy to identify the two ponies in question.

“Scutter Bruin, and Caring Egositic?” What in Equestria are you to doing here?” Apple Bloom asks in shock.  

“I don’t have to tell YOU anything,” Caring says sticking her muzzle in the air. That is, until Mac gives her another good shake. “O-on the other hoof, I suppose it doesn’t matter now. I came here for my revenge, Apple Bloom!”  

“Revenge? On me?” Apple Bloom asks uncertainly.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake! Of course on you.” Caring explodes. “My one chance to talk to Mustang Beiber, and you ruined it! Thanks to you he hates me, and I can never see him again. Thanks to you he left me crying on the floor of my FORMER store, while he went off on a date with YOU!” She yelled shrilly. “He was… the only pony I ever loved.” She said, a single tear falling from the corner of her eye.

“So… so you came out here to the farm, to do what exactly?” Apple Bloom asks, trying to sort it all out.

“I snuck out here every night since then to scare the life out of you.” Caring says without a hint of remorse. “Imagine my surprise the night I first got here to run into Mustang’s manager. Apparently he was here to do the same thing.”

“Scutter? You? But why?” Apple Bloom says, turning toward the pony in question.

“Well it was just a harmless prank,” he begins. “I’ve had some fake posters made for quite some time, and I figured that I was due SOME compensation considering you cost me a month’s worth of homemade molasses cookies.”

“Cookies? You terrified my sister through all these nights just for some lousy cookies!” Applejack says, becoming red with rage.

“NOT lousy cookies. These were made by Mustang’s mom. They are literally, beyond a doubt, the best molasses cookies in Equestria.”

“Forget about the cookies!” Granny yells, causing everypony to jump. “You mean ta tell me it was YOU TWO, that’s been scaring Apple Bloom all this time?”

“Well… yes.” Scutter admits. “I gave Caring the posters to switch out for the one Apple Bloom had hanging in her room. We made the scritching noises with a dead tree branch, and I did the voices. Pretty good if I say so myself.” He adds, before Mac thumps him hard onto the floor of the porch.

“Ain’t funny!” He says before cuffing the back of Scutter’s head with a hoof.

“What he said!” Applejack agrees. “I can’t believe you two did all this just to scare my sister. And all because of a dumb ole lunch and some dumb old cookies.”

“Not. Dumb. Cookies.” Scutter insists.

Applejack trots over and favors him with her most angry glare. “There ain’t no cookies ever been made that justify you two digging up my mom’s grave!” Applejack practically yells in his face.

“GRAVE?” Scutter, Caring, and Apple Bloom all yell in unison.

“Ya’ll two dug up my mom’s grave?” Apple Bloom says in horror. “How COULD you?!?”

“What! NO! No, we never did any such thing!” Caring says in shock.

“What she said!” Scutter quickly agrees. “Sure we scared the kid a little, but I would NEVER desecrate somepony’s grave! I’m a prankster, not a ghoul!” He affirms.

“Yeah right, like I’m gonna believe the likes of either of you at this point, “Applejack says, getting her stubborn up.

Unnoticed by the others Granny and Zecora were having a whispered conversation.

“Do you think it was just a prank? Do we really have these two to thank?” Zecora asks quietly.

“It had to have been them. They done fessed up ta everything else.” Granny whispers back. “We just jumped to conclusions is all.”

“I dearly want to believe that’s true, so tell me, what next should we do?” Zecora inquires.

“Well, I reckon we just tell ‘em it was a false alarm. Now that we caught these two, everything should go back to normal by tomorrow. I gotta admit, for a little bit there, I was mighty worr-” Granny’s whispering is cut off as a rumbling cuts through the otherwise still night.

Everypony falls silent. Then the rumbling sound occurs once more, closer this time.

“Everypony heard that… right?” Apple Bloom says, breaking the silence.

Before any pony can respond, the rumbling comes once more. This time the very house vibrates with the sound as the ground before them heaves and buckles. The ponies can only watch in horror, as the path leading up to the house is split from below. Large pieces of crumbling ground are heaved upwards to fall away from an ever growing mound in the center of the path.

As the rumbling stops, and the earth stops falling, all can see a sickly green light emitting from the center of the mound. Then, a figure begins to pull itself out of the dirt.

It is a figure out of nightmares. It has the shape of an earth pony, a mare judging by the mane and tail. But these judgments are made difficult by the fact that the entire body of the gristly apparition before them is made up of twisting and writhing roots. Roots shot through with the same sickly green glow that is emanating from the hole that the creature emerged from. The pony creature pulls itself free from the last clinging bits of debris, and shakes it’s root filled mane, dislodging all manner of worms and maggots as it does so.

“If you two want to fess up to this, I’d be really happy to hear it.” Applejack says, taking a step back her eyes as wide as saucers.

“N-nope. Not me.” Scutter says, shaking on the floor of the porch.

“N-no way.” Caring agrees, her face going paler than usual.

“I was afraid you’d say that.” Applejack says, taking yet another step backwards.

“Everypony into the house!” Granny yells, running for all she was worth.

They all quickly entered the house after which Applejack bolted the door. Almost as one they all quickly moved to the adjacent window and looked out. The root creature had remained where it had originally appeared from.

The ponies all gazed at it with revulsion, as the roots continued to constantly twist about themselves as if they were a squirming mass of snakes or worms.

“What in Celestia’s name is that thing?”Scutter asked, all the while not taking his eyes off of it for an instant.

“It’s some kind of shapeshifting critter from the Everfree,” Applejack supplied. “Zecora has brought something with her to help us to defeat it, right Zecora?”

All heads turn to face the zebra striped mare, waiting expectantly for a response.

“O-of course I have,” Zecora stammers, “now listen here, and shortly all will be made clear.”

A gasp from Apple Bloom interrupts her however, and she turns her gaze back to the window. The pony shaped mass of roots has begun to move, and move quickly, directly toward the house.

“Everypony turn and flee!” Zecora yells eyes wide, “Before she breaks into- IIIEEEE!” she screams, as tendrils shoot through the window, shattering the glass, and lifting her into the air.

“We gotta save her!” Apple Bloom yells, as Zecora is swung around by the ever tightening tendril.

Frantically Zecora points toward her discarded bag. Apple Bloom quickly opens the top flap to reveal several mason jars filled with a blue liquid. Apple Bloom looks back to Zecora for confirmation. The mare can only nod in return as the thick roots begin to strangle her, even as they continue to flail around.  

Apple Bloom rares back her hoof, and throws the jar as hard as she can toward the base of the sickly green roots. But almost as if they sensed her intentions, the roots quickly brought  the gasping form of Zecora up as a shield. The jar struck her squarely in the chest, and exploded into fragments dousing both her, and the roots entangling her, in blue liquid. This had an immediate effect, causing the roots to wither and withdraw, dumping Zecora unceremoniously on the floor.

The effect on the roots however went practically unnoticed due to the effect the potion had upon Zecora. For in a matter of moments, she was once more transformed into Clivia. Things happened quickly after that.

“Aunt Clivia?!?” Big Mac asked in disbelief.

“Aunt Clivia?!?” Applejack echoed in shock.

“Clivia?” Apple Bloom asked in confusion.

“Ponyfeathers!” Both Granny and Clivia said in unison.

But it was Caring, of all ponies, that summed it up the best when she asked, “just what the heck is going on here?!?”

“FINE!” Granny yells in exasperation. “I’ll tell you! But first I want this window boarded up, and all the other doors securely locked. Shutters as well. I don’t know if that thing will be back anytime soon or not, but I don’t mean to take any chances!”

“All right,” Applejack says, “but as soon as we’re done, I want to hear the truth… ALL of it.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac says, as he begins to look for a hammer.

Meanwhile Apple Bloom has turned to face Clivia, staring up are her with wide eyes.

“What is it,” Clivia finally asks her, the stare of the young mare making her uncomfortable.

In a hesitant, yet hopeful voice, Apple Bloom asks her, “Are you… are you my Aunt?”

“I-” Clivia began, before the floor beneath them suddenly buckled and shifted, throwing everypony off their hooves.

Tendrils exploded through the floorboards, ripping open a gaping maw, which began to emit a sickly green glow. Before any pony could react, a twisted glowing mass pulls itself up from the hole, it’s eyes fixated on Apple Bloom.

“Don’t worry baby,” the horrid form spoke, in a voice of cracking limbs, “momma’s home!”