> Apple Bloom Meets Mr. Widemouth
>  by King of Madness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> In the Dark
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mother's Day. For many, it was a lovely time; a day to dedicate to the one who brought them into the world and raised them. For the Apple Family in Sweet Apple Acres, it was a much more bitter time. Every Mother's Day and Father's Day was a rough one for the Apple siblings; Applejack and Big Mac in particular both became rather solemn during such times.

With Mother's Day only a day away, Apple Bloom found it hard to brighten the spirits of her older siblings. She was very young when they lost their parents and had no real memories of them; this fact saddened her, but she saw it as her duty to make these days easier for the rest of her family. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain and when Applejack asked her to just leave her be, the young filly obliged. Unsure of what to do, Apple Bloom went into the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse. She found the place a tad lonely without Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle and Rarity were on a vacation with their parents and Scootaloo had been keeping to herself recently.

Feeling defeated, Apple Bloom sighed and sat down in the lonesome little clubhouse. "Oh, Mom, Dad," Apple Bloom muttered. "I wish ya could be here. Applejack an' Big Mac an' Granny Smith all miss ya so much. I guess I do too, even though I never really knew ya's."

It was then that a light knock came at the clubhouse door. Curious, Apple Bloom went over and opened the door to be greeted by a rather curious sight. "Huh?"

There was a small, furry creature standing there. She had never seen such a creature before; half her height and standing on two feet, with large features on it's little head. "Hello there." The creature greeted. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Apple Bloom shook off her surprise at the stranger's presence. "Uh, who are you?"

"Oh, my friends call me Mr. Widemouth, because as you see, my mouth is wide." It was true; the creature's mouth was certainly large compared to the rest of him, crooked up in a gentle-looking smile.

"Well, howdy there, Mr. Widemouth," Apple Bloom greeted politely. "I'm Apple Bloom."

"Apple Bloom," The creature repeated the name in a curious tone. "Does your family own this orchard?"

"Yes, siree," The filly confirmed proudly. "If ya don' mind me askin', whaddaya doin' here? I haven't seen you around here before."

"Oh, that's because I'm new around here. I'm sort of a traveler, you see."

"Really? What brought ya to Ponyville."

"Oh, no reason in particular. It just seems like a nice place." The creature gave Apple Bloom a curious look. "Though, you seem troubled, Apple Bloom. Would you mind some company?"

Apple Bloom was unsure of how to answer; Applejack had warned her about talking to strangers, but most strangers she had talked to ended up quite friendly and in any case, this Mr. Widemouth seemed perfectly harmless. And she certainly could use the company. "Sure thing, come on in."

The creature entered and looked over the interior, which was thoroughly decorated with records on the trio's escapades both before and after successfully getting their cutie marks. For a while, Mr. Widemouth silently looked through the mementos of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' crusades, seeming fascinated by it all.

Apple Bloom cleared her throat. "If ya don' mind me askin', what are ya?"

Mr. Widemouth gave the filly a confused look. "What am I?" The creature seemed to roll the question in his head as if he himself didn't know. "I'm me."

"Uh, yeah." Apple Bloom rubbed her neck uncomfortably.

"You have a lot of things here." Mr. Widemouth remarked, looking over the collection. "It looks like you've had a lot of adventures with your friends. Their names are Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, right?"

Apple Bloom couldn't put her hoof on it, but she could swear there was something different in the creature's voice when he said Scootaloo's name. "We sure have."

"Where are they?" The creature asked.

Apple Bloom shrugged. "Don' really know where Scootaloo's been. Sweetie Belle is off with her parents' for Mother's Day."

"Mother's Day? Is that today?"

"It's tomorrow." Apple Bloom corrected, her face downcast.

"Oh, well, why don't you spend some time with your mother?" Mr. Widemouth suggested. "Maybe that would make you feel better."

Apple Bloom cringed and sighed deeply. "Well, that's kinda the problem. I... lost my parents when I was a baby."

Mr. Widemouth gasped, nodding his head slightly in understanding. "Oh, I see. That's what's troubling you?"

Apple Bloom nodded. "My sis an' brother an' granny always get so sad on these days. I try to cheer them up, but it ain't workin' too good."

Mr. Widemouth nodded as he approached the filly. "I'm sure it must be hard."

Apple Bloom sighed and sat back down. "I wish I could've gotten to know them, ya know?"

The creature patted the filly's shoulder. "Of course, you do." A smile appeared on his face. "Would that help?"

The young Apple looked to the smiling creature in confusion. "Would what help?"

"What if you could meet them? What if your family could see them again just one more time? Would that make everything better?"

The filly gawked at the creature. Could he really be suggesting what she thought he was? "Ya... Ya don' mean...?"

Mr. Widemouth nodded excitedly. "I know a way to make it happen, Apple Bloom. I know a way you can finally see your mom and dad again."

Apple Bloom was stunned. What the creature was saying sounded like something out of a dream. It was something that seemed impossible. She had witnessed many greatly magical things and she was as open-minded as a filly could be, but this sounded too good to be true. "Do... Do ya mean it? I mean, how? How can you make that happen?"

"It's a spell." The creature explained. "A ritual; I'm sure Twilight Sparkle has done it before. You just draw a sign on the ground, light some candles, say some words, and your parents will be there."

Apple Bloom felt a wave of emotions that she couldn't readily identify. She always wished she could meet her parents and she knew it would mean the world to Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith. The thought that she could fulfill this filled her heart with joy, but also with a vague sense of worry. Applejack had once told her that if something seemed too good to be true, it likely was. Still, Apple Bloom was an optimist, and she was hopeful. "Do ya mean it? I mean, can ya really do that?"

"Of course; I've seen it happen. It's very easy and I'll help you. I promise, if you do this, you will see your parents again."

Apple Bloom could feel tears well up in her eyes. Could this be real? Could it really be this simple? She wanted so desperately to believe it. She did believe it; she had to." This is incredible! I'll go tell AJ an'-" She went to rush out the door, but was halted by Mr. Widemouth.

"Wait, Apple Bloom, you don't want to ruin the surprise. Think about how happy they all will be when you show them your mom and dad?"

Apple Bloom saw the creature's point; it would perfect to surprise her family with this. "Alrighty then, so what do we do?"

"Wait until night, when everyone is asleep, then come down to the basement of your house with candles and matches."

Apple Bloom nodded and smiled at the creature. "This is a mighty great thing you're doing for us. I don' know how we could ever repay ya for this." She picked up the little thing in a hug.

"Think nothing of it," The creature said with a smile Apple Bloom couldn't see. "Anything for a friend."





The rest of the day, Apple Bloom struggled to keep her surprise a secret. Her siblings took notice of the extra pep in her step, but when asked what she was so giddy about, Apple Bloom was vague. Her spirits did seem to brighten the mood in the Apple household, though she knew it was nothing compared to what she and her new friend had in store.

At last, night fell on Ponyville. Apple Bloom was antsy as she laid in bed, waiting until she was sure everypony was asleep. When she was sure she was the only one awake in the house, she crept out of bed and silently made her way through the house. Just as she had been told, she rumeged through a closet to find a set of candles and grabbed a box of matches from a kitchen drawer. Putting her items in a small satchel, she went outside and soon found Mr. Widemouth waiting for her.

As she approached him, her nose crinkled at a strange odor coming from the creature. "Ya smell funny."

The little creature gave her a questioning look. "'Smell funny'?"

Apple Bloom backpedaled, realizing what she said was rude. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to be rude."

The creature shrugged and beckoned her to follow him. The two came to the cellar doors that lead underneath the house. Each taking hold of a door, they opened it and Apple Bloom was immediately hit by a strange smell. She realized it was the same thing she smelt on Mr. Widemouth.

"Come on." Mr. Widemouth urged as he motioned for Apple Bloom to follow him down into the darkness.

Hesitantly, Apple Bloom followed the creature down into the basement. Down here, the Apple family kept a good amount of materials mainly used for building and reconstruction along with about a dozen barrels of hard cider. However, Apple Bloom couldn't see any of this as it was nearly pitch dark down there, with only the moonlight illuminating the entrance. The only way to turn the basement light on was a draw string that neither Apple Bloom nor Mr. Widemouth could reach. The smell was stronger. "What is that smell?"

"Come on." Mr. Widemouth said with a hint of impatience as he waited at the foot of the stairs.

Apple Bloom stepped onto the ground and found it to be moist. Lifting a hoof from the strangely wet ground, she sniffed it and gagged; it was the same thing she had been smelling and it was stronger now than ever. "What is this?"

Mr. Widemouth stood at the edge of the light; his once funny features took on a more ominous look in the consuming darkness. "Oh, that's part of the spell. It's a special liquid that needs to be sprinkled around the area for the ritual to work. I was spreading it while everyone was inside. It's nothing to worry about."

Apple Bloom felt something deep inside her telling her to run. She couldn't quite understand why, but something about all this felt wrong. She felt scared. Was it her nerves? Was she nervous about meeting her parents? About surprising her family with them? Or was it something else?

"Come on, I'll bring you to the place you need to put the candles." Mr. Widemouth grabbed her foreleg with a clawed hand and started leading her into the pitch black.

Apple Bloom pushed back her fears. What did she have to be so scared of? Mr. Widemouth was trying to help her; help her family. What reason would he have to lie? What could the little creature possibly gain from deceiving her? Was she just scared that it wouldn't work? In any case, she had to at least try. Taking in a deep breath and coughing from the scent of the strange liquid, she allowed the creature to guide her through the darkness.

The two came to a stop at what Apple Bloom estimated was around the midst of the basement.

"This is the place. All you have to do is sit here and place the candles around you."

Apple Bloom nodded and sat down her satchel, pulling out the little candles she had taken and setting them around her. "Is there a particular place I'm 'spose to put 'em?"

"Anywhere is fine." Mr. Widemouth sounded a little further away.

Apple Bloom paused and looked over to where she had heard Mr. Widemouth. She could only make out the shape of his ears in the light of the still open entryway. Was he moving away? Feeling that nagging feeling deep her gut, she continued to place the candles around her. As she sat down, she took note that the ground under her was particularly wet with the strange smelling substance.

"Good, good." The creature commended. "Now, light the candles."

Apple Bloom hesitated to go for the matches. There in the darkness, alone with this strange little creature and unpleasant smell, she realized just how vulnerable she felt.

"Just light the candles." Mr. Widemouth repeated, that hint of impatience returning.

Apple Bloom ruffled through the bag and found the box of matches, but she didn't open it.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" The creature questioned in a frustrated tone. He was definitely moving away from the spot Apple Bloom sat. It occurred to her that the creature was standing between her and the only exit. "You want to see your parents, don't you?! You want to make your family happy, don't you?! So, light the candles!"

Apple Bloom put the matches down and got up on her hooves. "I-I should get my sister. She should-"

"No!" Apple Bloom could practically feel the anxiety and anger from Mr. Widemouth's outburst. "No, no, you don't want to ruin surprise. You'll ruin it; you'll ruin everything!"

Without wasting another moment, Apple Bloom sprinted at the creature, making to get through him and out of the basement. In the dark, she didn't see the creature's movements; she didn't see him pick something up in the dark. Apple Bloom's run was cut short when something hit her on the side of her head.

Apple Bloom felt her world swirl around her. At first, she felt nothing and then she felt the throbbing on the left side of her skull. She struggled to move her head to find the only source of light coming from the entrance. She saw the shape of Mr. Widemouth. She saw the shape light a match revealing a blurry face contorted in a terrifying smile. She saw the room become brighter as the match hit the floor and erupted in flames.

In her still dazed state, she witnessed the flames quickly spread throughout the basement. The darkness was replaced by a smoldering hot light. Realizing what was happening, Apple Bloom desperately fought against the pain in her head and the wobbliness in her legs. She made for the exit, only to find it blocked by a wall of flames.

She screamed for help. The heat was unbearable. The hot air was thick with smoke. The flames blocking the exit weren't too high. Steeling herself, Apple Bloom ran at flames blocking her from the stairs and leaped. The fire licked at her legs and belly, singeing her fur, but she made it onto the stairs. There was no moonlight; just the red light from the fire. She ran up the steps to find the doors locked.

She screamed and screamed, banging desperately on the doors. She called for Applejack; for Big Mac; for Granny Smith; for Scootaloo; for Sweetie Belle; for Rainbow Dash; for Twilight Sparkle. She called for anyone to save her. She coughed as smoke filled her lungs. Her banging against the door became more and more feeble. Her calls for help weaken as oxygen ran out. She started to black out.

It was then that the doors opened and she felt hooves grab her and pull her up and out of the stairway. The overwhelming heat was replaced by cool night air and she gasped for breath.

"Apple Bloom?!" A familiar voice said. "Apple Bloom, are you okay?!"

Still coughing, Apple Bloom turned to see Applejack holding onto her, looking at her with fear and worry in her eyes. Tears welled up in the filly's eyes. "I'm... I'm sorry, AJ" She coughed and buried her face in her sister's chest. "I'm sorry."

Applejack said nothing. She just held her little sister close and watched the smoke pour up from the basement.





Applejack stood by Apple Bloom's sleeping form in the hospital bed. Though the doctors had said she had sustained no serious injuries, they decided to keep her for a bit longer to make sure her lungs were unharmed. It had been a very distressing time. The combined efforts of Twilight and the weather team were able to put out the fire, but it was only thanks to Applejack awakening to the sound of her sister's cries that she was able to save her as well as Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. Indeed, if she hadn't been woken up by Apple Bloom's screaming, the entire house may have been lost to flame along with all of them in it.

Apple Bloom had said very little since her rescue. Applejack didn't say anything of what Apple Bloom had said to her. She couldn't wrap her head around how or why Apple Bloom could have started such a fire if she indeed had. And that wouldn't explain the locked basement doors. It didn't make any sense. She had initially pushed such thoughts to the side in favor of focusing on Apple Bloom's wellbeing. But now, with her sister safe and asleep, the questions ran through Applejack's head.

The door opened and Applejack turned to see Rainbow Dash entering the room; she had hard look on her face. "Rainbow?"

"AJ, we need to talk."