The main six and the Cutie Mark Crusaders go on a camping trip when something unspeakable happens, a transformation.
When all six of the ponies and the Cutie Mark Crusaders go on a camping trip Rainbow Dash tells a story of werewolf's in the woods, and she says it's just an old pony tale, until the Cutie Mark Crusaders run into one while looking for firewood, but when Applejack jumps in to save them she takes the bite. What will happen when the others find out? Will they like her anymore? How will she live like this?
It was a bright and beautiful day in Ponyville like it's been for the past 2 weeks, nothing exciting has happened for a long time, some ponies were getting bored, while others liked the peace. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were having their afternoon picnic like they do every Tuesday.
"We should all go on a campin' trip." Applejack just blurted out.
"A camping trip! Why on earth would you want to go into the woods to sleep," Rarity paused for a moment and said, "outside?" she finished with a disgusted face.
"Cause we haven't done anything exciting for a long time." Applejack replied.
"I think it's an excellent idea AJ." Said Twilight clapping her hooves together. "And I have the perfect camping book for it!"
"Of course you do." Said Rainbow Dash, rolling her eyes.
"Camping sounds like a lot of fun!" Pinkie Pie shouted bouncing up and down.
"Oh, I don't know, what if there are dangerous creatures up in the woods." Flutershy said in her quiet voice.
"Oh don't you worry your pretty little head Fluttershy, there ain't nothing to worry about." Applejack replied with a smile on her face.
"Well, if you say so." Fluttershy softly nodded her head.
"Fine, I will go but don't expect me to ruff it." Said Rarity.
"Alright then we can all leave Thursday morning." Said Twilight Sparkle.
They finished their lunch and began walking back to their homes, each excited about Thursday well, aside from Rarity of course.
Back at the Apple Family's house, Applejack began to pack her bags for the camping trip, while she was packing Applebloom came walking in.
"Hey sis, what you up to?" Applebloom said with a confused look on her face.
"I'm packin'." Replied AJ.
"Are you leavin' us!" Applebloom said with a worried look.
"No, of course not, I'm just goin' campin' for a few days, that's all." AJ replied Calming the little filly down.
"Campin'! I love campin'! Can I come too?" Asked the little filly.
"Sure you can sis, but you have to do yer own packin'." Replied Applejack.
"Oooh, oooh, can I invite Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to come to?!" Ask Apple Bloom with hope in her eyes.
"Of course you can, the more the merrier I always say." Said the Orange pony.
While Appejack was packing her bags the other ponies where packing there's, Rarity packed her inflatable house, Rainbow Dash packed just her sleeping bag and a Daring Doo book, Pinkie Pie packed candy and her sleeping bag, Fluttershy Packed a sleeping bag and the extra pillow's and a first aid kit, and Twilight packed a sleeping bag, and all the camping books she could find in her library she also grabbed bug spray, bear repellent, and poison ivy medicine. By Wednesday everypony was packed and ready for Thursday, so all they had to do was their chores until it was time to leave.
Thursday morning every pony met in the town square and started off into the mountains for their camping trip. It was a long hike but they made it to the first camp site.
"Wow Rarity how much stuff did you pack?" Asked Twilight.
"Just a few necessities." Rarity informed.
"It looks like you packed over nine thousand bags." said the pink earth pony.
"Over nine thousand! That's impossible even for me, I only packed thirty two." exclaimed Rarirty with a smirk on her face. "Sweetie belle can't you unpack any faster? I can stand here any longer" she said in a wine.
"Coming, sis." Sweetie belle said with a grunt.
Sweetie belle pulled out a big chair for Rarity to sit on, then she blew up the inflatable tent and then put all of, RARITY'S stuff inside it. The other ponies weren't even surprised at her anymore. Applejack went ahead to go get firewood while the other's set up their tents. Applejack came back with the firewood and set up the campfire, Rainbow Dash got logs for everypony to sit on, and Sweetie belle got Rarity a glass of fresh squeezed juice. Rainbow Dash Started to tell campfire stories.
"They say in these very wood's are haunted by a," she paused for a dramatic effected. "Werewolf!" She finished with a shout.
"A werewolf?" Everpony asked with shivers.
"A werewolf." Rainbow exclaimed. "They say a camper came up to these very woods and never came back down."
Rainbow dash finished her story leaving everypony shivering in fear.
"Is all that story true Rainbow dash?" Ask Sweetie belle with almost a tear going down her cheek.
Rainbow dash didn't know whether to lie to the little filly or tell her the truth so she blurted out.
"It's just an old pony tale, no pony knows for sure if that really happened." she said with a smile on her face.
Sweetie belle sighed with relief. "So it's possible none of that even happened?"
Rainbow dash nodded.
"Alright y'all time for bed, we've got a long day tomorrow." Applejack exclaimed
They all headed to their tent's, Applejack and Apple Bloom shared a tent, Rarity and Sweetie Belle in another, and Scootaloo in Rainbow dash in the other, and PInkie pie, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle crammed themselves in one tent. They all woke up in the morning and packed all of their supplies, bag's, and the last of the firewood. They ate their breakfast and set off for their next campsite up the hill.
"So Rainbow dash, do you think you can teach me some flying lessons when we get to the next site?" Scootaloo Said excitedly
"Sure why not I'm not too busy." Rainbow dash answered with a smile.
They were walking all day and ran into a few obstacles on the way, like a fallen tree and a river. Which made them take longer to get to their campsite.
"Oh good, we made it here before nightfall." Said Fluttershy with her small voice.
"And it's a good thing too." Rainbow added.
"Why's that Dashie." Pinkie pie questioned.
"Because tonight's the full moon." Rainbow dash replied. "You wouldn't want the werewolf to get us would you?"
"Ah your just spouting out a lot a hoowey, and beside's you're the one that said it was just an old pony tale." said Applejack.
"So, Spike said Nightmare moon was just an old pony tail, and guess what, it wasn't." Rainbow dash replied with a smart remark.
"What ever Rainbow." The orange pony said.
They set up camp again and put up their tents and unpacked, they started to use the last of their firewood. Rainbow dash was teaching Scootaloo to fly, Pinkie pie was eating all the smores, and Twilight was reading her books. Soon the fire started going out
"Uh, everypony the fire's dying." Twilight exclaimed.
"I'll go get some more wood." Appejack replied as they were engulfed in darkness. Fluttershy screeched ."Eeeekkkk! What was that!?"
"It's just Applebloom..." Rainbow dash replied.
"Applejack, let me get the firewood." Applebloom said
"What? No!" AJ replied.
"But why not?" Applebloom replied.
"Well because its too, yer too, its just tha-," AppleJack started.
"It's because I'm too little ain't it?!" Applebloom said cutting her big sis off.
"Well it's just that.." AJ stopped to see that Applebloom was giving her the puppy dog look. "Fine." She said with a worried look. The truth was Applejack did think she was too little.
"Wooohooo!" Applebloom cheered.
"But you have to take Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with you." Applejack added.
"Cuite Mark Crusader firewood gatherer!?" Yelled the CMC's laughing a bit.
The CMC went off in the woods, and it wasn't long 'till all the ponies at the camp site heard "HELP!" coming from the woods. They all ran off looking for the CMC terrified of what might have happened to them.
They were rushing through the dark forest, when all six ponies split up by accident, but they still all headed for the screams of the little fillies.
"Applebloom!" Applejack shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Sweetie belle!" Rarity also shouted as loud as she could. And at the same time everypony yelled.
"Scootaloo!"
But no pony heard a single word yelling back. It was just black darkness, Applejack heard a growl coming from around her area, but it sounded if it was coming from all around until she heard.
"Applejack help!"
"That sounded like Applebloom!" Said Applejack aloud.
She ran towards where she heard what sounded like Applebloom. When she made it she found the three fillies up against a tree cornered by, what seemed like a half pony, half wolf creature. She couldn't really tell because the only light they had was the full moon shining down.
"I'm coming girls!" Shouted Applejack. "Back away from my sister and her friends!" she said to the creature.
The creature turned around and looked at Applejack, all it did was growl and went back to look at the fillies. The creature crouched and was about to pounce, when Applejack suddenly bucked it in the flank. The creature growled, and turned its attention toward the farm pony. It pounced, hoping to catch her under its claws, but Applejack leapt to the side, letting her give a swift buck to its side. The creature yowled in pain, before turning to the orange mare attempting to kick it in the face. The creature dodged the buck, and swiftly clamped it jaw around her leg.
"Aahhhh!" Applejack cried out in pain.
The creature latched on to her like a leech, Applejack shook her leg as hard as she could to no avail. She gave it a swift kick in the head. The creature growled, and its grip loosened. She quickly gave a few more kicks, its grip loosening with each one, before she kicked it as hard as she could. The creature flew off her leg, takeing with it a large amount of fur and skin, into the trunk of a large tree knocking it out. Applejack was on the ground in pain, but she managed to get on all four of her hooves despite the large injury.
"Applejack are you ok!?" asked the fillies at the same time.
"I....I think so." AJ replied her voice shaking.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo!" Twilight was shouting through the trees. "Applejack! What happened!"
"I....I save-" Applejack collapsed on the ground.
"Girls what happened here!?" Twilight asked.
"There was a wolf." Scootaloo replied.
"And it bit Applejack!" Sweetie Belle added.
Twilight Sparkle lifted Applejack onto her back and went to search for their friends, who were lost in the woods.
"Rainbow dash! Rarity! Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy!" shouted Twilight Sparkle being cautious of creatures that could be lurking. There was no response, and Applejack was starting to get heavier and heavier and started to look pale and they were starting to hear her moan and groan..
"Eeeep!"
"Did you hear that?" Twilight asked.
"Mhm" The three fillies replied. "It sounded like Fluttershy!"
"Oh it's just you girls." Fluttershy paused a moment. "Girls! Oh Twilight you found them."
"Fluttershy we need your help, Applejack was bitten by a wolf and she's loosing a lot of blood."Twilight said turning around to the yellow mare could see.
"Oh dear, Applejack! I left my first aid kit in my tent." Flutteshy exclaimed with tears going down here cheeks because of the sight of her friend in pain.
"Why don't you take Applejack and the girls back to the camp, I'm going stay here and look for our friends."
Fluttershy nodded and took Applejack and the girls back to the camp. Twilight stayed behind to look for her other friends.
Twilight wandered the woods looking for her lost friends, the only light she had was the moon shining through the trees not doing much at all. The only thing she could hear while walking was the crunch of leaves under her hooves, and the sound of small critters rushing by. She stumbled around in the dark forest she walked straight into a tree. She got back up off the dusty ground and wiped herself off, she touched her horn, and facehoofed, suddenly remembering her magic, she cast a light spell for some, well, light and started off looking for her friends once more. Twilight suddenly heard a crash in the trees above her.
"Ahhh" she yelled as a rather large branch nearly landed on her head.
"Uh my head" said a familiar voice.
"Who's there!" shouted Twilight levitating a branch as a weapon.
"What, Twilight is that you?" A rainbow pegasus hopped out of the tree.
"Rainbow Dash! Am I happy to see you." The purple unicorn ran up to the pegasus and gave her a hug.
"Same here." Rainbow said gently pushing her friend aside. "Did you find Scootaloo and the others?"
"Yes, they're back at camp with Fluttershy and," Twilight paused for a moment thinking about Applejack then finally finished, "Applejack."
"Took you long enough Twi." Said Rainbow Dash with an impatient look. "Now let's go find Raity and Pinkie pie."
"Huh, oh right lets go!" Replied Twilight snapping out of her thoughts about her friend.
They walked for thirty minutes looking for the last of their friends, when they heard another cry coming not far from where they were.
"That sounded like Rarity!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Let's go." Twilight added.
They headed for the sound to find that two pony shaped figurines were standing in the dark.
"Pinkie! you got mud all over my camping outfit!" shouted a very familiar voice.
"Oops, sorry Rarity." apologized the other figure which was.
Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash moved in closer to find their friends together wiping mud off of Rarity.
"Rarity! Pinkie pie!" Twilight shouted in delight, as she ran up to give them a hug.
''Twilight, Rainbow dash!" Rarity and Pinkie said hugging Twilight.
Twilight explained that she found the others and they were at camp, but left out the part about Applejack. Now they need to fine a way to get back to camp without getting separated again.
"So Twilight which way is camp?" Ask Rarity.
"Well, it's just over here, well lets see if we just, hmm, we're lost. Twilight mumbled.
"What!" the three shouted.
"Don't worry girls we'll find a way back." The purple unicorn said with a fake smile.
"Maye Rainbow Dash could fly up and spot camp from here!" Pinkie said in excitement.
"Alright! Here I go." Said the eager pegasus flying straight up where the moon was shining.
After ten minutes of waiting Rainbow finally came back down.
"Nothing." Dash reported.
"Ah! We'll never get back! We will forced to live out here like wild beasts! We have nothing to eat! WE. ARE. GOING. TO. DIE!" Rariy yelled having a mental breakdown.
She kept pacing back and forth rambling on about her life being ruined when she tripped and fell through a bush!
Dazed, her gaze slowly drifted upward towards a familiar white filly standing over her, a mischevious smile on her face.
"You found the campsite!" The filly anounced. The other three mares rushed toward said campsite and Twilight headed for Fluttershy's tent to check on Applejack.
"Flutter-" Twilight said getting cut off by Scootaloo
"Shh! Applejack is resting." Scootaloo said with her ears low, soon after Twilights ears went down.
"So I see you took two steps to the left." Sweetie Belle said chuckling.
"Wait! You three knew!" Rainbow dash almost yelled.
"Well duh, it wasn't that hard to see Twilight's horn glowin'." said Applebloom
"Why didn't you say anything." Said Twilight giving a glare.
"It was just way too funny seeing you guys lost five feet away." The three fillies said laughing.
"Well it's late, time for bed Sweetie Belle." Said Rarity walking into her tent.
Everypony went into their tent or some rest, it had been a long night.
"Fluttershy, do you know where we are?" The three fillies asked shaking in fear of what happened a while back. The fight they saw in the moonlight still crisp in their minds, it was overwhelming for fillies their age, and for Applebloom to see her sister go through such pain just to save her. Fluttershy asked her little critter friends in the forest to lead the five back to camp. But, like always, nothing usually goes as planned and the little critter led them to a piece of fruit.
"Oh yay, we are saved, fruit." Scootaloo said sarcastically.
''I'm sorry little one, but I asked to take us back to our camp site, if that's alright with you?" Fluttershy did in her small voice.
The critter ignored Fluttershy and went back to nibbling on the fruit.
"Well now what do we do?" Applebloom asked with a tear dripping down here cheek from the sight of her sister.
"I know! We can use the North star to get back to camp!" Sweetie Belle said in excitement.
"Oh what a wonderful idea, why don't you lead the way Sweetie." Fluttershy exclaimed with a small smile.
They started off on their way back to their camp. It took them about fifteen minutes to get back to camp but they finally made it back and with fire wood.
"Heh! Who knew we would have to use school to get back." Scootaloo said with a smirk.
"I did." Sweetie replied with a giant smile. Scootaloo replied with a mumble saying. "Know it all."
"Applebloom can you help me get your sister in the tent?" Asked Fluttershy
"Uh, sure thing!" Applebloom answered running to Fluttershy as fast as her little legs could go.
In the tent Applebloom and Fluttershy were bandaging up Applejack, or at least trying to, but she kept struggling in pain, kicking back and forth even trying to bite them.
"I know it hurts Applejack, but you need to be patched up." Fluttershy said squirming around to not get kicked.
"You want to feel better don't you sis'?" Asked Appebloom.
Applejack looked into Appleblooms eyes, and then laid still for a moment to get stitched and patched up the whole time she was whining like a dog. After they had the bandage on she fell asleep, and Applebloom left the tent, Fluttershy stayed in case of 'anything'.
"Wow Applebloom it looked like you guys were wrestling a bear in there." Scootaloo exclaimed giggling.
"Yeah, is everything ok?" Sweetie Belle added.
"Yeah, sure everythin's fine she's all patched up." Applebloom replied looking back at the tent.
They sat on their logs near the burned out fire, they didn't light the fire because Fluttershy was worried it would attract that creature her friends saw back in the forest. Fluttershy was resting in the tent with Applejack, with the three fillies outside keeping an eye out for their friends, when all of the sudden they herd a loud howl coming from the forest.
"Aaaahhhh! It's back make a fort stand your ground, run!" Scootaloo yelled running around in circles.
"We have to protect Applejack!" Sweetie Belle added.
"Cutie Mark Crusader fort defenders!" Applebloom shouted running into Rarity's tent grabbing what she could use as a wall.
The three quickly grabbed all of Rarity's suitcases and pillows and even grabbed items from the other tents, stacking it all as fast as they could to surround their campsite, they were in panic bumping into each other running back and forth from the barrier. When they were finished with their protective fort they sharpened some sticks and put on helmets with mud on their faces like soldiers, they stood their ground to protect from what creatures lurked.
"Come on out you big chicken I'm not afraid!" Scootaloo said shaking in obvious fear. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom only replied to that comment with face hooves.
"Scootaloo! We don't want the creature to come this way." Sweetie Belle said with squinted eyes.
"Heh heh right, sorry." Scootaloo replied with red in her cheeks.
A pair of yellow glowing eyes appeared from the forest, slowly moving towards the three fillies. With a snarl it started charging after them but was slowed down by a limp, it was the same creature Applejack had fought and it was still moving with great speed. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo prepared for impact but Applebloom had another idea in mind.
"Go back to the forest you over grown fleabag!" Applebloom yelled throwing rocks at the creature's face.
Scootaloo and Sweetie nodded at each other and joined in on the action and started throwing rocks and perfume at the creature. They could hear winning and pouts from the creature as it started to turn around and ran back into the forest. Soon after they heard hoof steps behind them, and standing behind them was Fluttershy with shock in her eyes.
"Girls what did you do!" she yelled in her small voice.
"Well you see the creature came back and we had to defend Applejack from it so we-" the three all said in a rush being cut off by Applejacks whining in the tent.
"Oh my, we will have to talk about this later, now please no more noise." Fluttershy exclaimed walking back into the tent to help AJ.
The three fillies sat there giggling at what they had just done, looking around the campsite they saw a small wall built out of their camping supplies. It wasn't long after they saw Twilight behind a bush a few feet away with her friends it looked as if they were lost.
"Do you think they're lost?"Asked Scootaloo.
"Nah they can't be lost they've got Twilight with them." exclaimed Applebloom
After a few minutes of watching their friends wander around looking helpless the three fillies were on the ground laughing so hard.
"OK, ok do you think we should help them now?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"What? No way! This is way to funny." Scootaloo replied.
"Well ok." Sweetie said.
After a few more moments they decided it was time to help them before it got too out of hand.
It was soon morning as the sun started to rise from the mountains, the cool morning air crisped threw the breeze. The ponies sleep was slowly being disturbed by the sound of hooves rustling in the tents.
"GIRLS!" Rarity shouted in a furious voice, waking everypony up even faster than they were.
Everypony came rushing out of their tents with worried looks on their faces, the only pony who didn't come galloping out was Applejack, but Rarity did wake her with her screech.
"Rarity what's wrong- AHHH!" Twilight asked switching the emotions in her voice very quickly from worried to shocked.
"What the hay happened out here?!" Rainbow Dash said in a confused tone, looking at the wall of camping supplies around the camp.
Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle stood side by side with each other blushing heavily.
"Wha- what, what did you do!" Rarity shouted grinding her teeth together. She turned to look at the three fillies, this obviously had them written all over it.
"Heh heh, Cutie Mark Crusader fort defenders...." Scootaloo mumbled putting her ears down preparing for impact.
Rarity started to twitch still grinding her teeth together passing back and forth making all sorts of weird noises. She was about to unleash her wrath on the three fillies for what they had done to her suitcase when Fluttershy stepped in.
"Rarity, it's my fault." She muttered in a quiet voice
"What how in the wide wide world of Equestria is this your fault?" Rarity said in a completely calm and relaxed voice.
Sweetie Belle leaned next to Applebloom and Scootaloo's ear and whispered. "Mood swings much." The three just sat there and tried holding in their giggles as to not bring attention to themselves.
"It's just I should have stopped them, I mean they did help a lot doing this but we could have found another way." Fluttershy explained looking at the ground in shame.
"How could they have possibly helped by doing this?!" Twilight exclaimed with one eye cocked up and her hoof pointing at the pile of supplies and suitcases surrounding the campsite.
"The Creature," Applebloom started.
"It returned," Sweetie added.
"And we were just," Scootaloo also added.
"Protecting Applejack!" The three finished together.
"Wait, wait, hold on a second, what creature and why would you three need to protect Applejack? She can defend herself." Rainbow Dash asked with a confused.
"Twilight, didn't you tell them? Fluttershy asked.
Twilight started to blush as everypony just sat there staring at her.
"Didn't tell us what?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in a suspicious voice, flying in the air pushing up against Twilights face with her own.
"Well you see I didn't want you to worry about her last night so I, well, left that part out." Twilight started to explain with a nervous chuckle
"Wait so what happened to Applejack?" Pinkie Pie asked sounded nervous for her friend.
"Well she-" Twilight started to speak being cut off by a voice from the tent.
"Can you ponies talk any louder?" Asked Applejack as her head poked out of the tent door. The three mares unaware of what happened Applejack jolted to her right away. "Applejack!" the three shouted at once.
Applejacks eyes grew wide as her friends drew closer, the first one to get to her was Pinkie Pie who just jumped on her.
"Ow!" AJ shouted making Pinkie get off her.
AJ rolled over to stop lying on her leg and that's when her friends saw it, the wound wrapped up with a bandage all that could be heard at first were gasps.
"AJ what happened!" Rainbow shouted flailing her hoof's in the air still flapping her wings.
"It's a long story." Applejack said in a shaken voice.
Applejack started to explain how she fought and wolf and saving her sister and her friends, and how Twilight and Fluttershy came to her aid when she needed it.
Applejack decided to change the subject and asked what happened to them last night.
Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle started to chuckle and looked at Twilight. And with that being asked they explained their story to Applejack, and she got quite a few laughs out of it too.
"Rainbow? If you guys were right next to the campsite how did you not see it when you flew up in the sky?" Applejack asked
Rainbows face turned very red and she started to explain what had happened. "I, uh, got in a fight.... with a bird." She muttered giving herself a facehoof. The eight ponies just sat there staring at her with wide eyes when finally a pony spoke up.
"A bird, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked.
"Yes a bird.." she answered.
After a few minutes of sharing their stories they started to clean up the campsite except Applejack who was resting her leg and Fluttershy who was there aiding her.
An hour had past of cleaning and the campsite looked just like it did when they had arrived. Applejack had felt bad for not helping, she hated not being able to do much so she tried to stand up and do something even if it was just as little as combing a mane. She tried to stand up resulting in an attack by a worried Fluttershy.
"Oh! Applejack, maybe you shouldn't do that." Fluttershy said trying to get her friend to sit back down to no avail. Shockingly though her leg felt better, it still hurt, but she could still stand with relative ease. She quickly explained it to Fluttershy.
"Well, let me remove the bandage and look at it." She said before quickly getting to work. When the bandage was removed she gave a light gasp.
Applejack's leg had healed unusually quick, while the wound was easily visible it was nowhere near as bad as the night before. Taking advantage of Fluttershy's shock Applejack started walking towards Twilight with a limp, just to see if she could help with anything. Fluttershy recovered from her shock and chased her down trying to have her but Applejack was as stubborn as a mule.
"Hey Twi, anythin' I can help ya' with?" the wounded mare asked.
"Applejack, you should be resting." Twillight said giving her friend a glare.
"I know, I know but it just don't feel right seeing y'all do the hard work." Applejack said looking at the ground with her ears low.
"Applejack you will have plenty of time to help when we get back to Ponyville. But for now you're not in the conditions to head back."
Applejack nodded and started to head back to her tent.
"App-le-jack..." Fluttershy said trying to get the words out of her heavy breathing. "You need, to rest." she added collapsing on the ground.
"Yer right Fluttershy.." Applejack replied and continued to the her tent.
After a few minutes Twilight decided if they can't bring AJ to the doctors they would bring the doctors to her, so Rainbow Dash flew to Ponyville as fast as she could to get news to the doctors.
After a few hours of waiting and doing absolutely nothing Rainbow had returned, saying the doctors would be there in a few days.
"UGH! You mean I gotta sit her doing nothing' fer a few days!" Applejack said in an annoyed voice followed by the sound of a puppy whining.
"Uh, Applejack, are you whining?" Pinkie asked raising one hoof.
"Dang cowgirl you need to stop spending time with Winnona so much." Rainbow added.
"Heh heh maybe yer right." Applejack replied with a blush.
The sun started to set as the air got cooler, but now they had plenty of firewood to last them a long while. Applebloom, Scootaloo , and Sweetie Belle didn't seem nervous about the sun going down but the other six were very cautious looking around for anything that could attack.
"Why aren't these three nervous!" Rainbow said pointing at the three young fillies. "Well at least I'm not nervous but still." She added.
"Because the creature isn't coming back here for a long, long time." Sweetie Belle said with a big smile on her face.
"Duh, why do you think we built that giant fort?" Scootaloo added.
"What did a funny looking fort thingy have to do with keeping a creature away?" Pinkie Pie asked..
"We fought it off with sticks!" Applebloom answered.
"And stones." Scootaloo added.
"Ha I knew you three were brave fearless fighters! Just like me." Rainbow Dash said giving each Cruasder a rough pat on the head messing up their manes.
The sun was ducking behind the horizon and the moon was rising. Fluttershy moved Applejack back into the tent just in case the creature did come back. Soon the sun set and night fell upon Equestria. The five mares and three fillies were just sitting around the fire, Rainbow bragging how she would smash the teeth right out of the creature if it came back, and Rarity was talking about a new fashion line.
Applejack was just lying in her tent doing nothing which was boring for a hard worker such as herself. When all of the sudden a gust a wind just came from nowhere blowing the fire out and taking the rain cover of the tent off.
The moon was shining in the tent on Applejack. She started to feel a tingle in her skin and it felt like her teeth were growing out she looked at her leg as the hair started turning gray and growing out longer. "What in tarnation is going on!" she yelled nervously. Nopony could hear her over the sound of friends talking about the fire and Rarity complaining about how chilly it was.
With a mighty howl a creature tore open the tent and ran pass the ponies.
"The creature!" Rainbow shouted flying towards it but lost sight of it as it ran into the forest.
The creature had left them in a hurry, Twilight went to check on Applejack since it was her tent that got torn open. Pinkie Pie leaned over Twilight and shouted. "Applejack is missing!" Everypony gasped. Rainbow had just returned to see her friends with fear on their face and the tent torn apart. "What happened to AJ!" She asked rushing towards the tent looking side to side of her.
"The creature must have taken her!" Rarity suggested "Where is it Rainbow Dash, where is that monster?
"It ran into the forest before I could catch it..." She replied with complete shame on her face. "If I knew it had AJ I wouldn't have let it leave my sight!.
They relit the fire and sat there coming up with a plan. They couldn't just face the creature hoof to claw, Rainbow Dash had to disagree but she got out voted. After an hour and a half of plaining they had a way to catch the creature but first they had to create the crazy contraption to do so.
"Rainbow! Get as much wood as you can but stay close to camp." Twilight commanded.
"On it!" Rainbow said giving a salute.
They worked on the contraption for about twenty minutes until Rainbow lost it.
"We can't just sit here working on a wood block for this long while Applejacks still out there!" Rainbow shouted.
"I have to agree with Rainbow now, we just can't leave my sis out there, who knows coulda' happen ta' her. Applebloom added.
Twilight looked at the contraption and at Rainbow and the filly who looked as if she was about to cry. She just stood there thinking whither they should take the chance of losing their friend trying to catch the creature with a machine or go look for their friend without a plan not knowing what to do when they ran into the beast. She couldn't think of anything to say and before for she did Rarity jump in.
"I agree with you Rainbow Dash but what will we do if we do find that beast?" she asked.
"Well, we will, um, we can, aw horseshoes I'll just kick it in the face!" Rainbow said as she kicked the air.
"I know it's a good idea to have a plan, but Applejack is all alone out there." Fluttershy said in a small voice.
Twilight was still sitting there seeing all her friends slowly deciding what they're going to do, but she couldn't think of anything to do, all she could do was convince them to stay but they had a point.
"Fine we will go find Applejack," Twilight declared. ''But we do need somepony to stay and watch Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo."
"Oh! I will stay!" Fluttershy offered.
"But Fluttershy, we might need you, you're good with animals and that may come in handy." Twilight told her.
"But, but, I, it's, it's so dark I don't know." Fluttershy replied shooting towards the ground.
"Come on Fluttershy, you're not scared a strange creature with huge fangs and sharp claws are you?" Pinkie Pie said putting a hoof on Fluttershy.
"Yes!" Fluttershy shouted galloping to one of the tents.
Twilight used her magic to latch on to Fluttershy's tail and pulled her back out of the tent, she placed her on the log and started to calm her down.
"Come on Fluttershy! The longer we sit here the better the chances Applejack could get hurt!" Rainbow yelled.
"Fine, for Applejack....." Fluttershy whispered with a squeak.
"Then it's settled, are we ready to go?" Twilight asked.
"Wait, who's going to watch the girls?" Rarity asked.
"Oooo, ooo I can do it! I watch the cake twins all the time." Pinkie replied.
"Alright fine, good, can we go now?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Yes!" Eveypony replied.
They started walking away from the camp and into the forest once again, they turned to look back at the camp and then back in the forest. They took their first step into the forest with a giant gulp that you could probably hear from Ponyville. Rainbow Dash acted like she knew what she was going to do but you could tell even she was nervous. They were walking for about ten minutes and Rainbow Dash being impatient as she is she had to say something.
"Ugh! Where could she be!" Rainbow yelled.
Suddenly a howl came from nowhere making the birds fly out of the trees, they flew right in front of the moon. The four mares jump and turned in the direction of the howl. They were rushing as fast as they could to sound when it howled again, but this time it was behind them.
"Wha- what the hay is going on it was right in front of us just a second ago!" Rainbow shouted.
"Shhh! Rainbow! Don't yell it will hear us." Twilight said whispering.
There was another howl but this time it sounded as if it was surrounded them.
"Wait, there's more than one of them?" Rarity said very nervously.
They huddled together next to a tree preparing for what was about to come out of the shadows, when a leaf fell from the tree and landed on Fluttershy's flank.
"EEP!" Fluttershy screamed and started galloping away into the dark forest.
Her eyes were closed and she was just running until she bumped into something, she fell straight to the ground and landed on her butt. She looked up rubbing her head, and saw two glowing green eyes. She stood, frozen, staring straight into the beast's eyes, but there was something strangely familiar about them that slightly dulled the want to run and scream. Slightly. She then took her eyes of the creature's eyes and started to look at the rest of the beast and saw it had sharp claws and grayish brown hair. It looked like the creature was doing the same thing. She tried standing but she was still shaking in terror, still not sure what was going to happen, when she heard her friends calling for her not far away. The creature looked behind Fluttershy and started to shake its head then it looked back at Fluttersy and started to growl and lunged towards her, when Rainbow Dash flew in and pushed it into a tree.
"Don't you dare put one claw on her you overgrown fur ball!" Rainbow shouted as the two unicorns arrived. "Now where's Applejack!?"
The creature crouched and bared its teeth, but then it shook its head and growled at the four ponies and ran back into the forest. Rainbow Dash went after it flying as fast as she could in the dark.
"Rainbow! Come back!" Twilight shouted.
"She's going to get hurt herself if she keeps up this reckless attitude." Rarity said.
The two unicorns went chasing after Rainbow Dash leaving Fluttershy in the dark forest alone. But she didn't even notice she was alone, she had a lot on her mind, until she saw a brown object a few feet away from her.
What could that be? she thought to herself.
She walked over to it hoping it wasn't some live creature that was going to eat her, she looked down and the moonlight shone straight threw the trees and she could see the object almost clearly now, it was a hat, and not just any hat. It was Applejacks familiar stetson. The only words that Fluttershy could mumble was.
Fluttershy was just standing there with two thoughts in her mind, either the creature had killed Applejack or the creature was Applejack. The thought of that was just painful to even think about but she couldn't get the it out of her head. Until she heard that familiar howl again. She shot straight up and stopped staring at the stetson hat, and she finally realized she was alone in the forest, she slowly started to freak out hearing all the noises of the critters and the howls that could possibly be from her friend. She heard her friends yell.
"Rainbow Dash!"
And then soon after she heard a yelp, not sure of what to do she ran straight towards the noise, when she arrived to where she heard it she saw Rainbow had pinned the creature in a cave where it couldn't run. All that was going through Fluttershy's mind was.
Oh my I can't let Rainbow Dash hurt her if it is Applejack, but what if it isn't and I ruin everything.
She was standing there debating with herself, when she looked over to look at the creature and it looked back, she saw its eyes and it saw her eyes, then Fluttershy let out a big.
"Stop it!" she yelled.
Twilight turned to look at Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash turned to look at what was going on.
"Is there something wrong?" Rartiy said with a worried tone.
"Yes.... You can't hurt that creature." Flutershy replied.
"What! Not hurt it, it took Applejack whatever punishment I have it deserves!" Rainbow Dash said turning around. "Great it got away nice going Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy put her head down looking at the ground while Rainbow flew off to find the creature once again.
"We will talk about this later Fluttershy." Twilight said in disappointment before chasing after Rainbow Dash, Rarity followed after.
Fluttershy had no idea of what to do now, she was now standing in the forest alone once again with her friends chasing down what she was sure was her other friend.
Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were still trying to and the creature in the night they wandered the forest all night searching for it with no luck, soon the sun was going to start rising,
"See Rainbow if we had that crazy contraption we could have caught that thing by now." Twilight said.
"Hold on do you hear that?" Rarity said placing a hoof o Twilight.
"Hear wha-" Twiight said getting cut off by Rainbow Dash.
"Shh, I hear it too." Rainbow said quietly placing one hoof over Twilights mouth. "There it is!" she said flying towards a dark shadow in the trees.
Rarity and Twilight sighed because of Rainbow Dash running off again they put their ears low and slowly walked towards the direction Rainbow Dash was headed. Soon Twilight and Rarity heard a huge thud, they started charging towards the sound, when they got to it they saw Rainbow Dash on top of the wolf like creature.
"You're not getting away again! Now, where is our friend Applejack!" Rainbow Dash said yelling at the beast right in its face.
"Rainbow, be careful!" Twilight yelled.
"Oh dear! I can't watch!" Rarity said turning the other way.
The creature kicked Rainbow Dash off and got into low crouch, Rainbow did a back flip in the air and got into mirrored the creatures stance, they were standing a few feet away staring at each other waiting for the other to make the first move, but neither of them would strike, Rainbow Dash was standing there starting to get impatient. Suddenly the creature lunged towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow dogged it and jumped to the side, the creature flew past her and dug its claws in the ground, shifting its momentum, and lunged towards Rainbows back with its claws in the air. Rainbow Dash couldn't turn around fast enough and soon the creature was on her. Rainbow rolled backwards kicking the creature off her, but it had a tight grip with its claws latched around her body, they rolled across the ground with dust flying up around them both. The creature was trying to bite Rainbow Dash, so Rainbow bit back, she bit the creature's ear making it yelp and loosen its grip, Rainbow kicked it off her and leapt away from the creature and fell into a defensive stance, the two fighters were breathing heavily with dirt and srcatches all over their bodies. Twilight Sparkle was just standing there unsure of how to help, Rairty wasn't watching she couldn't bare to see her friend get hurt. Rainbow looked like she was about to pass out when she yelled.
"Come on you want some more! Come on, come on!"
Rainbow lunged towards the creature when it turned around and kicked Rainbow in the face with its hind legs. Rainbow Dash flew towards a tree and slammed against it.
"Rainbow!" Twilight yelled rushing towards her friend.
Rarity heard Twilight yell and turned around and also ran towards her friend.
The creature stood behind them shaking its head again and again, until it howled, the howling woke Rainbow Dash up and she got up rubbing her head, she soon saw the creature behind Twilight and Rarity, she immediately jumped up and quickly jumped over to. IT didn't attack her but gave her sorrowful look and looked at the ground and put her ears down, Rainbow didn't seem to even care she wasn't attacking her, she turned around and used the rest of the strength she had and kicked the beast off a small nearby cliff. The creature flew and landed on a rather bendy tree, which bent like a catapult and she flew straight into the air flying quiet aways, away.
"Rainbow... You just made what we have been looking for hours fly who knows where." Twilight said giving Rainbow Dash a not amused look.
"It got what it deserved, that's all I can say." Rainbow Dashsaid breathing heavily.
"Maybe we should just look for Applejack instead of the creature, If it had her we would have seen her by now, am I not correct?" Rarity asked.
"She has a point, lets look for Applejack instead." Twilight suggested.
"All right." Rainbow agreed. She wasn't in the mood to argue.
...
Fluttershy wasn't sure of what to do now, she could follow her friends again, or head back to camp, her friends were not going to listen to her, but she couldn't let Applejack get hurt. She just decided to head back to camp, she had no power against her friends. Except there was one problem with that, which way was back to camp. Once again Fluttershy was lost. She took a deep breath and used her courage and went the way that she felt was the right way. She didn't know how long she was walking but the sun rose telling her she was lost for a few hours. She could start to see a lot better but was still jumping and squealing to every little sound she herd until she heard growling not too far away from her. She wasn't sure if she should go towards the sound or if she should go the other direction. Suddenly a familiar voice came from the direction of the sounds.
"Ugh!" the voice groaned.
Fluttershy went over to the sound and looked around for the noise that was coming from a ditch in the ground. She slowly walked over to the ditch and peeked over and saw an orange and yellow pony laying there, her mane was a mess and her coat was completely ruined. She took a closer look leaning over the edge a bit more, she saw a cuite mark that was three red apples, Fluttershy gasped and started sliding down the ditch to help her friend.
"Applejack are you ok!?" Fluttershy asked completely worried.
Applejacks eyes opened and she turned her head to look straight at her friend Fluttershy, once they locked eyes Applejack jumped straight up.
"Fluttershy what are what are you doin' here!?" Applejack said with sweat going down her chin.
"I came to see if you were ok, why else?" Fluttershy said.
"Well thanks fer checkin up on me, well y'all should just head back to the campsite." Applejack said pushing the yellow Pegasus away.
"Applejack are you feeling okay?" Fluttershy asked tilting her head in confusion.
"Yes. Well kinda. Maybe. No." Applejack replied hanging her head low with her ears down.
"Was that, creature, you?" Fluttershy asked in a worried tone.
"I-I don't know I can't remember a lot from last night." Applejack replied.
"What do you remember?" Fluttershy asked.
"I just remember bein in the tent and then there was gray hair and claws, then it was just blank." Applejack replied.
"Are you sure that's it, you don't remember anything else?" Fluttershy said in disappointment.
"It's hard fer me to remember Fluttershy and even if ah did I don't think I want to." Applejack replied rather sadly.
"I know its though Applejack but you need to remember, it's very important." Fluttershy said putting a hoof on Applejacks shoulder.
"Well I'll try," Applejack said trying to smile. She closed her eyes and started to think. "I remember, I remember," Applejack opened her eyes and saw Fluttershy looking at her with hope, she started at Fluttershy's eyes which brought back one memory. "I-I remember seeing you, you were sittn there starin at me."
Fluttershy stood there in silence, with a look on her face that Applejack has never seen before. It didn't look worried or happy or fearful.
"Fluttershy, I'm so sorry I don't know what happen to me, I hope ya ain't mad." Applejack said taking a step back.
Fluttershy still stood there, just staring off into space until she decided to respond. "Of course not Applejack, It wasn't your fault, but I have just one question.
"What's that?"
"What happened to you?"
They stood there thinking about what could have happened when Rainbow Dash's Werewolf story came their minds.
"You don't think?" Fluttershy asked timidly.
"Ah hope not." Applejack replied. "Do ya think Twi' brought a book about it?" They knew Twilight had books on fictional creatures and that she brought a lot of books camping with her, maybe just maybe she happened to bring that book along with her. They headed back to the camp, they could finally find their way back to camp because of the sun, and its light shining down.
"Applejack!" Applebloom yelled running towards her sister.
"Oh uh, hey Applebloom." Applejack said.
"Sis what happened to you?" asked the little filly staring up at her sister.
"Well you see, uh, Ah um-" Applejack started to answer nervously, when she got cut off by Scootaloo.
"Did you get in a fight with that creature!" Scootaloo said fighting the air.
"You could say that." Fluttershy said.
"AJ! Your back! This calls for a party, oh where is everypony?" Pinkie Pie asked giving Applejack a hug.
...
"Rainbow Dash, maybe she is already at camp." Rarity said.
"Yeah, maybe she got away or didn't even get captured at all, we have been searching all night!" Twilight explained
"Hmm, maybe but, what if she didn't?" Rainbow said trying not to look sad at the thought
"Well there's only one way to find out." Twilight said.
They started to head back to camp Rainbow Dash flew up in the sky to lead them back to camp when she saw the camp she noticed an orange mare sitting on a log.
"Applejack!" Rainbow Dash shouted nose diving towards her friends.
Rainbow Dash land next to her friends, Twilight and Rarity were running out of the forest with their last burst of energy from being up all night, but Applejack was worth it.
"Applejack I'm so glad to see you're ok." Twilight said, with a sigh of relief.
"Ok!? Just look at her mane, forget a hospital you need to get to the spa!" Rarity said gesturing at her beat up friend. Her friends just started at her trying to ignore that comment.
"Forget a makeover, where the hay were you last night!" Rainbow shouted.
"Oh well you know, I thought I would go fer a little run." Applejack said not trying to lie.
"Oh yeah, then why are you beat up like you got in a fight with a wolf?" Rainbow continued.
"More like a pony...." Applejack mumbled to herself..
"What was that?" Twilight asked.
"Oh oh I fell, in a ditch, of dirt." Applejack answered.
"You fell, in a ditch!" Rainbow continued.
"Eeyup, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it." Applejack finished.
"But that can't be-" Rainbow started getting cut off by Twilight.
"Rainbow Dash, she's the element of honesty she wouldn't lie to us." Twilight said.
"I guess...." Rainbow said walking over to her tent. "But I'm still not sure."
Applejack sighed with relief, she just couldn't tell her friends what happened to her and she couldn't tell her friends what she did to Rainbow Dash, not even Fluttershy. But what Twilight just said put a spike in Applejacks heart for not being completely honest with her friends.
"Fluttershy!" Twillight shouted.
"Yes Twilight?" Fluttershy said walking over to her purple friend.
"What was that!" Twilight yelled.
"What was what?" Fluttershy said looking at her friend confused.
"Last night, with that creature, you let it get away, why?" Twilight said.
"Oh you know how I love animals." she said looking back at Applejack.
"But you have to understand this animal can't be tamed." Twilight continued.
"I wouldn't say that maybe she-" Fluttershy said catching herself. "It just needs to be shown a little kindness."
"I don't think so." Twilight said, not noticing the pauses in Fluttershy's sentence.
"Well did you try showing it kindness?" Fluttershy continued.
"Well no but-."
"Then you can't be sure."
''But it attacked Rainbow Dash and I don't think it showed any kindness."
"What!" Fluttershy yelled in her small voice looking back at Applejack.
"It's true, why do you think Rainbow Dash is all beat up like that?"
Fluttershy didn't want to talk about the creature anymore. Thankfully Pinkie Pie was there.
"Who wants pancakes!" Pinkie yelled flipping pancakes in a pan.
"Pancakes!" yelled the three fillies running towards PInkie.
The nine ponies sat on a picnic blanket, getting ready to eat their yummy pancakes.
"Applejack, you say you fell in a ditch but you told me you fought that creature." Scootaloo said before taking a bite of her food.
Applejacks heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to talk about herself anymore but she had to come up with something to say that wasn't a complete lie.
"Well how do yall think I got in the ditch, if it weren't fer the creature I wouldn't have fallen in there." Applejack replied.
"Wow! What was it like to come face to face with that thing again?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Wait you fought the creature you said you just fell in a ditch!" Rainbow said starting to stand up.
"I didn't want yall to worry about me." AJ said putting her ears down.
"Applejack, next time you should tell us the whole story." Twilight said in disappointment.
"I'm sorry Twi..." Applejack said.
"Now what did it look like did we fight the same one?!" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.
"Ya know it was a long night, I think I'm goin to go eat my pancakes inside mah tent." Applejack said walking over to her broken tent she crawled in the down leaving her food right outside her tent, she quickly stuck her leg out and grabbed her plate and pulled it inside.
"What's her problem, I fought that thing face to face and I don't mind talking about it." Rainbow said.
"Well Applejack isn't you!" Fluttershy burst out. Her friends immediately looked at her. "Sorry......" she squeaked. The pressure was really getting to Fluttershy.
Applejack was laying in her broken tent slowly eating her breakfast, she was really tired yet she couldn't sleep, there are too many thoughts going through her head, she wanted to know more about Werewolves but if she asked Twilight after last night she would get suspicious. She wanted to tell her friends but she didn't want to ruin their friendship. She started to look at her hoof, that used to be a paw, and there was no longer any pain in her leg but she still had bite marks on her. She didn't want to hurt her friends, but at night she would turn into the very thing that wil, she thought when it was night fall the beast would awaken once again, at least that's what she thought. Fluttershy started to crawl through the small entry hole in the tent with her was a book.
"Fluttershy what are ya doin', and what's that ya got there?" Applejack asked
"Its Twilight's werewolf book, I thought you might want to look at it." Fluttershy said handing Applejack the book
"Thanks Fluttershy...." AJ said.
Fluttershy left the tent leaving Applejack with her thoughts again, but now she had a book to look at, She didn't want to read it just yet, she still had thoughts on her mind she wanted to get clear. She thought if Fluttershy was loyal and still her friend, even after what happened, then why wouldn't the rest of her friends, but she didn't want to take the risk. After a while of thinking, decided to take a look at the book.
Applejack opened to the book and started to read. This is a book covering what is known about the beast known as the Werewolf. Werewolves, (also known as lycans) are half pony half wolf creatures. It has been confirmed that their kind is created through a magical diease that is spread through the saliva. This disease is the cause their tranformation when hit by moonlight. ''Of course that's how Ah' changed, the moonlight hit me." Applejack said to herself. Applejack continued to read but none of it was that important she knew what she wanted to know, and that was good enough. But she put the book under her pillow in case she needed it again.
Applejack was still laying in the tent, she had butterflies fluttering around in her stomach she didn't want to hurt her friends, she never wanted to hurt her friend. The images of fighting Rainbow Dash started to get stronger and as she started to remember the fight more and more vividly, she didn't want to remember what happened that night. As much as she wanted it all to be a dream it wasn't and she knew she would have to deal with it eventually. Applejack knew the rest of her friends would find out sooner or later. But she didn't want that to be anytime soon.
"Might as well get some fresh air while I still can." Applejack said to herself. "Fresh air might clear ma my head."
She crawled out the tent and peeked her head out and looked up at the sky seeing the sun glare down. She turned her head to look down from the blinding sky, and what she saw was Twilight packing her bags.
"Twilight what are ya doin'?" Applejack asked.
"Obviously it's too dangerous out here, so we are heading back to Ponyville." Twilight replied
Inside, Applejack's heart skipped a beat, she knew what would happen if the moonlight hit her and she knew Ponyville wouldn't be safe if she changed there. Applejack glanced at Fluttershy, but she respond with a worried shrug. All Applejack could do hide her nervousness was to nod in agreement.
Applejack saw the rest of her friends get up to pack, AJ turned around to grab her belongings,she thought if she had to leave she would want to get there before dark.
Applejack grabbed all of her things including the werewolf/Lycan book. Everypony threw all their belongings on the wagon Rarity had brought.
"Okay, then who's going to pull the cart?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Not it!" Applebloom and Scootaloo shouted in sync.
"OH come on!" Sweetie Belle yelled.
They headed back to Ponyville. Applejack kept starring at the sky and barely ever looked at the road. Soon Applejack tripped on a stone in the road and started rolling down the hill. Pinkie pie gasped and started hopping down the hill and stopped Applejack before she hurt something.
The rest of the ponies started running down the hill, while Sweetie Belle was being dragged down hill by the wagon.
"Are you okay Applejack?!" Twilight asked, rushing to her side.
"Ya, I'm fine." Applejack responded, wiping off some dirt. "Thanks Pinkie"
"Aw, it was no big deal." Pinkie replied, waving a hoof in the air.
"Great! Now that we are all okay, how bout we eat some lunch?" Rainbow asked.
"Rainbow we just left an hour and a half ago." Twilight responded.
"It wouldn't hurt to relax a bit." Rarity said.
"It is really nice out today," Fluttershy said, earning her a worried look from Applejack. She caught the look and quickly amended her statement. "Or maybe not... we should keep going, it will be nice when we get home too."
"But my dear, you never pass up the idea of a beautiful picnic day." Rarity replied, in shock.
"But after last night are we sure we should stay here?" Fluttershy replied, her ears flattening as she hoofed at the ground.
"Oh stop being such a worry wort a few minutes to get a quick snack is no big deal!" Pinkie Pie said, cheerfully rusting the mane of Fluttershy.
Applejack felt sick at the thought of not getting home on time. She glanced at Fluttershy hoping for some more help, but she knew that there was nothing that could be done. So to speed things up she quickly took out the food set it up and sat down waiting for everypony to finish eating.
"Ya'll wont take to long to eat right? We just ate not to long ago." Applejack asked, her eyes shifting quickly to anything but her friends.
"No, why?" Twilight asked curiously. "You are acting a little strange right now, its a beautiful day relax."
"But after what happened last night wouldn't it be safer to get home before sundown?"
"Nothing to worry about AJ, unless that creature is following us. And even if that's the case with both you and me we should have no problem taking it down. I mean I could do it by myself but you get it point." Rainbow said flexing and stretching her muscles.
"And even if we were to take no breaks I doubt we would get back to Ponyville before sundown." Rarity said fanning herself.
Applejack's stomach felt like it was moving up her throat, she new Rarity was right, especially with this break, there was no way they were going to get to Ponyville by sundown. They would have to spend another night camping out.
"Hey you alright? You're looking a little pale?" Pinkie Pie noticed.
"Yeah, yeah I'm good. I just need some water that's all." Applejack replied.
Fluttershy brought over some water and sat next to the pale orange pony and sat in concern.
"Hey Applebloom, your sister has been acting weird is she okay?" Sweetie Bell ask
"Ah, ah don't know she is acting a little funny I guess but like she said... she just needs some water." Applebloom replied unsure.
Everypony sat around with concern looks on their faces, but they also tried to act like everything was alright and everything was going to be alright. They finished eating and ate rather quickly do to Applejack's concerns. Soon they packed up and heading down the trail again getting closer to Ponyville.
It was a rather hot day with only a couple of clouds in the sky, birds chirping away butterflies fluttering around them, the sweet fresh smell of the outdoor air. And sweat dripping of the poor little Sweetie Belle not dragging, but being dragged by the giant cart of suitcases and supplies. Everypony trotted at a normal pass except for Applejack who was ahead trying to move as quickly as she could. After a couple hour of walking and small conversations, especially of what had happened that night. The sun was at its highest point in the sky and brought even more heat upon the ponies causing them to slow down.
"Uh, maybe we should take a small break." Twilight said exhausted, and fell to the ground.
"AGREED!" Everypony shouted back in relief, all except for Applejack.
Applejack was sitting antsy and couldn't keep still while everypony else was sprawled out on the ground relaxing and trying to cool off.
"Whats with you today AJ? Did that creature freak you out that much?" Rainbow Dash said.
"No, it's just... wasn't it your guys idea to leave? Because it wasn't safe?" Applejack replied defensively.
"But we should take a break! That meanie isn't around right now so we are safe." Pinkie Pie replied cheerfully.
Applejack ignored Pinkies comment and walked over to a rock that was distant from everypony else and sat there waiting for them all to get back on their hooves and get moving again. It didn't take long before Fluttershy came to sit next to Applejack and wait.
"There is a chance." Flutteryshy said breaking the silence.
"Of?" Applejack asked.
"Of you changing, it might not happen."
"And if it does?"
"We are your friends, we are here to deal with it. We are here to help you."
"Ah, ah can't go hurtin' my friends." She said "It won't happen'!"
"You're right, it won't." Fluttershy replied.
Applejack couldn't make eye contact and just stared at the ground, her eyes watering up and her hooves starting to shake.
"I will keep your secret as long as you like, but you can't keep this secret forever." Fluttershy said sympathetically.
Fluttershy wiped away Applajacks tears and gave her a big hug. Nopony else noticed what was going on except for the three fillies watching from a distance.
"Why is Fluttershy hugging Applejack like that?" Scootaloo pointed out.
"Maybe there was a bug on her back, or its just to be friendly?" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Maybe... but something is going on, and I'm going to find out what." Applebloom said stomping her hoof on the ground.
