Fluttershy stood in front of the cabin window with drooping ears and a pouted lip. Snow was piling up outside as the unexpected winter storm raged on, and Fluttershy squeezed her camera with a deep sigh.

Rainbow Dash poked at the burning logs with a iron rod, and embers stirred into the air. "I can't believe they did this... I read the schedules twice before we planned this trip! Dumb newbies messing everything up!"

Fluttershy took a deep breath and fogged up the window before she turned around to face her friend. "It shouldn't last too much longer, right?"

"Probably not, but it's gonna get dark soon, and we don't have any food. I don't know about you but I don't feel like heading out into subzero temperatures tonight," Rainbow Dash said as she groaned and jabbed into the flames.

Fluttershy gave a mirthful frown before her attention was drawn to the kitchen once again. "I think we have everything we need to bake... something."

"Bake something? Like a cake?" Rainbow asked.

"Sure! Or cookies, maybe." Fluttershy skipped into the kitchen and began rummaging through the few provisions scattered throughout.

Rainbow Dash followed her and scratched her head. "So... do you know how to whip up a cake from scratch?"

"Uhm, no? But I do know how to make sugar cookies... I think," Fluttershy said as she rounded up the ingredients.

Rainbow Dash skeptically watched for a moment before heading to the oven and inspecting it. "Think this thing still even works?"

"I don't see why it wouldn't. It's just a wooden oven with a stone kiln. Not much to it," Fluttershy explained, then dug for a mixing bowl.

Rainbow Dash smiled and blew the bangs from her face. "Sure could use Pinkie Pie right around now, huh? I bet she'd have everything we need tucked into her mane."

Fluttershy giggled at the thought and shrugged. "I bet you're right, but we'll make do on our own, somehow."

"Hey," Rainbow Dash called as she placed a wing around her friend's back. "We're not alone if we have each other. This storm won't get us down, will it!"

Fluttershy gave a quick now and sighed. "I just hope it doesn't ruin our whole week... I was really hoping we'd be able to go explore the forest, and I want to take more pictures of cute and magical animals too! Like a... like a snow golem! Ooh, and maybe even a—"

"Yeah I get it!" Rainbow Dash shouted with a hoof over Fluttershy's lips. "Look, if it isn't one-hundred percent cleared up by the morning, I'll go push those clouds away myself. Deal?"

Fluttershy widened her eyes and clapped her front hooves. "Yes!" she shouted, then recoiled. "Of course, only if it isn't too much trouble..."

"For me? No trouble at all. Now the average pony might die trying." Rainbow Dash forced a laugh and turned away with a gulp. She faced the window and watched the heavy snow flakes flickering though the light provided the fire inside.

"You're the best, Dash." Fluttershy went back to her equipment-scavenging and lifted a splintery old wooden bowl into her hooves.

Rainbow Dash cringed and lowered the bowl down. "You know what? Don't worry about it tonight. When we go into town tomorrow, we'll buy a few supplies and you can bake me those delicious sugar cookies you were talking about, alright?"

"Oh, okay. Sure," Fluttershy said with a smile. "So what should we do?"

Rainbow Dash blushed as her stomach growled. "How about we roast some oats on the fire so that they taste a bit better?"

"I like oats... What's wrong with oats?" Fluttershy scooped a few onto her hoof and slid them into her mouth from the barrel, then chewed them up with a grin.

"I guess I don't like whole oats... Sheesh. I like cinnamon-apple oatmeal, but that's it for oats." Rainbow Dash rubbed her rumbling stomach and scooped a pile of oats into the wooden bowl, then trotted back into the living room by the fire.

Fluttershy stood still for a moment, then spotted a dusty old kettle sitting on top of the stove. She pumped the faucet and rinsed it out, then filled it with fresh water before joining her friend by the fire. "Look what I found?"

"A pot?"

"A tea kettle," Fluttershy corrected.

Rainbow Dash shrugged and choked down a bundle of warmed oats. "Okay cool. You bring tea or something?"

"No, but I thought we could make oatmeal. It'll be plain-flavored, but at least it'll be sweet and taste better for you." Fluttershy smiled and lifted the kettle over the fire using the iron prod.

Rainbow Dash watched as her friend balanced it atop a burning log for several long moments, and soon it began to steam.

She pulled it out and set it on the floor, then used her scarf to hold it as she poured the hot water into the wooden bowl. "I'll bring you some sugar."

Fluttershy opened the sack of sugar and used a scoop within to carry a generous mound to the steaming bowl. She dumped it in and began to stir as the oats swelled up and absorbed the hot water. "There ya go."

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and lifted measuring scoop full of soft, cooked oats to her lips.

Fluttershy widened her vivid teal eyes as they shimmered in the firelight. The scent of sweet oatmeal filled her nostrils when Rainbow Dash carefully breathed over the scoop to cool it, then took a bite.

"Well?" Fluttershy asked. "Do you like it?"

Rainbow Dash placidly chewed and gazed into Fluttershy's eyes without expression. As she swallowed the bite, a smile eased onto her face and she nodded. "Not bad! Definitely better than plain old boring oats."

"Yes!" Fluttershy thrust a hoof into the air and beamed. "I'm so glad you like it. Now you don't have to feel miserable on vacation."

Rainbow Dash scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Shy. But I wasn't miserable just because I had to eat some oats. It's gonna take a lot more that that to get me down with you around here."

Fluttershy blushed and leaned into her friend on the sofa. "Still, I want you to like your food."

Rainbow Dash stroked the top of Fluttershy's mane and silently gagged with her tongue sticking out. "Thanks, and you should eat up too. Here, try it."

Rainbow Dash took one more big bite and forced it down before passing the meal over.

"Oh, are you sure you don't want to finish it? I can always make more for myself later, and I like the oats anyway," Fluttershy took the bowl as Rainbow Dash adamantly shook her head.

"Nope, I don't usually eat much on vacation anyway, because I need to... uh, watch my weight since I'm lazing around all day." Rainbow gave a quick nod and crossed her hooves. "Yup, it's all yours!"

"Okay, thank you." Fluttershy inhaled the bowl's sweet, sugary aroma before taking a big bite. "Mmmm, delicious."

Rainbow Dash rubbed her slightly satisfied stomach and turned away while Fluttershy finished off the bowl.

"Ouch," she squeaked. "I think I... I got a thplinter in muh tongue."

Rainbow Dash tilted her head to examine Fluttershy's tongue, and sure enough a tiny sliver of wood stuck protruding from the tip. "That's what you get for using these old bowls, ya goof. Here, lemme get it."

Fluttershy squeezed her eyes closed and held her breath while Rainbow Dash carefully clasped onto the splinter with the tips of her hooves and pulled it out. "Oh... Thank you."

Rainbow Dash tossed it towards the fire and shrugged. "No problem. It happens."

Fluttershy swirled her sore tongue around in her mouth before she curled up on the couch. "Remember earlier this summer when we watched the butterflies migrate?"

"Of course. How could I forget watching... butterflies moving around?" Rainbow Dash teased.

Fluttershy giggled and leaned upright. "I mean, remember what happened? Why didn't we talk about that?.

Rainbow Dash lowered her wings and shrugged. "Talk about what? You mean the neck thing?"

Fluttershy rubbed her neck and blushed. "Uhm, yes? It's kind of a big deal, and I want to... I have to know what you... Humph." Fluttershy covered her red face and turned away.

Rainbow Dash groaned and rolled her eyes. "Come on, can't we just forget about it? It wasn't a big deal, alright?"

Fluttershy huffed from behind her mane. "It was a big deal to me..."

"What can I say? I like you, and I wanted to do something to show it," Rainbow Dash explained.

Fluttershy looked up through her silky pink mane and blinked several times. "You like me? I thought so. And Dash, that's kind of a weird thing to just do without warning."

"Psh, you liked it." Rainbow Dash grinned and raised her eyebrows.

Fluttershy blushed yet again and let her mane slide to one side. "Okay, maybe I did. I don't really remember how I felt."

"What?" Rainbow Dash dropped her grin and widened an eye. "It wasn't that long ago. I remember it like it was yesterday!"

Fluttershy leaned over the arm of the sofa and bared her neck. "Maybe you could remind me?"

Rainbow Dash quickly shook her head and bit her lip. She eyed her best friend who was sprawled across the couch with her head tilted to one side, then took a deep breath. "Is that what this is about? You had a taste of me and now you can't get enough."

"You caught me." Fluttershy giggled and opened her eyes while her head dangled upside down over the arm of the couch. As Rainbow Dash climbed over her and nuzzled her neck, Fluttershy spotted a dazzling blue gem decorating the spine of a lone book sitting on a dusty bookshelf. "What's that?"

Rainbow Dash breathed into Fluttershy's soft coat and shrugged. "We'll check whatever it is out later."

With tingling chills running through her body, Fluttershy gently pushed on Rainbow Dash's head, who leaned up and frowned.

"Alright, alright... What is it?"

Fluttershy wiggled out from beneath her friend and hopped over to the bookshelf where she grabbed the mysterious book. "I saw this thing sparkling and I just had to look at it."

"A book? Since when are you such an egghead? Is it about bunnies or something?" Rainbow Dash scoffed.

"It says Daring Do on it." Fluttershy held the book out and grinned.

"What? Gimme that." Rainbow Dash snatched it away and read over the cover. "Dr. Whinniam H. Research Journal... Lame. Let's get back to it then, shall we?"

Fluttershy wriggled the book from Rainbow Dash's hooves and shook her head. "Look what's on the spine. I think this is a piece of an Aurora Cocoon. Maybe this journal will tell us where to find the caterpillars."

Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof to persist, but the sight of Fluttershy's eager smile as she opened the book stole her intentions. She sighed and scooted up next to her, then supported one half of the journal as they leaned into one another.

Fluttershy cleared her throat and began to read,

Today marks the first of the year, and the elusive Aurora Cocoons should be in full exertion. I will record my daily findings in this journal for research purposes.

Day one came and went, and all I've managed to find are buried shells and fragments of hatched cocoons. After extensive testing via my limited travel kit, I've concluded that these fragments yield no magical properties. I must find the cocoons whole and the pupa must be mid-metamorphesis. I presume this is when the energy is most prevalent. I'll head back into the forest first thing in the morning.

Day two was unsuccessful. During my trek into the forest, I encountered a strange energy that seemingly disoriented me. My drawn maps were taking me to uncharted areas and eventually to the lakeshore. I have no idea how to get back to town, but I found this log cabin on the lake. This is a beautiful area, and as far as I can tell nopony has visited this cabin in decades. I'll stay here for tonight and perhaps the duration of my expedition.

Fluttershy scratched her head and glanced around. "Rainbow Dash, this is very strange."

"Tell me about it. It sounds like the same weird woods thing happened to us, and led us to the same weird cabin." Rainbow Dash frowned and turned the page.

"Not only that, but these entries are marked at almost seventy years old. Good thing oats don't go stale..." Fluttershy giggled and continued reading.

Day three will prove to be fruitless. A sudden blizzard has trapped me in the cabin, and I'm low on provisions. I'll be forced to dig myself out and make the trip back into town if I plan to survive out here.

I've purchased the basics that I need to survive along with a few perishables. These supplies will last long enough to complete my expedition. I was lucky enough to find a trolley available, so if worse comes to worse I have a large barrel of oats to sustain me.

This cabin is lonely.

Day four is a mystery to me. I don't understand what I'm experiencing in the forest. After a several hour hike into the depths of the woods, I ended up back at my front door. I am an experienced navigator, and I'm absolutely certain something is strange is happening. I'm forced to consider the possibility that a third party is tampering with my expedition. I will be vigilant for this trickery tomorrow.

Day five, and I am now certain that there is magic within the forest preventing me from reaching the grotto near the center. I tracked the movement of the forest via the appearance of trees behind me as I hiked and altered my path accordingly. I also noted a trail of carved out gouges, but those are presumably nothing more than a decoy. As I reached the center of the forest, it grew dark and the

"Well? Then what?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head.

Fluttershy shrugged and ran her hoof along a subtle tear-line. "I don't know. The page is missing..."

"Okay, this is seriously some freaky stuff here..." Rainbow Dash shuddered as she turned another page.

Day nine. I've stored an abundance of fragmented shells. At the very least I won't leave this place empty hoofed. One thing has me concerned however. I spotted a deer with blue eyes the other day, and I'm beginning to suspect that she has something to do with the magical interference, though forests themselves have been known to be enchanted. My concern is that I spotted what I believe to be her skulking around outside my cabin. I don't know what she's planning, or if she's alone.

I'll write one last entry before I depart. The others down at the lab are going to love this.

"And that's it. The rest of these pages are all blank." Fluttershy flipped through the book and gulped.

"What do you think happened to that doctor Whinnywhatever?" Rainbow Dash quickly glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a creaking floorboard.

Each mare sat frozen in place, then the entire cabin creaked beneath a gust of wind.

"It's just the... the wind, right?" Fluttershy asked with chattering teeth.

Rainbow Dash flattened her ears and nodded. "Of course. The wind."

"So what do you think happened here? Should we be scared?" Fluttershy winced and hugged Rainbow.

"Me? Scared? You're joking..." Rainbow Dash scoffed and shook her head. "No little blue-eyed deer is gonna scare me, and I'm a master of navigating. You ever try directing ponies to safety through a mile-tall thunderhead? I have, and it takes skill. I can get us to those caterpillars, no problem."

Fluttershy looked up into her friend's deep magenta eyes and smiled. "I'm lucky you decided to do this with me, because I couldn't imagine being here right now without you."

"Would I ever leave you hangin'? You're gonna have the best vacation ever with me around, and I'll make sure you get plenty of pictures of everything!" Rainbow Dash patted her mane and chuckled. "But it's pretty dark in here now, isn't it... Did you notice any candles or lanterns?"

Fluttershy shook her head and shrugged. "Maybe there are some in the upstairs closet?"

"Maybe. Let's go check it out." Rainbow Dash lifted Fluttershy to her hooves and trotted to the stairway.

Fluttershy followed close behind, then began to shake as the light from below flickered and cast large shadows along the walls. As Rainbow Dash dug through the junk-filled closet, Fluttershy pushed the bathroom door open. Her eyes stayed fixated on the shower curtain draping the tub, and she stepped forward. With a deep breath, she steeled her nerves and bit down on the corner of the curtain, the stepped back to drag it off.

As she pulled, it slid over the tub and onto the floor. Fluttershy blinked and stepped forward to investigate.

"Whatcha doin'?"

Fluttershy's body stiffened like a board and she cringed with a twitching eye. "Y-you..."

"Sheesh, so jumpy. Look what I found!" Rainbow Dash balanced an oil lamp on her hoof and grinned.

"Oh good." Fluttershy took the lamp and fluttered downstairs where she used a twig to light the wick. The lamp contained a small flame within a glass shell, and Fluttershy returned to the staircase.

As she peeked into the bathroom, she spotted Rainbow Dash gazing into the tub. She stepped up to her side and rested the lantern at the edge of the tub, which illuminated the dazzling contents within. Filling the tub were hundreds of thousands of tiny blue crystals that glittered and sparkled like magic.

"Is this the collection of cocoon shells?" Rainbow a Dash asked with wide eyes.

"These are just shell fragments. They never found whole cocoons, remember?" Fluttershy reached in and lifted a large piece of shell. "These are beautiful. This is what's on the spine of that journal."

"You really like these, huh? We'll get you a whole cocoon to take home, okay?" Rainbow a Dash puffed her chest out and nodded.

"Oh no, I couldn't. A picture is enough, because I don't want to hurt the little creature living inside," Fluttershy explained.

Rainbow Dash shrugged and poked around at the shells. "I bet Rarity would like this stuff."

Fluttershy nodded and dropped her fragment back into the pile. "We'll have to bring some back for her."

Rainbow Dash stretched her legs and yawned. "I'm gettin' sleepy. Wanna get sone rest? The sooner we get to sleep the sooner we get to head out and search for bugs and snow monsters to take pictures of."

Fluttershy yawned as well and nodded towards the bedroom. "I'm not too tired, but I wouldn't mind laying down and getting comfortable."

"Wait right here." Rainbow Dash took the lantern and glided down the steps. Moments later the light from the fireplace was extinguished, and she returned to Fluttershy's side. "Alright! Let's hit the hay."

Fluttershy lifted the blankets and climbed in while Rainbow Dash sat the lantern on a nightstand next to the bed. She lifted the blankets for her friend to join her, then instinctively wrapped a foreleg over her chest.

Rainbow Dash widened her eyes and rolled onto her side. "This is a weird vacation, but I like it."

Fluttershy giggled and closed her eyes. "I like that you're here with me during these strange parts. I'd be scared if not for you."

"That's right. There's nothing to fear when I'm around." Rainbow Dash tilted her nose up with a cocky smirk, then flinched as a heavy gust hit the building. "Heh... Stupid winter..."

Fluttershy blushed and nuzzled Rainbow's chest. "You're so warm."

"Well I'm a high-flier and in great shape. I can keep you warm no problem," Rainbow Dash explained as she wrapped her wings and forelegs around her friend.

"Oh, thank you. I'm not so good with the cold," Fluttershy said as she sank into Rainbow's toasty hug, then stifled a yawn. "Maybe I'm a bit sleepy after all..."

"Rest up. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."