As cliché as the beginning to any story could be, the day was just like any other day. For the young filly Applebloom, her day consisted of a sort of seasonal pattern. An early morning rise, and a few house chores prior to making her way to school, then some reading, writing and arithmetic at the schoolhouse, followed by a few failed escapades with her fellow Cutiemark Crusaders afterschool.

The day was as normal as it could be, as bland as it could be. This was probably the reason Applebloom took the longer path, through the Everfree Forest, to get to her home, Sweet Apple Acres. The prospect of taking the path less taken had appealed to the young filly as she had wanted to find some way to make this day notable in memory, and not just another wasted opportunity. Little did Applebloom realize, taking the path through the dark, dank forest would indeed make the day notable, but for reasons the innocent little filly could never fully comprehend.

With small trots characteristic of a young filly like Applebloom, she made her way through the Everfree Forest. Although many fillies her age (and even some older ponies like Fluttershy) were frightened of the Everfree Forest and the many unknown creatures that wandered through its brush, Applebloom was quite fond of the place. Ever since meeting Zecora and the silly misunderstanding that her big sister Applejack and her friends had, Applebloom never felt fear while wandering the forest. It was just another thing that her big sister had tried to scare her with, at least that is what Applebloom always thought.

Applebloom’s eyes took in the décor of the forest around her before they suddenly stopped on the dirt path ahead. There were odd tracks in the dirt, most certainly not pony tracks, but unlike anything she had ever seen before either; and she had seen a cockatrice. Upon closer inspection, the tracks had an ovate shape, and a jagged pattern within it. To Applebloom, it almost looked like trails the tractor on her farm made, except these were much, much smaller and spaced apart, as if a tractor had been tip-toeing through the bushes in the Everfree.

“What the hay?” Applebloom queried, with a sight tilt of her head. Instinctively curious, Applebloom followed the tracks into the bushes beside the path. As soon as Applebloom was consumed by the bushes, she discovered the source of the tracks. Before her, crouching in the bushes was a large, pale skinned creature, wearing an even paler shirt. The creature grinned down at the young filly, his teeth shining almost as much as the square glasses on his eyes. “Why hello my dear ah-aApplebloom…” the creature slurred, saliva dribbling from his mouth.

Applebloom gazed up at the creature nervously, taking a cautious step back. “Uhh-uh..hay..” Applebloom replied timidly. The creature smiled at the weakness Applebloom was now clearly showing, “My my…don’t be afrrraid Applebloom…” The creature moved closer, his large body covered in sweat, as if the small movements he made had caused him a tremendous amount of work. Applebloom grimaced at the creature. Afraid? Hah! Applebloom was a big pony! She wasn’t afraid of anything. “I ain’t ah-fraid!” she shot back “You just…uh, surprised me is all! Who are you anyway?” The creature grinned even wider down at the filly and triumphantly replied. “Me? Why…I’m Dolan…”

Scootaloo sprinted toward Sweet Apple Acres as fast as her little legs would let her. She had left her scooter helmet at Applebloom’s house again, and her father had always said to never ride without a helmet because it was dangerous (Pinkie Pie also told her to not set a bad example for ‘the young viewers’ but Scootaloo never understood what Pinkie meant). So now the little orange filly was off to grab her helmet from Applebloom’s. As athletic as Scootaloo was, she had already slowed to a crawl by the time she made it to the edge of the Everfree forest. Only a little ways longer to Applebloom’s, she thought, but then something suddenly caught her eye. Speaking of Applebloom, there she was, her bright yellow coat shining like a beacon within the dark, dank greenery of the Everfree forest. With a sudden jolt of energy, she galloped toward Applebloom “Hey! Applebloom-” as soon as the words had left Scootaloo’s lips, she became aware of another figure in the Everfree, something monstrous, pale and large, standing over Applebloom. Scootaloo had a bad feeling about this.

Applebloom turned upon hearing her friend Scootaloo call to her. A sudden feeling of relief overcame her. She had to admit to herself that this pale monster, ’Dolan', was giving her the creeps, and she was rightly afraid of the beast. And now Scootaloo provided an ample opportunity to ditch the monster. “Aww, gee, it looks like my friend –ah-sScootaloo is here! I gotta-” Before she could finish her sentence, Applebloom was swept up by Dolan in his large arms, and clutched close to his chest. The stench of grease and sweat overcame her almost instantaneously as she was pressed into the belly of the beast. Dolan grimaced at Scootaloo, letting out a gurgle of distaste. “Applebloooom…mine…” he said, beginning to make off deeper into the Everfree forest with the helpless Applebloom. “Scootaloo! Sscootaloo!!” Applebloom cried out in terror, but Scootaloo could only watch powerlessly as her friend was taken by the terrible beast.

“Applebloom!” Scootaloo shrieked, unable to think of what to do next. There was no way Scootaloo could take down the pale behemoth, and she knew she would have to get help-and fast, or else Applebloom could be taken anywhere by the monster. She knew of only one place-one pony-close enough for her to reach, and she was the last pony Scootaloo would ever ask for help, but she had no choice. Scootaloo rushed to Fluttershy’s nearby cottage at the edge of the Everfree forest, hoping in vain the gentle pony could save her friend.