How long had it been since she was separated from the others? A few minutes? An hour? Sweetie Belle couldn't tell. All she knew was that she was all alone in this big house, with somepony hot on their trail.

“Scootaloo! Apple Bloom!” She called out to the hallway in a whisper, terrified to go any louder. Wait! Why am I bothering? For all she knew, it could have attracted the attention of the pursuing pony. She decided stealth was the best option in her search for the others.

She looked around to familiarize herself with the surroundings, but the darkened hallway looked like all the others before it. There were the same dark brown walls that seemed to stretch for miles. There were no paintings or any definitive markers. There were just doors that appeared every few yards... and those statues of the mare and her child.

As Sweetie Belle examined them, she realized how just how unsettling they were. The statues were glaring at her, as if they were whispering to her... taunting her...

"We’re going to get you... we're going to get you... we're going to get you..."

Sweetie Belle was on the verge of collapsing into a crying wreck, and it would take every ounce of strength she could muster to keep moving forward and fight back her tears. The tears gathered in her eyes until her emotional dam finally burst. They flowed down her cheeks like a river down a canyon. Her bottom lip trembled, and her throat almost unleashed a little squeak.

She wiped a tear away from her cheek, stopped and set herself down. She took several deep breaths. It’s okay. I’ll find the others soon. She repeated to herself There was no way to know if she was truly convinced or just playing off of a false hope.

Several moments passed as she simply sat on the floor in front of the statues, trying to collect herself. After the fifth or sixth repetition, she was able to pull herself together. Sweetie Belle stood up once more and continued down the hallway.

She wandered the seemingly endless corridor until she came upon a staircase. The long purple rug continued down the steps. As she examined the ground, she noted some red spots on the carpet below her. She felt a shiver up her spine the likes of which she had never felt before. The spots were dried, but there was something deeply unsettling about them. They weren’t juice spots. They were too dark for that.

Sweetie Belle gulped and slowly tiptoed her way downstairs, the various clicks of the house in sync with her hoofsteps. As she reached the platform halfway down, she stopped. Her ears to the wind, Sweetie Belle hoped to hear if anypony was around. She prayed it would be somepony she knew, somepony who would help her... but there were no other sounds. There was just her breathing and her heart pounding against her chest.

The last ten feet of stairway were as uneventful as the first, and she couldn’t tell if that was good or not. She guessed that if it got her away from that stallion, it was okay.

As she took another look around, she noticed a large ballroom with several doors on the other side. The ballroom floor was gold-colored paint on a perfect vinyl surface. There was not a single scratch, tear or any wear to mar the floor at all. It was almost as if it had never been used.

She took a quick look behind her. A door stood before her, and a smile almost spread on her face as she quietly made her way to it. Grasping the doorknob in her hooves, she began to turn it. The knob didn't move. She pulled against the door, shaking it repeatedly as her heart started to sink. The door was now a barrier; if she wanted to leave she needed to use the staircase. She had hoped that the door would lead to the front entrance, but now it seemed that it was no longer an option.

Sweetie Belle looked around the ballroom, noticing a grand piano.

Inching over to the piano, she wondered how she was going to get out of this as she spied several windows, moonlight shining through the dirty glass. The metal bars on the inside seemed to glow from the natural light. No matter how she looked at them, the gaps between bars were far too small for her or anypony else to wiggle through. There had to be another way.

Standing before the grand piano, Sweetie Belle noticed a small portrait on top. Climbing onto the seat, she examined the picture. It showed a younger White Winter, a young colt in her hooves and a stallion standing next to her. However, his head appeared to have been torn from the picture. She took another look, she noticed that the line where the separation began wasn't the crooked line of an accidental tearing, but a straight one, as if applied with scissors or a knife. The removal of the stallion was most definitely not an accident.

It was at that moment that a sound came from a nearby door. Sweetie Belle didn’t move. She didn’t want to. Her body stiffened up as she heard the series of clops a few feet away. Moments later, she had moved from her spot on the piano seat, her mind racing as her heart beat more and more, faster and faster.

The door seemed to creep towards her as she put one hoof in front of the other. The hoofsteps had become louder and louder still, and were uneven, as if the pony was walking with a limp. She placed her hoof against the door and pushed it open.

The door opened to a small pantry. The fridge stood several feet from the doorway, its door wide open. A few feet away, there stood a stallion, picking up a knife from a set that hung upon the wall. The stallion turned toward the opening door, his gold eyes boring into her soul.

Sweetie Belle screamed as she darted back to the ballroom, her heart thundering against her chest. Searing pain spread through her ribs. She couldn't tell if it was from her lungs expanding and contracting from her heavy breathing or her heart rapping at her chest.

Sweetie Belle dashed through the nearest doorway to find a large kitchen, one that looked more at home in a restaurant than a house. She made her way to a row of ovens, and hid behind one as the door slowly creaked open, and the peculiar hoofsteps of the stallion filled the room.

She curled herself up as tightly as she could, hoping that he would just give up and go away. Hoofsteps tapped against the floor, growing louder and louder. Sweetie Belle knew she couldn't stay in her little hiding place.

With every bit of caution she had, she stuck her head out from behind the oven. Four rows of stainless steel bars stood between her and the stallion who wandered the far end of the room, looking from left to right in search of his prey.

He didn't seem to notice her. Taking advantage of his ignorance, she quickly looked around the room. There was only one exit, but fortunately, he was rather far away from it. Now’s my chance. Sweetie Belle drew herself into the prone position and began to slowly crawl across the floor.

She moved with care. Not a sound was made. It was as if she was moving on air. As she snuck across the floor, a small mouse came to her side. The mouse tilted its head and made a loud squeak, causing Sweetie Belle’s heart to sink. She quietly moved her hoof and pushed against the mouse gently. “Shoo, go away,” she whispered.

The mouse made another squeak, the sound roaring against Sweetie Belle’s ears. Perhaps she was exaggerating,, but she might as well have been for the good the noise did her. The stallion’s hoofsteps were drawing closer, growing louder with every passing second. Sweetie Belle turned around and started to move back towards the oven.

She closed her eyes and imagined the stallion coming around the corner, slithering down the path like a snake ready to strike that helpless mouse in a maze. That’s all Sweetie Belle felt like: a mouse in a maze.

Sweetie opened her eyes and crawled around the next corner, moving as quietly as possible. The hoofsteps were now on the other side of the exposed kitchen table. As it was covered in pots and pans of every shape and size, she hoped it would mess up the stallion’s line of sight and force him to move all the way around. By then, hopefully she would be long out of the room. She slid one hoof in front of her, staying as far away from the table as she could.

Suddenly, a hoof broke through the pots and pans, causing them to topple to the floor in an symphony of bangs and clangs. Sweetie’s scream joined in as the hoof came dangerously close to her as it tried to grab her front leg.

As the stallion struggled through the bottom of the table, knocking over more pots and pans, Sweetie dashed forward, sprinting as fast as she could towards the door. As she ran through the doorway, she felt her heart booming against her chest. It didn't stop her legs, no matter how much discomfort it caused her. She just wanted to lie down... just for a few moments... but he wouldn't let her. She needed to lose him, and fast.

Her legs carried her up the staircase as the stallion burst through the door of the kitchen. As she reached the top of the stairs, hundreds of doors appeared on both sides. She wasn't sure which one of them she should or could trust, but she knew she definitely couldn’t trust what was behind her. She opened the first door she could find and quickly hid inside, neglecting to take in her surroundings.

She was leaning against something heavy and hard, and there was barely any space for her to get herself inside and shut the door, forcing her to look through the keyhole. She tried to move further from the door, but her flank hit something, preventing her from going far. Could they make a room any smaller?

All she could do was kneel down and hope that the stallion simply walked by. Moment after moment had passed before the stallion finally appeared at the top of the stairs.

Sweetie Belle's body shivered as she closed her eyes and prayed to Celestia. The clopping against the wooden floor continued, the sound feeling as if it was closing in on her much like this room.

As the seconds rolled by, the sounds began to disappear. Her ears were slowly consumed by the silence. She breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she was safe, at least for the moment.

Sweetie Belle sat in her sanctuary for a long time. How long? She didn't know. All she knew was that she was alone, and in this situation that was both a blessing and a curse. He was still out there, wherever he was, and her friends were still out there with him.

Tears streamed down her face as she thought about her parents... her sister... she wanted them to be right next to her. She would have given anything to have a pony nearby that wasn't trying to hurt her... Scootaloo, Ms. Cheerilee, Apple Bloom... even Mrs. Winter wouldn’t have hurt. At the very least, she wouldn't be alone.

It was a while before Sweetie Belle was able to gather what little courage remained, and she slowly opened the door to her hiding spot. As she looked down the hallway, she found it was as empty as it had been before. A sigh of relief escaped her as her heart began to slow itself down. Closing the door as quietly as possible, she caught a glimpse of why the room had been so small: it was stuffed with cleaning supplies, like the janitor closet she had seen at school.

Sweetie Belle continued down the hallway, watching her hoofsteps. A slight creak sounded at her feet, causing her to wince in fear. She slowed her pace more, taking care not to be heard, but it seemed that the house was against her as it squeaked and creaked with her every step... almost as if it wanted the stallion to find her.

As Sweetie Belle approached the end of the hallway, a figure leapt out from the shadows, brandishing a weapon and yelling like a madpony. Sweetie’s only response was a high-pitched scream...

Scootaloo sat alone in the dark closet. She couldn't help but keep looking at the note she found. The writing was frantic, as if he had written it in a hurry. And what about this ‘mother’? Was whoever she was watching him?

And 'save the world?' Was this pony really that evil? Was it really that destructive? She was afraid to find out and even more afraid to step out of her little corner of the house. However, the reality of her situation soon set in: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Ms. Cheerilee and Mrs. Winter were still out there. She needed to find them, tell them about the note and the get as far away from here as possible.

After several minutes of waiting and listening, Scootaloo finally entered the room just outside her sanctuary. Her hooves creaked against the wooden floor, causing her to shiver and freeze in place. Despite her fears of being caught, she decided to press on, hoping that he wasn’t near.

Scootaloo tiptoed her way into the hall and looked both ways. The darkened hallways didn't reveal much, save for the occasional statue that littered the hall. There were no paintings hanging above them and the only other things around were doors every few yards. She wasn't sure what was inside any of them, and she didn't really care unless what was inside were her friends, safe and sound.

If they’re alright, they' re probably searching for me as well. I just hope I find them soon.

She continued down the hallway, stopping every few moments as she was bombarded by various sounds. Crackling noises tickled her eardrums more than any sound in the house, making it hard to tell what was just the house settling and what was truly something near her. She would have given anything for a lantern, or even better, a unicorn. At the very least with a unicorn, she wouldn't be alone anymore.

Suddenly, there was creak from the hall, and Scootaloo froze in her tracks. It’s him! I just know it is! Slowly, the creaking grew louder. Scootaloo glanced around her, looking for something to fight back with, and her eyes settled on an old umbrella sitting on the floor at her feet. It wasn't a great weapon, but it was at least something. She took the umbrella in her hoof and made her way to the corner of the hallway, where it turned into another.

Scootaloo got her breathing under control as she listened intently for any sign of the stallion. If he came, she would hit him hard and run fast. She wasn't sure how much it would slow him down, but hoped that it would be long enough to get away. The steps grew closer and closer...

Soon, they were at the other side of the wall. It was now or never. Scootaloo leapt from the cover of the wall, yelling at the top of her lungs. She was met with a loud, high-pitched scream.

This scream brought her back to reality. She came to her senses and saw a white unicorn, flat on her blank flank and trembling in terror. Scootaloo instantly dropped her umbrella. “Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle laid silent. A relieved smile came across her face. “Scootaloo!” She leapt to her feet and embraced her friend. “I thought something bad had happened to you!”

Scootaloo returned the hug, smiling and eyes flickering with tears. “So, did I. I thought that something bad might have happened to you and Apple Bloom.”

Sweetie Belle drew away for a moment. “Wait… you haven’t seen Apple Bloom?”

Scootaloo shook her head. “No, I thought she was with you.”

Sweetie Belle lowered her head. “I haven’t seen her since we got separated.”

Scootaloo could tell by the look on her face that Sweetie had been through as much Tartarus as she had. Maybe I shouldn't ask her about it. I wouldn’t want her to ask. “What about Ms. Cheerilee or Mrs. Winter? Have you seen them?"

Sweetie Belle shook her head. “I haven’t seen them since the last time we saw them.”

The two foals exchanged worried looks as Scootaloo’s heart sank. The only ponies who might be able to help them, and they were nowhere to be found. And what fate had fallen Apple Bloom? Scootaloo prayed to Celestia she was with somepony.

“We have to find her, now!”

Sweetie nodded. The Crusaders began to march through the hallway. As they put one hoof in front of the other, Scootaloo looked back at Sweetie Belle. She didn't know why. There was nothing she wanted to say or ask her; maybe she just wanted to make sure she was still there.

Distracted, Scootaloo smacked her head against a wooden table, knocking it and a vase to the floor. The sound of ceramic shattering was like a siren through the silence. It seemed like it would be carried throughout eternity.

Finally, it stopped, and the air around them was still and pure again. Scootaloo couldn't even hear her own heartbeat. A moment later, reality set back in. Her heart began to rumble against her ribs once more, pounding in her ears.

She turned back to Sweetie Belle, who was shaking as she slowly turned to look. Only the darkness greeted them. It was a few moments before Scootaloo found her voice. “We should probably get out of here.”

Sweetie turned her head and nodded. The two tiptoed their way down the hall and left the area as quickly as possible, knowing that any moment, the stallion they feared could have heard them.

It felt like hours since Apple Bloom had last seen her friends... since they were chased down the hallway by that madpony. Since then, she had been left alone. As she wandered the house, she would occasionally call out to her friends, hoping they would respond. Alas, her calls would go unanswered.

Oh, I wish my big sister were here. She’d know what to do.

As she moved on, her thoughts began to shift between her family and friends. She could have sworn that they had all turned the hallway together. She played the memory back in her mind, time and time again. Every time she did, however, it seemed as if one or two details would change.

Sometimes they would all turn the corner, sometimes they kept running straight before doubling back... it all happened so fast, her mind kept filling in the blanks.

She knew one thing was for certain: she had to find them... if they were even still alive.

A shiver ran up her spine as she thought about what might have happened to her friends. The stallion might have caught them. They might be dead. Apple Bloom shook her head violently, trying to dispel the horrific images in her head. She focused instead on the hallway in front of her. It seemed to stretch for miles, though it couldn’t have been more than a few yards.

As she passed by one of the rooms, she saw a small glimmer of light shine through the crack at the bottom of the door. She almost cracked a smile, hoping that it might be somepony she knew. She placed her hoof on the door and slowly opened it. As she poked her head through the small opening, she noticed a pure white mare standing by the window, looking out as if in deep thought.

Apple Bloom smiled. “Mrs. Winter!”

The mare turned around, her mouth open slightly. “Oh, Apple Bloom! What are you doing here?”

Apple Bloom ran over to Mrs. Winter, neither noticing nor caring about the tears forming in her eyes. “It was horrible. There was this stallion and he was carrying a knife and he was chasing us and-“

Mrs. Winter gently shook her head. “Calm down, child.” Apple Bloom took in a deep breath. Tears ran down her face, as a gentle sob emerged from her lips. “Why don’t I get you a drink to calm you down?”

Apple Bloom sniffled as she nodded her head. Mrs. Winter gave her a smile. “You just sit on the sofa and make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a moment.”

The green sofa that lay directly to her left looked far more comfortable than her bed. Apple Bloom climbed on it and got comfortable as Mrs. Winter disappeared behind a door at the other end of the room. Sitting in that sofa became a near impossible task. She was filled with terror. She didn’t want to be in the room by herself as she wasn’t sure what could happen. If the stallion was still after them, he could appear at any moment.

She looked up at the window and noticed the bars across it, as if to prevent anypony from jumping out of it. Why would Mrs. Winter do that? She was surprised she hadn’t noticed it before. Perhaps she was distracted by the size and majesty of the house. However, as the night wore on, it seemed to have faded away. All that was left was a dark, empty mansion that seemed to terrify rather than comfort.

She looked away from the window to a corner where another of those statues sat. It was the same statue that they saw in the hallway as they entered the house. As she looked closer, the figure in the statue's forelegs became clearer. It looked familiar, but she couldn’t place where.

A few seconds later, Mrs. Winter appeared from the other room with a small Hay-C juice box. She smiled as she made her way to Apple Bloom’s side. “Here. This will calm you down.”

Apple Bloom took the juice box without hesitation, ignoring the statue for a moment. The little straw had already been pushed in for her. As she sipped her juice, she thought it tasted like the best drink she ever had.

Mrs. Winter sat in the seat across from her and smiled a reassuring smile. “Now, child, tell me what happened.”

Apple Bloom took her lips off of her drink and frowned as it all came back. “Well, me and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were waiting for you and Miss Cheerilee…” She paused. She glanced around her as if she were looking for something. “Wait, where is Miss Cheerilee?”

Mrs. Winter shook her head. “Don’t worry. You’ll see her soon. Now, continue.”

Apple Bloom looked down to the floor. You’ll see her soon? What the hay does that mean? She took another sip of Hay-C. As the liquid slithered down her throat, she couldn't help but notice a very peculiar taste. It was something she couldn't quite put her hoof on, but it sure didn't taste like the drink she was having.

Maybe it's just my imagination. She looked up at Mrs. Winter, who was still wearing her usual smile. There was something odd about it. Why would she continue to smile like this? And where is Miss Cheerilee?

“Well, while we were waiting for you, somepony locked the door.” Mrs. Winter didn’t move. Her eyes only blinked as her smile remained rigid on her face. It looked as if Mrs. Winter wasn't listening or just didn't care. Either way, Apple Bloom didn’t like it. “We…”

Before she could finish, Apple Bloom shrieked in pain. She felt like her brain was on fire, filling her thoughts with agony as her vision began to blur. It was as if she suddenly had the worst headache in the world. She took another sip of her drink, hoping that it would help.

She took another look at the statue, and it hit her. Her eyes widened as the face of the creature within the statue’s forearms came to her mind. It bore a resemblance to the stallion chasing them. The shape of the eyes... the shape of the face... they seemed to match his perfectly.

Wh-why would Mrs. Winter have a statue of that stallion?!

Apple Bloom slowly turned toward Mrs. Winter, who sat silently on the couch, still smiling. Her vision had become blurry, and her head began to spin. “I don’t… feel very good,” Apple Bloom moaned, hoping to get some attention out of Mrs. Winter. Instead, Mrs. Winter did nothing.

Drowsiness and fatigue set into Apple Bloom’s body. She collapsed on the sofa, fighting to keep her eyes open as long as she could. She managed to do so long enough to see Mrs. Winter’s expression change from loving and motherly into a scowling, prosecuting glare.