While she did not begrudge the opportunity to get out and see new things, there was one aspect of her journey thus far that Twilight really had grown tired of at this point; seeing endless ancient trees all around her. From the moment she'd entered the Everfree, that was all she had seen before her, with the notable exceptions of the castle and Fluttershy's home. But, while she would have been the first to admit that it was an intriguing place to be in at first, the forest truly had worn out it's charm in her eyes. So, on she moved, alongside all of her companions, bearing a look that was quite clearly one of irritation. Thankfully, she was not the only one to feel this way, as Spike, who walked alongside her, seemed to be sharing this sentiment, as did Pinkie, who was not far behind them.

Up ahead, however, Twilight looked upon the newest member of their party; Fluttershy, the silent woman had moved fairly well, in spite of the fact that she didn't seem the type to really get out much. But, as was the case since she'd first joined them, Rainbow was right there, by her side, looking especially cautious as they continued onwards. A few animal noises here and there kept everybody on their toes, always making sure to look around themselves, lest they be taken unawares by some forest beast. However, after this silence had lasted for long enough, Twilight let out a sigh before speaking up.

"At the risk of sounding impatient, Rainbow, how long is it until we get out of here?"

Looking over her shoulder to the young mage, Rainbow's expression was that of uncertainty.

"Can't say for certain. Most days, I stick to the side of the forest closest to Canterlot. This area, I'm not really all that familiar with."

Twilight had already suspected as much, but for the moment, she said nothing, instead letting her shoulders slump a little. Seeing the look on his friend's face, Spike offered her a small smile, placing his hand upon her shoulder as they walked together. Looking up to him, Twilight couldn't help but feel appreciative of his attempts to make her feel better, and so gave him a smile of her own in return. However, neither of them had a chance to say anything for the time being, as they noted that both Rainbow and Fluttershy had halted up ahead. Pausing, they watched as the latter started giving her silent signals to the former. The ranger remained quiet herself, until, at last, Fluttershy had finished.

"You're sure?"

Fluttershy nodded, and to that, Rainbow started looking around herself.

"You know what? I think you're right."

Fluttershy smiled at her friend's words, but Twilight, naturally, was a bit confused, and stepped forward.

"Um...what's going on?"

Looking to her, Rainbow gestured to the forest around them before giving an answer.

"Well, does the forest look a bit...thinner to you?"

Though at first taken aback by such words, Twilight and the rest of the group started to look around. And it wasn't long before they realised that the ranger had the right of it. There were indeed fewer trees around them than there were a few minutes ago. There was more sunlight pouring in from the sky, and a fresh breeze could be felt for the first time in quite a while. Taking all these facts in, Twilight came to the obvious conclusion.

"We're...we're finally reaching the edge of the forest?!"

A smirk crept onto Rainbow's face at that.

"Yep! Let's go!"

And so, on they went, their pace now understandably more vigorous than it had been a few moments ago. As they continued forward, they could taste the end of the forest, as each few feet brought fewer and fewer trees in their sights. Twilight and Spike smiled to one another, knowing that, at least in this, they were making some progress. However, as the group continued, they were suddenly halted together by a loud grumbling sound of some sort. Rainbow immediately readied her bow, looking around. A silence fell, but it was short-lived, as that same grumbling could be heard yet again.

"What in the name of the Light is that?!" the ranger asked.

"Um...it's me."

All eyes turned to the owner of the voice; Pinkie. Though confused, they watched as the older woman placed a hand upon her stomach, heralding the arrival of another growling sound.

"Yeah...kinda hungry right now."

Although somewhat amused by this, Twilight gave her companion a nod before turning to Rainbow.

"In fairness to her, it has been a while since we last ate."

Rainbow considered this for a moment, before then giving a brief nod to the young mage. She thought about it for a moment, perhaps considering some foraging plan to get some game nearby? But, she had not the chance to finalise such a plan, as her shoulder was soon gently tapped by Fluttershy. Turning, Rainbow looked on as the latter pointed away from her, to something further along the path. Raising an eyebrow, the ranger looked to what her friend was pointing at, and here, Rainbow, as well as everyone else, widened their eyes with surprise. For there, standing before them, was a large and fully-laden apple tree. The glistening red fruits silently called to them, looking like the most appetizing things they had ever laid eyes on.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Pinkie called out.

And with that, the group moved forward, heading straight for the bountiful tree before them. As they drew closer, Rainbow readied her bow once more, and with careful aim, she shot a single arrow. It flew through the air, and was so expertly aimed that it soon hit the stem connecting one of the apples to the rest of the tree-branch. As the red fruit fell, Rainbow, having placed her bow upon her back once more, held out a hand, just in time for the apple to land safely within it. With a confident smirk creeping upon her face, the ranger then threw it over to Pinkie.

"There ya go, Pinks."

Eagerly accepting it, Pinkie gave an appreciative smile to Rainbow, before then taking an almighty bite out of her gift. However, while everyone was fairly content with this, there was something that, all of a sudden, struck Twilight with a feeling of uncertainty. She turned, looking upon the nearby apple tree, and before long, she noticed that there was not one, but two. Her eyes drifted over to the second tree, and before long, she spotted a third, then a forth, and many more besides. But, that was not the only thing that gave her pause. For as she stared at them, she couldn't help but notice that they did not seem to grow in the same random, mis-matched manner as the rest of the trees of the Everfree. Instead, it looked as if they were in carefully-ordered rows, all even spaces apart, as if they had been deliberately planted there. Realising this, a look of concern crossed her face.

"Um...Rainbow? I...I don't think it's a good idea for us to be eating those apples."

Looking to her, Rainbow raised an eyebrow once more.

"Pardon?"

Twilight clasped her hands together nervously.

"Seriously, Rainbow. I really, really think we shouldn't be eating them."

Spike looked to her, starting to share her concerned look, but as for Rainbow, she simply let out a hearty chuckle.

"Relax, Sparkle! We're in the middle of nowhere! I doubt we'll have...any..."

The ranger stopped, and her smile vanished soon afterwards. Instead, she took on a look of wariness, starting to look all around her. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but was halted from doing so when Rainbow raised a single hand. Needless to say, everybody was confused by this behaviour, doubly so when Rainbow got out her bow again, readying a single arrow. While she was still unsure of what was going on, Twilight, soon enough, started to hear something. It was a frantic sound, something quick, and getting louder all the time. Then, her eyes widened, for she knew exactly what that sound now was; footsteps. Someone was coming towards them, and fast from the sound of it. Realising this, she started looking around in all directions, followed shortly by her companions.

"Twilight?" Spike asked, showing clear worry.

But Twilight was unable to answer him. For mere moments after he had spoken, the girl's eyes widened with shock.

"Rainbow!"

Her call had it's desired effect, as the ranger spun around, just in time to finally see the one approaching them. At first, they were moving too quickly to be seen properly, but, not so quick that the group couldn't see what they were doing. They had emerged from behind one of the apple trees, and now, to the surprise of all of them, leapt into the air. Looking up, many had to shield their eyes from the sun, and could only make out the shadow of the figure above them. But, this confusion gave way to a sense of danger, as all of them now saw that this figure was armed. A broadsword, no doubt steel, was held by their assailant, and was so large that it was almost the full length of their body. It was raised high above the head, and as the figure finally came down to the ground, the weapon was struck down along with it.

Rainbow leapt backwards, and just in time, for the moment that sword struck the ground, it sent clods of dirt in all directions. Clearly, it had been swung with a great deal of strength and force, and as Rainbow finally found her footing, she looked on with anger.

"Hey!"

Here, at long last, the group could see who it was that was attacking them. It was another woman, around Rainbow's age from the look of it, with sandy blonde hair that was cut fairly short, stopping just below her ears. Her garb was that of green leather, covering all of her body and legs, though left her muscular arms exposed. Upon her feet were heavy-looking brown boots, which pressed in deeply to the ground beneath her. But, upon her face, there was a look of great anger. Anger that was soon reflected in her next gesture, as she charged forward, sword in hand, ready to swing yet again. As before, Rainbow was the faster, and ducked down just it time to avoid having her head sliced off. With her arrow still in hand, the ranger frowned, using it as a make-shift dagger, and thrusting it up, towards her attacker's neck.

But, to the surprise of all of them this woman was far more agile than her muscles and cumbersome weapon would suggest, and, like Rainbow, she too dodged this blow against her. The dance between the two went on and on like this for some time, with the mystery woman swinging over and over, never managing to hit her quarry. As for Rainbow, her advantage was her archery, but it was an advantage that had been negated by the constant attacks of her opponent. Not once since meeting her had she managed to get a single arrow ready to strike her. It truly was a case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, and the others looked on with concern plastered all over their faces. Fluttershy especially was terrified, having ducked behind Pinkie for safety from all of this.

"This is terrible," Twilight remarked.

Spike stepped forward, his hands already ablaze, and, upon seeing this, Twilight immediately stopped him.

"Don't! You might hit Rainbow!"

Spike was frustrated by such words, but nevertheless did as he was told, holding back for the time being. Twilight looked ahead, watching the on-going fight between Rainbow and the other woman. And here, at long last, fortune began to swing definitively towards one of them. Unfortunately, that one was the attacker, as Rainbow, in her need to keep dodging blows, hadn't noticed that she had stepped back onto a particularly muddy and slippery patch of earth. The effect was immediate, as she fell backwards, landing upon the grass below. The attacker found her chance, and raised her sword high above her head, ready to deliver what was undoubtedly a killing blow. Rainbow looked on fearfully, flinching and shutting her eyes tightly, ready to face the end.

"STOP!!!"

And just like that, everything came to a grinding halt. Ever so slowly, Rainbow cracked open a single eye, and soon afterwards, looked on with surprise, as she saw the one who had spoken out. It was Twilight, who, in a display of speed none had expected of her, had leapt in-between her and the attacker. She stood tall, her arms stretched out on both sides, facing the mystery woman, and she too had her eyes shut. As for the attacker, her sword had come dangerously close to actually hitting the young mage, having been stopped just a few millimetres short of her glasses. A silence fell, but it was a brief one, as Twilight, after taking a number of frantic and panicked breaths, finally spoke.

"We're...we're not your enemies! If these are your apples trees, then we're sorry! Just...please...don't hurt her!"

The woman stopped, looking at the girl with fierce intent. Twilight finally opened her eyes, and looked deeply into the still-angry green eyes of the one before her. As for everybody else, they stared, shocked and amazed at what was happening here, but stayed as quiet as the grave, lest they make the situation worse. Twilight's breathing continued to be heavy, and she never let her eyes stray from the woman. Then, to the surprise of all of them, the woman drew back her sword, planting the tip of the blade firmly in the ground below. Though unsure of this, Twilight looked on as, in a bizarre twist, the woman actually started to crack a smile.

"Heck...ya got some guts there, Missy. Why don't y'all start by sayin exactly who ya are?"

Gulping, the young mage answer.

"My...my name is Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."

Looking her over, the woman, after letting out a long sigh, gave a slight bow of her head.

"Well then, Twilight Sparkle...y'all can call me Applejack."