Celestia's sun was making it's way over the horizon when Twilight got home, her face stained from her tears. After taking Applebloom with her to see Zecora she went missing, and Twilight searched all over the forest for her, only managing to find her hoofprints and part of her bow. As Twilight walked back into town all she could think about was how she was supposed to tell Applejack her sister most likely died in the forest because she wasn't paying attention? When Twilight opened the door to the library she found Spike, and Applejack, sitting at the main table.

"Twilight, where have you been?" Applejack asked, her voice filled with concern, "First my sister goes missin', and then you?!"

"Applejack..." Twilight whispered, still trying to find the right words.

"What is it Twilight, do you know what happened to mah sister?" Applejack asked worriedly, seeing the sad state Twilight was in.

"I, I don't know how to say this but..." Twilight said softly as she reached into her saddlebag with her magic and pulled out a bit of Applebloom's bow. At first Applejack looked at the piece of cloth in confusion, but when she finally recognized the color and familiar smell of Applebloom she fell to the ground, eyes welling up with tears.

"How could this have happened?!" Applejack cried, pulling the piece of cloth away from Twilight, "She was so young!". Twilight couldn't move, all she could do was watch as one of her best friends broke down, her tough shell giving way, her emotions flooding out. After a few minutes the sobs died down and Applejack stood up, looking Twilight straight in the eyes.

"What monster did this to her?" Applejack asked, her voice filled with rage.

"I don't know, all I found was this piece of her bow" Twilight said, nodding towards the piece that was in Applejack's hoof.

"Spike, tell mah brother I'm not coming home for a while" Applejack ordered, not even taking the time to look at Spike before leaving. Twilight and Spike quickly ran outside after her, hoping to find out what she was doing.

"If my brother asks, tell him I've gone huntin'!" Applejack shouted before talking off into a full gallop, leaving the two of them in confusion.

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"Ugh..."

Mitta's head popped up at the sudden groaning. Was she finally waking up, would she actually wake up this time?! She quickly ran over the nearby door, opening it slowly to make sure she didn't disturb her guest.

"Sis, is that you?"

Mitta's eyes opened wide. The little filly had no idea where she was, she probably thought that night was all just a very bad dream...

"Where am I? Why does my neck hurt so much?"

"Little one..." Mitta said as she reached the side of the bed, putting one of her hoofs next to the filly who was laying in it.

"Mitta...?"

"Yes Applebloom, it's me, Mitta" Mitta replied, tears forming in her eyes.

"Was last night all a dream?" Applebloom asked, still sounding drowsy.

"I'm sorry Applebloom, I failed you..." Mitta said, fully breaking down into tears now. Before Applebloom could say anything Mitta raised a mirror up to her face. When Applebloom looked into the mirror she was horrified. Her yellow coat was dulled and dirty, her bright red mane had darkened to a deep maroon, her eyes had become black holes with a dull orange glow to them, and her precious bow was torn and trashed. Applebloom moved from side to side, hoping to escape the monster in the mirror, but every move she made, it made...

...she was the monster in the mirror.

"They caught me..." Applebloom stuttered, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, when I finally came to they were already pulling you into town," Mitta said, pausing to sniffle, "Grey Hoof wouldn't stop saying that there was a new guest for the party"

"But I want to go home!" Applebloom cried.

"I know, but, you aren't part of our curse, you might be allowed to leave" Mitta said, trying to give Applebloom a source of hope.

"So I can go home?!" Applebloom shouted in joy, preparing to jump off the bed and make her way home as fast as she could.

"Not exactly..." Mitta said, her voice filling with sadness.

"What do ya mean?" Applebloom asked worriedly.

"We can't go out in the daylight, it's deadly for us" Mitta said, looking outside at the perpetual darkness created by the thick canopy of the forest.

"Oh, okay..." Applebloom said, sitting down on her flank in defeat.

"There's one other thing," Mitta said, looking at Applebloom with sad eyes, "We have to eat meat..."

"WHAT?!" Applebloom shouted, jumping back against the wall in surprise.

"It's got something to do with keeping our bodies working, but be careful," Mitta said, looking into the mirror, "If you aren't careful when you meet a living pony, you might lose control and..."

"And..." Applebloom continued, afraid of what Mitta was about to say.

"Eat them"

"Oh..." Applebloom said quietly, all hopes of talking to her friends and family now gone forever, unless...

Unless...

"Zecora!" Applebloom shouted, causing Mitta to jump.

"What?" Mitta asked, leaning back due to the sudden outburst.

"I have a friend that lives out here in the forest, she might have a way to cure me!" Applebloom said, barely managing to stay in one spot.

"Ok, well, I'll help you go to her tonight, but just so you know, you're always welcome here with me" Mitta said, leaning forward to rub Applebloom's head.

"Thanks Mitta" Applebloom said, leaning past Mitta's hoof and pulling her into a hug. Mitta smiled for the first time in a very long time because of the hug, and she would be smiling for the rest of the day. After a few minutes they broke apart, with Mitta smiling happily, and with a very determined Applebloom. While hugging Mitta Applebloom had begun thinking of a way to talk to Zecora without her freaking out.

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Applejack was making her way towards Zecora's hut, hoping to see if she knew anything about the monsters of the Everfree, and if she could tell what killed her sister. It had been mere hours since she learned of Applebloom's possible death, and yet it had felt like days to Applejack. Her only sister, her little sister, was most likely dead. Worse than that, they might not even be able to find her body, unless Zecora can help her find out what killed her.

"Applejack, my close friend, I apologize, I heard of Applebloom's end" Zecora said, poking her head out of a bush.

She jumped at Zecora's sudden appearance, causing her to step on a twig.

SNAP

"AH!" Applejack screamed, causing Zecora to look at her worriedly.

"Are you okay Applejack, screaming at the simplest crack?" Zecora asked, taking a step out of the bush and onto the path. Applejack looked around worriedly, watching for anything that could have been attracted by the noise she made, and when nothing was around she heaved a sigh.

"Sorry about that Zecora, I'm just a little wound up" Applejack said honestly, dropping her head down.

"Do not fret, I can see where you are set" Zecora said, turning towards her house. Applejack simply nodded and made after her, checking the bushes around her for any sign of her sister, or the monster that attacked her. Just a few minutes before reaching Zecora's hut Applejack saw something in the trees, two glowing orbs, both having a very familiar glow...

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Applebloom was frozen. Just as she found Zecora's hut she saw the one pony she never expected to see again. Her sister. Despite every part of her body wanting to run up and hug her, she stayed put, knowing it wouldn't go over well if she did. After Applejack and Zecora went inside Applebloom quietly made her way to the window, hoping to see what was going on.

"Do you have any idea what could have done this?" Applejack asked, showing Zecora the piece of Applebloom's bow.

"I cannot tell for sure, but it I know it was certainly not something pure" Zecora replied, looking at the piece of bow, examining the odd tearing and bite marks.

"You sure, there's nothing about it that can tell you what did it to her?" Applejack pleaded, hoping Zecora would have something she could go on until she found her body. Zecora looked up to look out the window, noticing the top of Applebloom's bow and mane sticking out, causing her to grimace.

"I know nothing more, but I will get down to it's core" Zecora said, handing the bow back to Applejack, motioning for her to leave. Applejack slowly stood up and made her way to the door, nodding back to Zecora sadly, her hopes of finding her sister's body crushed. After she left Zecora made her way around to the side of her house where Applebloom was hiding.

"Young Applebloom, why must you-" Zecora began to say, cutting herself off as she saw Applebloom's new form. Zecora stumbled backwards, bumping into a tree causing a small branch to fall next to her. As Applebloom turned to fully face Zecora, tears began to form in her eyes. It was going just as she had feared, Zecora was terrified of her, and probably wouldn't want to do anything with her. Sensing that Zecora wouldn't be able to help her Applebloom turned around to head back to Sunny Town.

"Applebloom..." Zecora said slowly, taking a few steps towards her.

"Zecora?" Applebloom asked, not sure what was going on.

"What has happened, to bring you to this sad end?" Zecora asked, her mind filling with thousands of ideas of what form of monster could have done this to her young friend.

"Well, I followed a weird light out into the forest and..."

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"...and now I'm like this" Applebloom finished, still fairly composed. Zecora on the other hand, had broken down, the sad story of Applebloom's last moments hitting her where it hurts. After a few minutes Zecora calmed down, managing a few words, her usual rhyming gone.

"I am so sorry for what happened to you, you had been so young..." Zecora said, slightly surprised at her own inability to rhyme.

"It's okay Zecora, it's my own fault for wandering away from Twilight after all" Applebloom said, still managing to stay composed. She moved over to Zecora's side, hoping to comfort her when the felt something pulling from deep inside her.

"Eat her..."

Applebloom stopped on the spot, remembering Mitta's words, "If you aren't careful when you meet a living pony, you might lose control and eat them". After realizing what was causing her to hear that weird voice she back away from Zecora, terrified of herself.

"Is everything okay my friend?" Zecora asked, noticing Applebloom's fear. She didn't respond, instead Applebloom just continued to back away from Zecora, slowly making her way towards the door. Applebloom couldn't stay here, not when she had urges to eat what might be the only pony who could help her.

"Applebloom wait, where are you heading?" Zecora asked, becoming worried about Applebloom, causing her to lose her ability to rhyme all over again, despite her almost being able to do it again. After Applebloom made her way out of the hut she ran into the forest, leaving a very confused Zecora behind.

As she ran she noticed a small voice in the back of her heard, which sounded very familiar.

"Why did you run, why did you try to leave the party?!", It was Grey Hoof's voice, the volume raising as he continued to talk, "For leaving our party you will be punished!"

As Sunny Town appeared behind the trees Applebloom slowed down, hoping to find the back side of Mitta's house. If she could find that she could hide inside and Grey Hoof wouldn't be able to-

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