Everfree
by Vendetta
First published
It came from the darkness...
Fluttershy vanished in the Everfree forest. The only thing left was her journal.
Week 1
October 1st.
The Everfree Forest is truly a wonder.
In any other place in Equestria, you always know what is going to happen. A rainstorm at three. A slight shower at 6. Like clockwork, every single day. But, in the Everfree Forest, you don't know what is going to happen. "The Everfree Forest, where the weather controls itself and the animals live on their own". Unfortunatley, some ponies don't understand that that is what gives the Everfree Forest it's beauty. In addition to the beautiful plants and exotic animals, the Everfree Forest is unpredictable.
But something is out of place, even for a forest where unpredictibility is natural.
The animals are running. Some ordinary pony might take it as a migration or a hunt, but I know better than that. They're scared by something...and that isn't a good sign. When a manticore or a timberwolf are running from danger, something bad is happening. Not anything I can figure out just yet, but if I do i'll update the journel as soon as I can. Angel must be getting tired by now...
October 2nd.
I found something today I never thought I would see in my life. A manticore with a hole in it, covered in it's own blood.
Sure, anypony can take down a manticore. All that takes is some courage and a spear, but you can't rip a hole in it's stomach. Even after I got over the shock, I couldn't piece it together. So I called Twi and some detectives with superior autopsy tools. What they found was more disturbing; the wound had come from the inside.
Whatever had killed it, it literally burst through the stomach of the manticore from the inside of the body. No animal I know, even outside of Equestria, can do that. Not even a parasprite could do such a thing. So, naturally, the investigation team was perplexed. I hope nothing else like this happens ever again. I couldn't stand looking at such an abomination ever again. Apperently, the same team will be using magic to get better results. I hope I can sleep tonight...
October 3rd.
The results came back, and now the investigators are even more puzzled than theey had been before. Instead of giving answers, the results gave more questions.
Nothing had entered the Manticore's body. No trace of parasprites or ponies from inside the Manticore. Whatever had done this must have magically put the back piece of the Manticore back together from when they put the hole through it. This is now a full scientific investigation.
I just hope that nothing else has to die. I haven't found anything on my recent treks to the forest, but I have a feeling whatever did this isn't going to stop. The thing that puzzles me the most is not how a hole is in a manticore...
What did who or whatever did it want?
October 4th.
They're going to send out an investigation team, And they asked me to come with them.
I see why they want me to, but...I don't want anything to do with that monster. Nothing. If whatever or whoever it was can tear a hole through a manticore, than how fast could it tear a hole through me?
I didn't want them to get completely lost, so I wrote them up a map. I showed them the key points of the forest, including where I found the manticore. I just hope that they come out okay. I could never live it down if one of them died...
I went down to the library after I found out to tell everypony what was going on, so they can catch up with me and Twi. They all have theories of what the thing is, and they all sound absurd.
Rainbow Dash thinks it's some sort of tall, skinny urban legend thing that she's sure exists. Based on her description, I hope she isn't right...
Pinkie Pie thinks it's a snake as big as the world that bakes ponies into cupcakes. She's just being Pinkie Pie...
Rarity thinks it's a pony. That was my last guess, since a pony can't blow a hole through a manticore no matter how magically talented it is. When I pointed this out, she agreed and couldn't think of anything else.
Applejack believes it was timberwolves in packs. While she could be right, I pointed out to her that I saw them running away just a day before the manticore was found. She, like Rarity, couldn't think of another Explanation.
Twilight believes it is mere coincidence and that a lightning bolt hit the manticore, tearing a hole straight through it. I'm not an expert on lightning, so this seemed like the only logical reason...
But, was lightning that powerful? And what about the blood? While my mouth agreed, by brain was still suspicious...
October 5th.
The investigation team still hasn't come out yet. They could be dead. We don't know their whereabouts. I gave them a map, so how could they have gotten lost? I just can't except the explanation that they're gone...what could possibly want to hurt us? We never did anything wrong...
October 6th.
The investigation team went in with 7 ponies.
They came back with one, and he could barely speak.
He was saying things about how it was "The end", and how "it" would come for us all. His face was disfigured and a long gash ran down his stomach...
Angel can tell I'm worried. I'll have to be more brave about this from now on, so he doesn't get nervous. You don't like it when Angel gets nervous. My other animals notice, too. At least they're safe from all of this...
We don't know what to do. Celestia wants to send armed ponies in the forest. Luna disagrees, saying that whatever it was had to be left alone. I don't know what to do, I just want this creature gone. It's traumatizing everypony. We don't know what it is, we don't know what it wants...we don't know anything.
October 7th.
A pony went missing.
Her name was Roseluck. She sold roses in Ponyville square, and she went by the Everfree forest to pick some new ones. She vanished shortly afterwards.
If she vanished near the Everfree, what about inside of it? I talked to Zecora about it yesterday, and she says she hasn't seen it at all. I hope she's okay now...
This thing is putting everypony in ponyville in danger. It is a menace, it is a beast, and it is causing harm physically and mentally to ponies here. A desicion that I didn't want to make has finally come. I must do it for the safety of my friends and for others.
I leave tommorow.
Week 2
October 8th.
Day 1.
I camped close to the entrance. Better safe than sorry, and Zecora's isn't that far away.
I thought I would check with Zecora first, to see if everything is okay and to see if she knows anything else about the beast. She is probably the only pony/zebra that knows more about the Everfree forest than I do, and she probably knows exactly what this thing is.
I had almost forgotten how amazing the forest is. The flowers, little aninals that dare show themselves, and even the bugs look absolutly wonderful. The cool breeze at night blowing through your fur makes it all complete.
I had to notice that it has been getting colder than usual...
I haven't seen anything that could be the beast. Hopefully, as it's dangerous enough being outside forest, much less being in the forest itself. With my knowledge, I can only hope I'll make it out alive...
October 9th.
As soon as I saw the open door, I knew something was wrong.
Zecora would never leave her door wide open. Something entered her house...although I already knew, I looked inside.
The walls were clean, the potions and brews were all untouched. the only trace of blood was at Zecora's body, with the telltale hole pierced through her body. It's almost like a sick calling card.
I couldn't believe it. I didn't know what to do. There is only one thing I can do.
I'm going out of the forest.
October 10th.
I broke the news to everypony at Sugercube Corner this morning. They were all devistated, and Applejack suggested we hold a funeral for her. We decided to leave her body in the forest, so she would at least be at home, and that we would hold the funeral without...well, her. Funny, not being at your own funeral.
We all went up and said some words. It was truely beautiful, and it was exactly what she had deserved.
But the thing on my mind was no Zecora this whole funeral. It was the inevitable. And while I didn't want to, I knew it had to be done.
I needed to go back into the forest.
It was still out there. Whatever it was, it was still out there. And I don't want another death to occur. I feel as if this animal, if it even is an animal, is my responsibility, one that should be performed alone. However, my friends disagree.
Rainbow and AJ want to go head first into the forest and take this thing out. I tried to tell them that this thing was too dangerous, but they wern't listening. So this is what Pinkie Pie felt like during the parasprite invasion...
I had to yell to get their attention. I hate yelling. It hurts my vocal chords and I don't like to make anypony feel bad. But I had to get their attention, because there was no way I would let them go into that forest. I gave all my reasons, my knowledge of the creature, and reminded them of the gruesome sight I saw at Zecora's house and at the Manticore's death site. I was only trying to protect them, but Rainbow Dash got very angry.
She started to yell at me. She was talking about how much braver she is then I am, and what makes me think that I can go out into that forest and that she couldn't. Applejack was getting angry at her. I was only trying to help, not start a fight. Rainbow started calling me all sorts of names, some that I had never even heard her say. I couldn't take it, so I ran home crying. I was only trying to help them...
[October 11th.
Applejack told me that Rainbow Dash went into the forest last night.
Apparently, the whole group had a big fight that ended with Rainbow Dash punching AJ in the face. You can see the black eye now. She then sped towards the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash can't die, for a number of reasons...
One, because I love her. She's been like a sister to me, from helping out at flight camp against those bullies to where we are now. She's always been there to help me out, no matter what, and...I can't lose somepony else. I just can't. First Zecora, then Rainbow, then whoever else...I won't be able to take it.
Second, because my plan wouldn't work.
Before Rainbow intterupted me yesterday, I was going to propose that we use the Elements of Harmony to help stop the monster. That way, it would be done quickly and efficently. I do love Rainbow, but her attitude can get her into situations even she can't fix...I fear this is one of them. I honestly don't think she'll survive.
Applejack seemed a little bit shaken by their fight. We all don't like it when one of us fights, and when their life is on the line...
Do I need to go in and try to reason with her?
Of course I do. Why wouldn't I? I'm sure she's camping. If I go tonight and keep walking and looking for hoof prints, I'm sure that I'll find her soon. Yes, I have to try.
I have to try.
October 9th.
Day 1. Take 2.
I haven't found her yet. I checked Zecora's though I really didn't want to, and she wasn't there. Her body was gone to, snatched up by the investigators for further...investigation. I have a lingering feeling that they're useless.
I settled down for camp next to Zecora's. It's a miracle I'm not dead, if what happened to Roseluck is true. If what happened to Roseluck is true, than Rainbow Dash couldn't be living. I wonder if she had a hole through her as well. Common ponies aren't allowed access to the autopsy reports, only scientist and lawyers. I have no doubts in my mind, though.
I need to get a move on. I wouldn't want to lose Rainbow Dash, literally.
October 10th.
I still haven't found Rainbow today, but something else is on my mind.
It's cold. Really cold.
Never in the Everfree have temperatures gone so low. But that isn't the problem. It isn't snowing. Not one bit. It's just as cold as this on the coldest day in winter, and it isn't even snowing. This has something to do with the monster, I'm sure of it. I wonder how Dash fared.
I'm not going to write in here for a little bit. Not until I find Rainbow. I'll write again when I've found her.