The sky was dark. Not a good sign for Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack looked up into the sky to

see when the cloud would end. It didn’t. The rain clouds seemed to go on forever, never ending in any

direction. It was 3 in the afternoon but it was dark and grey. Surprisingly though, it was not raining. Oh

well, might as well keep farming then. She got back to work with Big Mac in the fields. Apple Bloom was

back at the clubhouse with the CMC. Granny smith should be sleeping right now. Everything’s fine…

right?

“ Does something seem strange to you?” she asked Big Mac.

“I’m not so sure little sis.” he said in his deep, slow, southern drawl which could make any pony

calm. But it wasn’t working for Applejack, she couldn’t stop thinking what could be causing those clouds.

“You know what. I’m goin’ to head on over to town to make sure everypony’s ok, and if they

know what in the hay is goin’ on. You can stay up in here and make sure everything’s okay, okay?”

“Eeyup.”

They parted their ways right there, AJ heading to Ponyville, Big Mac heading to the clubhouse.

AJ stepped a few paces before taking a look back to her protective brother. She was a pony who could take

care of her self, but she always looked up to Big Mac like the older brother he was. He had always tried to

help no matter how stubborn she was. But now it was time to part, they each had their duties, they each

must complete them.

A few minutes later... Big Mac walked between the apple trees with a stride of distress. Now

was not the time to be bobbing and weaving through the trees, but he couldn’t go on an all out sprint, for

he would most likely crash in a tree. A fast-ish trot would have to do. Thunder cracked above him. He

paid no attention to it, but still kept in mind that there is lightning emitting from the dark, mysterious

tempest.

There it was! The clubhouse was in a clear opening, not too many trees around it. With

lightning, that wasn’t a good thing at all. He galloped to the ladder and climbed up with haste, and then

punched the horizontal door up.

“AHH!” the CMC screamed in unison.

“Girls! Its just little ol’ me. No need to worry. Now, we need to get out of here and get to the

house.” He said walking in and patting Appleblooms back.

“mmm. Big brother… ah don’t want tu go outside.”

“Applebloom. Its just a little walk through the orchard, you’ll be right next to me the whole

time.”

“Yeah, but just in case you didn’t know, there’s giant lizards out there!” Scootaloo interrupted.

“Hmm?” Big Mac knew they were a crazy bunch, but with the storm and all, he might just

believe them.

“Look!” Sweetie Belle pointed out the window towards the orchard.

They all ducked down instantly. All 4 of them quickly rushed to the window sill and poked the

top of their heads up, each of their eyes, including Big Macs, were washed in fear. Out there, out in the

once empty, peaceful plot (of grass), were 2 large bipedal lizards walking out of the tree line. They were

about 6 feet tall, had arms relatively sized to their bodies, and a huge, intimidating hook on each foot. The

ponies were dripping sweat like crazy just watching the two monsters sniffing the air around them.

BOOM. Thunder struck again, much louder than before. All 4 of the ponies, yes Big Mac too,

jumped in fear, their manes sticking up like cats. The younglings though, started to give out a little

scream before Big Mac put a hoof on Scoots and Sweetie. Applebloom quickly stopped on her own,

knowing that Big Mac only had two hooves she complied with her brother. She even put a hoof over her

lips so that the other 2 would be quiet. The muffled screams died down to the point where he slowly

loosened his grip on the fillies. They dashed back to the window.

“RAW. RAW. RAW.” one screamed out to the trees.

“Why is he talking to a tree?” Sweetie Belle asked, getting scowls from the rest.

They all reverted their eyes back to the mysterious beings, only to feast their eyes on 4 more

walking out of the tree line. 6 of them! 6! Big Mac figured that was their whole pack, because they started

walking slowly towards the tree house!

Meanwhile... Applejack was walking down town square. She had a right mind for wanting to

get the hay out of there, but she didn’t, she couldn’t. she had an obligation to help Ponyville in its time of

need. She was the iron pony after all. Yes, she considers herself the iron pony still, Rainbow Dash merely

cheated her way through the competition. But that wasn’t relevant at this point! She got her head back in

the game and decided to head into town hall.

BOOM. A loud thunder hit. She jumped, mane standing up just like the trapped ponies at the

clubhouse. She galloped. She didn’t know where. She just galloped. Town Hall was crowded with chairs

and tables everywhere, but no ponies. She knew that she had to get somewhere, but the mixture of

adrenaline and fear, had screwed with her head. There’s a place to hide! Seeing Carousel Boutique

brought a shine in her eyes, and a smile on her lips.

Knock. Knock. Knock. “Let me in! Rarity! Let me in!!”

The door quickly flew open, as a white marshmallow of an arm, pulled her in.

“Shh! Applejack, why on Earth would you scream so loud on such an occasion?! The giant could

be anywhere!” Rarity said quickly moving back to her corner of the room, curled up and paranoid at every

little sound. Applejack walked slowly towards her and curled up next to her, putting a foreleg around her

shoulders.

“What duh you mean ‘Giant’?” She said trying her best to comfort her traumatized friend.

“Oh, Applejack. It was simply horrible! No pony ever saw it coming. A huge dragon like being

just walked in to town and rummaged everywhere.” she said, flailing her forelegs around to exaggerate

her story. But she didn’t need to over exaggerate to strike fear into AJ. She got up, and made her way

towards a window to find this so called ‘giant’. Well, she didn’t see the monster herself, but she did notice

something she didn’t see while galloping earlier. Footprints. Giant footprints. Rarity was right about them

looking like a dragon, this much she could tell by the footprint. But a dragon wouldn’t just walk around

Ponyville, let alone attack ponies!

“Is it out there? Do please make your way back here with me! Pleeeaaase!” She let the last

‘please’ spill out from between her lips as long as possible. Applejack sighed.

“No Rarity. But we do need to find this thing and bring it some justice.”

“How could you possibly think about going out there, and chasing that beast!”

“Well, we cant just sit here and wallow in our own fear!”

“Wallowing. Wallowing! My dear, I am… just… I… oh never mind.” she stopped complaining

and tilted her head down in shame.

“Its arright,” she walked back over placing her hoof under her chin, and lifting her head up, “I’m

mighty afraid too. In fact, I was scared out of mah mind just getting here! But if we work together, I think

we can find the rest of the girls and stop this monster.”

They stared into each others eyes. Applejack, trying to gain Rarity’s trust. Rarity, trying to feel

strong enough to help her friend. “uhh… okay.” She lost her royal accent, and stood up with a weak

smile.

“I knew you would come to right senses. Now, what were gonna do is…”

“RAAAWWWWRR!” A loud scream emitted from the behind the boutique. They each galloped

to the kitchen in the back to see what was happening. Rarity already anticipated what she was about to

see, Applejack however, was in for a life-changing surprise. They reached the kitchen and moved the

curtain to its window. Rarity winced. Applejack stared.

The monster was getting its foot stabbed by an earth pony with a pitchfork. “Die Ye Demon!

DIE!” he screamed patriotically before getting kicked twenty feet away. His body smashed to a wall of a

building and dropped down. He picked his head up seeing stars dance around his face, tongue sticking

out, and neck wobbling to and fro. It would have been a funny sight any other time of the week, but

today… today was not your average get go. The monster walked up to the barely conscious pony and

scarfed him down in one bite.

Rarity was weeping softly, covering her eyes with her hooves. Applejack, still staring, had just

witnessed her first murder, in fact, her first death! Her parents had died before she could remember them,

so she want much affected by their passing away. But she had never truly known what death actually,

looked like, or felt like… She shuddered. She turned around and gave Rarity a hug, not just a comforting

hug, no, she gave her a strong, tight, loving hug. Rarity took her hooves from her eyes and returned the

hug, but not as tight, mostly cause she was weak, not because she was rude.

After a few seconds, Applejack couldn’t help but shedding a few tears herself. She wasn’t

ashamed of them either. She knew she was a strong pony, but even the most awesome of ponies were able

to cry. This much she had been trying to teach Rainbow Dash.

After a few minutes of the tight embrace, the two had slowly began to soften their sobs.

Applejack used her hoof again to pick her head up and look into her, big, glossy, beautiful eyes. Applejack

could’ve swore they were the best pair of eyes she has ever laid hers upon. They stared again. This time,

AJ getting lost in Rarity’s. Rarity, wondering why Applejack was staring at her so. But she liked it.

“umm,” Applejack said, letting go of Rarity, trying to end the awkwardly sensual experience,

“We best be going now… ya know. With the monster being behind us.”

Rarity, rubbing her mascara off her face, “oh yes! Indeed. Lets go.” Rarity had secretly regretted

saying that, for she wanted to stare into her eyes again. Those green pearls that laid in sea of red, because

of her crying. Rarity had blushed to her self, lowering her head as to make sure Applejack didn’t see her.

But than again… Rarity coughed.

“Is something wrong?” Applejack said turning back to her deceptive friend. Rarity had used this

time to stare back into the orange mares eyes. They both got lost again. Rarity’s breathing had begun to

get heavier. Applejack started to tremble ever so slightly. Rarity’s heavy breathing had become more

noticeable once her chest started to heave in and out. Over and over. Applejack opened her mouth slightly,

as if to say something… but nothing could come out. Rarity let her mouth open a bit, her lower jaw

shivering. It had become 6 minutes and the two were still standing a few feet from the other. Staring. But

to the two mesmerized mares, it felt like hours. Rarity took a step with one hoof. Applejack followed suit.

They had went back and forth, walking very slowly towards each other until they were a nose to nose.

Rarity opened her mouth a little larger, Applejack followed. They were both shaking now. Neither knew

what they were even doing. It was as if they had been brain dead, only doing what they knew was

inevitable at this point. Rarity tilted her head sideways slowly. Oh, so slowly. Applejack licked her bottom

lip softly. Rarity closed her eyes. Applejack swallowed hard. They’re faces inched closer and closer. Their

breath hitting the others mouth. Applejack, with her own eyes still open, saw Rarity’s tongue creep out

from her mouth. They got closer and closer. The tip, the very tip, of their lips barely, just barely, met. The

feeling of their wet…

“Rarity! Are you in there?” A voice came from the front door.

The two mares instantaneously drew away. Both looking down to the ground, and blushing, no

burning, red. “Hello?” Rarity still in shock at what she had been doing a few seconds ago, couldn’t help

but stare at the floor. Neither of the ponies dared look at each other, nor did they want to talk. But they

both knew that Rarity would have to let this pony in. “Rarity. Please open up.” Rarity made her way to the

door, still silent, and looked through the peephole. It was her neighbor. The young colt who had drove

them to the Gala last year. She opened the door very slowly. The colt, who had expected a welcome was

scared to enter the ominously opening door. Rarity hadn’t realized that she was hiding behind the

doorframe when she opened it, causing the colt to think it was a ghost. “I’ve seen this way too many times

in Hollyhooves!” he ran away.

Neither of them cared that he left, they did just want to be with each other, but at the same time,

didn’t want to even look at the other. Rarity closed the door, and walked her way back to Applejack. Both

of them looking down and repenting. Rarity wished she could start over. Applejack, however, being a

mare of good morals, hated her self. It was a long silence.

A few minutes earlier... “Twilight! Wake up! Pretty please!” Pinkie said shaking Twilights still

body. She had lost Compy a few minutes ago, and now was all alone. She hated being alone. Tears were

forming beneath her eyes. The library had no lights on, and the grey skies outside made it even darker in

the hollowed tree. She was still able to see wall to wall, but everything in between was engulfed by

shadows. Pinkie didn’t care for the dark to much, but being alone in the dark was a different story. She

cuddled with Twilights body, trying to feel more secure, even though if something did happen they would

both certainly die. But for some reason, Pinkie found her self safer clutching Twi’s body and hopefully

going to sleep with her. Hopefully, if they do die, they could leave this world together.

Pinkie was beginning to close her eyes and go into a deep sleep (Pinkie sleeping?) until,

“RAWWWWWRRRR!” the loud scream had emitted through the atmosphere of Ponyville. Twilights

eyes shot open to the rambunctious sound. Her pupils tiny, and then settling back to normal size. She

started to get up until she felt a restraint around her waist. With a puzzled look, she brought her head

down to see two pink forelegs wrapped around her. She twisted her head back to see her friend with a

huge smile. Twilight clearly disturbed, tried to pull away from Pinkie before she realized Compy was

gone.

“Uhh, where’s your little friend?”

“oh, him. He’s old news, he ran away about an hour ago, so I decided to cuddle with you, and

now your awake, and now I’m happy!” she said letting go of her lavender friend, “oops, sorry.” she said

finishing with a slight giggle.

“Well, okay…” Twilight knew Pinkie was random, but holding her in her sleep was a little too

weird. “Oh, yes, that is a Tyrannosaurus Rex out there. Now Pinkie, time to get serious. We need to find

the other girls and stop this madness!”

“But what if he’s not mad? What if he just wants to go home, or, or he wants to play with us, but

he doesn’t know how to do it right!” Twilight face hoofed and walked to her doorway.

“Now that scream was pretty far away, so now we know we have enough time to get to Rarity’s.

Then we’ll get Fluttershy. And hopefully Applejack will be safe and secure at Sweet Apple Acres until we

reach there too. Lets go girl.”

“Wait! I need to go to the restroom first!”