KR-58: Shakespearean Play
This is what happens when you read too much Shakespeare. Okay, it's what happens when I read too much Shakespeare. I tried to write it like the script of a play.
Act 1
Chapter 1
Afraid of the Forest
Button Mash: “Good morning Sweetie Belle, where you trotting off to in such a hurry?”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, hi there, Button Mash, I didn’t see you there. I’m heading to Zecora’s hut to meet up with the crusaders.”
Button Mash: “I’ve never actually been to Zecora’s hut. Wait, that’s in the Everfree Forest!”
Sweetie Belle: “You know, despite what ponies say, the Everfree Forest isn’t all that dangerous. Sure, I once almost turned to stone when the crusaders and I met a cockatrice, but that’s only time I’ve ever really been in danger in the Everfree.”
Button Mash: “You met a cockatrice! Why do you still risk your life going through the forest after such a near-death experience?”
Sweetie Belle: “Calm down, Button. It’s not like any pony died. Besides, Fluttershy was there. She got that Cockatrice to back off and revert Twilight and herself back from their stone state.”
Button Mash: “Yeah, but you could have been hurt, killed, or turned into a statue forever!”
Sweetie Belle: “Yeah, that would’ve been inconvenient. Don’t you want to see Zecora’s house?”
Button Mash: “Yeah, but it’s in the dangerous Everfree Forest.”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, it’s not that bad. It’s perfectly safe as long as you avoid all flowers and plants.”
Button Mash: “Is there something wrong about flowers?”
Sweetie Belle: “Well, I know of at least two flowers in the Everfree that can really mess up your life.”
Button Mash: “Oh, really? Flowers? I was more worried about ursa majors, rocs, and hydras.”
Sweetie Belle: “Don’t be silly, those creatures will never bother us if we take a direct route.”
Button Mash: “Like when you met the cockatrice?”
Sweetie Belle: “That was different. We were looking for its prey, the chicken, and making chicken calls. It thought we were chickens. Scootaloo didn’t help either.”
Button Mash: “What did she do?”
Sweetie Belle: “Nothing. It’s an inside joke. It’ll be fine. I’ve never had problems with the creatures attacking when I stuck to the path, so we should be fine.”
Button Mash: “Well, it sounds like you’re going to an exclusive meeting. I wouldn’t want to burst in on your…”
Sweetie Belle: “Button, are you scared of the Everfree?”
Button Mash: “What! No, I never said that!”
Sweetie Belle: “Then why don’t you come with me to Zecora’s.”
Button Mash: “You know what? I will.”
Sweetie Belle: “Then we’d better hurry, I’m gonna be late for my crusader meeting!”
Chapter 2
It’s just the wind
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle! Slow down! We need to stick together! What if a Manticore attacks? I need to be able to protect you.”
Sweetie Belle: “Thanks, Button, but I think I’ll be fine. I’ve walked to Zecora’s on my own many times before, and I’ve never run into any trouble--except for the cockatrice.”
Button Mash: “We might be fine, but we should still stick together. I’ve never been to Zecora’s hut before; I don’t know if I can find my way there on my own.”
Sweetie Belle: “Fine, I guess I can slow down a little. I’m already going to be late to my crusaders meeting, but a few more minutes of delay shouldn’t make much of a difference.”
Button Mash: “Thanks, Sweetie Belle. How far away is… (rustling of leaves) Did you hear that?”
Sweetie Belle: “Sounded like the wind in the leaves; we are in a forest after all.”
Button Mash: “Yes, but the wind usually doesn’t make it this far into the forest.”
Sweetie Belle: “Ah, yes, you must be an expert on the Everfree, seeing as you’ve never entered it before.”
Button Mash: “I’ve been in plenty of forests, just not the Everfree. In the forests I’ve visited, the wind doesn’t reach in far because of the dense wall of trees that block its path.”
Sweetie Belle: “Maybe so, but the Everfree isn’t like other forests. The weather here in the Everfree acts without the aid of pegasi ponies. Perhaps the wind can rustle leaves even in the deepest parts of the forest.”
Button Mash: “That is an option, but it is also a possibility that the leaves are rustling because a monster is moving through the bushes.”
Sweetie Belle: “Button, not everything in the Everfree is caused by monsters.”
*Leaves Rustle, twigs snap, muffled pitter-patter, and scratching sound of someone rubbing two sticks together in a vain attempt to start a fire.*
Sweetie Belle: “But then again, you might be right. We should le…”
???: “Hostiles incoming. Take cover.”
Chapter 3
The Everfree Forest is dangerous
Sweetie Belle: Who said that? It sounded like an adult mare, but it lacked emotion. It sounded like somepony reading a boring class paper. We’re in the Everfree, and it did sound like there was something in the bushes. We should take her advice and drop to the ground.
Sweetie Belle: “Button! Duck!”
Button Mash: “Aah! Monsters!”
Sweetie Belle: We have just fallen prone. Yikes! Six creatures constructed completely from branches and twigs leap out of the bushes, passing over us. The quadrupedal canines bare their wooden teeth and stare unblinking with their two glowing green globes in holes where eyes should be. They are all looking directly at Button Mash.
Sweetie Belle: Uh, oh. They’re after Button!
Sweetie Belle: “Button! Run! Leave the Everfree Forest!”
Sweetie Belle: Button is scrambling to his hooves and about to gallop away, but the creatures have already jumped; they’re going to pounce on him.
*Shove. Slide.*
Sweetie Belle: What happened? I-I tackled Button out from among the Timberwolves!
Button Mash: “Oof! Thanks, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle: “Run, Button! Leave the Forest!”
Button Mash: “I don’t know where to…”
*Roar*
Sweetie Belle: It’s going to bite Button!
Sweetie Belle: “No!”
*Slam. Thump*
Sweetie Belle: I hit it. I hit a monster, and it fell to the ground!
Sweetie Belle: “Button! Run”
Button Mash: “I am, but they’re too fast!”
Sweetie Belle: “Don’t worry, I’ll…”
Sweetie Belle: What can I do? Why are they all going after Button? Don’t they see me? Maybe I could use this to my advantage.
Sweetie Belle: “I’ll… Button! I’m coming!”
Sweetie Belle: No! They’re too fast; they’ll reach him first…
???: “Activating Attack Protocol”
Sweetie Belle: What? It was that voice again. What did she mean by ‘Attack Protocol?’
Button: “Help!”
Sweetie Belle: Oh, right, Button. What? How am I so close to him? Did he slow down? No, the monsters are still some distance behind him. Maybe I am going fas…
*Slam!*
Sweetie Belle: Woah! If those creatures were bowling pins, I’d say I just rolled a strike.
Chapter 4
Survival of the biggest
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle! How did you… are they…”
Sweetie Belle: “They’re alive; you’re still in danger! You need to leave.”
Sweetie Belle” Why did I say that? There is clearly no danger. Nothing is left of the wooden wolves but broken limbs strewn about the ground. They’re not alive; they’re obviously… still moving?
Button Mash: “Aah! Sweetie Belle! Which way to leave the forest?”
Sweetie Belle: Oh, that’s right. Button didn’t know his way through the Everfree Forest. I’m going to have to personally escort him back to Ponyville. Wait, wasn’t that what I’d planned on doing? Had I really expected anything else? It was dangerous in the Everfree. I need to leave too.
Sweetie Belle: “Follow me Button! I’ll protect you!”
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle! They’re forming into a giant monster! You can’t knock them apart like you did before!”
Sweetie Belle: “Just follow me!”
Sweetie Belle: Luckily, we have a head start. Oh dear, I thought the trees would slow it down, but it’s tearing through them like they’re nothing.
Button Mash: “The forest edge! I can see the light!”
Sweetie Belle: I doubt that the forest edge will offer any protection, but I can’t bring myself to tell Button. We’re both going to die; there is nothing I can do. Unless… maybe. Maybe I can distract the monster long enough for Button Mash to run to the safety of Ponyville.
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle! What are you doing! Run away from the monster, not towards it!”
Sweetie Belle: “Keep going, Button. I’ll slow it down.”
Button Mash: “You’ll get yourself killed!”
Sweetie Belle: If it gives you a chance to escape, then it’s worth it.
Sweetie Belle: “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
Sweetie Belle: If I ram into the foot, I could trip it. Okay, Sweetie Belle, brace yourse…
*Slam. Vroom. Crash.*
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle!”
Sweetie Belle: “Ugh, my… everything.”
Sweetie Belle: Branches lay strewn about the ground. Splintered logs are rolling to a stop, and leaves are settling onto the soft forest floor.
Sweetie Belle: “The monster? I did it!”
*Roar!*
Sweetie Belle: “What?”
Sweetie Belle: Oh, a stump. That was just a tree, but what happened to it? The monster. I ran into the its foot. It-it kicked me. It didn’t even slow down. There is nothing I can do. It-it threw me into a tree, and the tree broke. How am I alive?
Chapter 5
A series on illogical events
Button Mash: “Help! Somepony. Anypony!”
Sweetie Belle: “I-I’m. I can’t.”
Sweetie Belle: There is nothing I can do. I wish I could save him, but it’s hopeless.
???: “Preparing explosive bombardment.”
Sweetie Belle: “What? Aah!”
Sweetie Belle: Everything changed color! It all has an orange tint.
???: “Target acquired.”
Sweetie Belle: Where did that giant red square come from? It surrounds the monster, but it doesn’t hinder its movement.
Sweetie Belle: “Oh!”
Sweetie Belle: A red circle about the size of a pony’s head formed on one of the green eyes of the monster. The red circle is pierced with short, red lines.
Sweetie Belle: “Hmm.”
Sweetie Belle: There are two short, red vertical lines piercing it; the lines cut through the top and the bottom of the circle. There are two short, red horizontal lines piercing its sides; the lines cut through the left and the right of the circle. I can barely see it, but I think there is a small red dot in the center of the circle.
*Whirr*
Sweetie Belle: “Oh my!”
Sweetie Belle: Eight more of the pierced circles just came out of nowhere, each on a different part of the monster.
Sweetie Belle: “Ugh.”
Sweetie Belle: Well, aren’t I intelligible today? Let’s see if I can produce more than monosyllabic grunts and exclamations.
Sweetie Belle: “It feels like my insides are-are t-turn-ing in-insi-i-de out. Am-am I sh-sh-shake-ing?”
*Buzz*
???: “Missiles ready.”
Sweetie Belle: “Missiles?”
Sweetie Belle: I’m tense, bracing for something. What… ?
???: “Release.”
*Bang.*
Sweetie Belle: My insides are falling out!
*Squeeeek.*
Sweetie Belle: Nine cylinders each topped with a cone fly towards the monster. Those flying objects are my internal organs.
*Boom.*
Sweetie Belle: “Ugh.”
Sweetie Belle: I think I’m going to be sick. What hit me? A shockwave? Wait, the monster.
Sweetie Belle: “It’s gone.”
Sweetie Belle: Well, it’s not gone, but it’s spread in burning splinters.
Chapter 6
Health Status: Questionable
Sweetie Belle: “I-I think it’s dead.”
Sweetie Belle: Oh, I’m off balance. My center of gravity is off. Am I carrying a saddlebag? I don’t remember bringing any, and they feel smooth, flat, and hard. That doesn’t feel like a saddle bag.
*Whirr*
Sweetie Belle: “Urk!”
Sweetie Belle: My insides are moving again.
*Buzz*
Sweetie Belle: “The world isn’t all orange anymore!”
Sweetie Belle: Hey, my saddlebags are gone. Whatever. Where’s Button? Did he…
Sweetie Belle: “Button! I’m coming. Oh please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead.”
Button Mash: “I’m alive.”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh good, I was worried. That was a big explosion.”
Button Mash: “Yeah, about that. Is it… dead?”
Sweetie Belle: “I don’t know, but it’s definitely not coming back.”
Button Mash: “What happened? I was running from the monster, then a blast from behind me pushed me into the ground.”
Sweetie Belle: “Uh.”
Sweetie Belle: I don’t want to worry him; telling him that my insides flew out of me and burst into flames won’t help that.
Sweetie Belle: “I-I think it can’t leave the forest. When it followed you outside the forest edge, it burst into flames.”
Button Mash: “What! Really?”
Sweetie Belle: “Um, yes? Were you expecting otherwise?”
Button Mash: “I don’t know what I was expecting, but I feel that it’s unlikely that any creature would know so little about itself that it would accidently trigger their own weakness.”
Sweetie Belle: Well, I can relate. I didn’t know I could fire my own organs.
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle, are you okay? I saw you get rammed through a tree.”
Sweetie Belle: “I’m fine.”
Sweetie Belle: I don’t feel fine.
Sweetie Belle: “I’ve only got bruises and scratches. Nothing life threatening. It’s only a little blood.”
Button Mash: “Um, Sweetie, have you looked at yourself.”
Sweetie Belle: “Not really, No. It’s not that bad, is it?”
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle, you look great. That’s what is so disconcerting. There is no blood and bruises, but you should be in splinters. No, you should be dead. It’s baffling enough that your still alive, but you’re not even injured. It doesn’t even look like you’ve been fighting immortal monsters. It defies logic.”
Sweetie Belle: “I may have exaggerated my well-being. I think I may throw up. Maybe I already did. I’m really sorry about all of this. I never should have brought you along.”
Button Mash: “Yeah, but you were more concerned about plants.”
Sweetie Belle: “For good reason. We were nearly killed by plants.”
Button Mash: “What! When?”
Sweetie Belle: “The wooden wolves are plants.”
Button Mash: “That doesn’t count.”
Sweetie Belle: “Maybe I can ask Zecora about them when I visit her today.”
Chapter 7
Return to the Everfree
Button Mash: “You’re still going to your meeting? We almost died.”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes, which means my friends at Zecora’s hut could be in danger! I need to go help them.”
Button Mash: “You? Your in no shape to help. You may not look it, but you’ve been given a beating by a giant tree monster.”
Sweetie Belle: “I’ll be fine. I survived being smashed through a tree. There is nothing that can top that.”
Button Mash: “There are many things more dangerous than what we just escaped.”
Sweetie Belle: “I’m sorry, Button, but I need to go. You should return to Ponyville to seek help. Get somepony like Rainbow Dash to help my friends. I’m going to do what I can to protect my friends until help arrives.”
Button Mash: “But it’s too…”
Sweetie Belle: “Can I count on you, Button Mash.”
Button Mash: “I-yes. I’ll get help. Be careful.”
Chapter 8
Lightweight
Sweetie Belle: “I just can’t get used to my newly reduced weight. I can run faster than I could before, but I keep tripping. Oh, there’s Zecora’s hut.”
Sweetie Belle: I didn’t know I was that fast, and how did I run all the way here if I’m not even winded?
Sweetie Belle: “I hope Zecora doesn’t mind me peeking through her window. Oh, good. They’re safe inside.”
Sweetie Belle: Maybe I was worried for nothing.
Sweetie Belle: “Uh oh.”
Sweetie Belle: They’re barricading the door with furniture; they’re leaning the cauldron against the door.
Sweetie Belle: “I better go check on the front from the outside to see what they’re hiding from. Oh no. It’s what I feared. More of those monsters.”
Sweetie Belle: I dispatched them easily enough last time, but then they joined together into a giant monster. How can I destroy them without triggering their combination?
Sweetie Belle: “I know. I’ll just have to take them out one at a time. Hmm. How can I kill them permanently? I don’t have any fire.”
Sweetie Belle: No time to think about it now. They’re going to break through the door.
Sweetie Belle: “Hey! Leave my friends alone! Hey, monsters! I’m talking to you. Can you hear me? Don’t ignore me. Come after me instead; I’m not hiding behind a shelter. Seriously? I’m an easier target. What does it take to get your attention?”
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle? Sweetie Belle, is that you? What are you doing? Don’t provoke the creatures. Luckily, they don’t seem to have noticed you. Hide! Run! These things are dangerous. Better yet, go back to Ponyville and get help.”
Sweetie Belle: “No can do, Apple Bloom. I am the help.”
Apple Bloom: “No!”
*Slam. Bounce. Bounce. Slide*
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle, are you okay?”
Apple Bloom: “What were you thinking? Ramming into the monsters? Did you plan to kill them? They’re immortal! They’ll just rebuild themselves.”
Sweetie Belle: “I thought I could knock it apart, but I don’t weigh enough to have enough impact. I was hoping I could escort you back to Ponyville while I destroy any of them that got too close.”
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle, you’re not a hero; leave the fighting to Rainbow Dash.”
Sweetie Belle: “Rainbow Dash isn’t here right now; I need to fill in until we figure out what to do.”
Sweetie Belle: What can I do? I can’t incapacitate them like I did before.
Scootaloo: “If you are going to fight, we’ll help you.”
Sweetie Belle: “No, you shouldn’t put yourselves in danger because of my stubbornness.”
Sweetie Belle: First, I need to stop the monsters from breaking through the door.
*Slam. Bounce. Bounce. Slide.*
Sweetie Belle: Hmm. I can’t barrel through them, but they don’t seem to notice me. Maybe I can slide past them to the door?
Sweetie Belle: “Ha! Try breaking through the door now! Oh, that’s right, you can’t. I’m in the way.”
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle, no! They’ll tear through you!”
Sweetie Belle: “They can try. Oof. They’re trying.”
Sweetie Belle: I need to fight back. I know! Hoof-to-hoof combat.
Sweetie Belle: “Take that and that and that!”
Sweetie Belle: They’re not dodging, but my aim isn’t accurate enough to do much either. Uh oh. Everything’s orange again. Well, not completely orange, just tinted orange. I can’t let that stop me. I need to keep fighting. I hope I don’t fire more organs.
Sweetie Belle: “Alright, get ready for my-aah!”
Sweetie Belle: The red circles are back! I’m going to die! If I fire my organs, the explosion will burn down the forest and everything in it.
*Slam*
Sweetie Belle: “Wh-where’s the explosion? Am I dead? The wooden wolf in front of me is missing its head. Did I do that? I-my hoof. I hit it with my hoof.”
Sweetie Belle: The circle is gone, but more are popping into existence on the creatures.
*Slam. Slam. Slam. Crumble.*
Sweetie Belle: It dropped. Is it… no, they reform themselves. However, it does give me a slight break, or it would if there weren’t three more of them. Oh, scary. The orange tint of my vision makes their eyes look purple.
Sweetie Belle: “Get off me!”
Sweetie Belle: I can’t ‘kill’ any of them while one is still regenerating or else they might form a giant.
Sweetie Belle: Good news: they can’t harm me. They only seem to see me as an obstacle blocking their path, and they can’t get to Zecora, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom while I’m blocking the doorway.
Sweetie Belle: Bad news: there are multiple entrance to the hut, and it is only a matter of time until they find them.
Sweetie Belle: “If only they went after me, I could lead them away.”
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle, are you okay? Are they hurting you?”
Sweetie Belle: “No. I’m fine. They aren’t after me.”
Sweetie Belle: True. I am not their target, but they are going to rip through me to get my friends. I’m not invulnerable like I thought. I am resilient, but I’m starting to lose clumps of fur. How much longer can I last? It’s a good thing my friends can’t see me through the wooden door.
*Vroom. Crash*
Sweetie Belle: A streak of blue? One of the wooden wolves is gone. That can only mean… there it is. To my left, laying against the tree, is the scattered pile of sticks. Next to the slowly reforming monster, it’s…
Sweetie Belle: “Rainbow Dash?”
Sweetie Belle: The orange tint makes it hard to tell, but only Rainbow has that many colors in her mane. Her wings are outstretched and her muscles are tense like she’s about to…
Sweetie Belle: “Rainbow! Stop!”
Rainbow Dash: “Sweetie Belle? What are you doing outside? Get back in the hut.”
Sweetie Belle: “Don’t attack them!”
Rainbow Dash: “What nonsense are you on about?”
Sweetie Belle: “If you break more than one at a time, they reform into a single giant beast.”
Sweetie Belle: Woah, Rainbow just jumped over one of the wooden wolves as it tried to tackle her.
Rainbow Dash: “Then, what should we do?”
Sweetie Belle: “Why are you asking me?”
Sweetie Belle: I probably shouldn’t stand still so long, but they’re all going after Rainbow Dash. Hmm, she has their attention, so…
Rainbow Dash: “You know more about them than me. I was just going to tear through all of them at once.”
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, I’ve got this. I’ve got a plan.”
Rainbow Dash: “Let’s… woah! That was close. Let’s hear your plan.”
Sweetie Belle: “First, you need to distract them.”
Rainbow Dash: “Done. Next?”’
Sweetie Belle: “Then, I beat a single lone wolf into a pulp, literally, so that they can’t regenerate.”
Rainbow Dash: “That-that seems… violent.”
Sweetie Belle: “The alternative is we flee and leave the crusaders and Zecora behind to slow them down.”
Rainbow Dash: “Okay, let’s go with the first plan.”
Sweetie Belle: “Good choice. One of the monsters is already down. I need to destroy it completely before it finishes reforming.”
*Stomp. Stomp-stomp.*
Sweetie Belle: “This isn’t working. I can’t break it into pieces small enough to cause permanent damage.”
???: “Preparing barrage.”
Sweetie Belle: “That can’t be good.”
Sweetie Belle: Oh no! Red circles are popping up all over the wooden wolf. The circles are overlapping and… and now it just looks like an opaque two dimensional red blob. How can I crush the wooden wolf? I can’t even see it.
*Stomp-stomp-stomp-clop-clop-clop-crack-creak-crumble-splish-splash*
Sweetie Belle: My entire body is shaking and vibrating as my two front hooves rapidly smash this thing like a jackhammer.
Sweetie Belle: I-I stopped. The red circles are gone, but everything is still tinted orange. The wooden wolf? There is nothing left of it but what looks like sawdust and sap.
Rainbow Dash: “Woah. You really mea…”
*Roar. Whoosh*
Rainbow Dash: “You really meant it when you said you’d smash it into pulp.”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes, are you still okay?”
Rainbow Dash: “I’m fine, but I can’t understand why they’re ignoring you.”
Sweetie Belle: “Maybe it’s because your the biggest threat.”
Sweetie Belle: I don’t believe that. If it were true, they would have gone after me instead of Button Mash.
Rainbow Dash: “Maybe, but I’m just dodging their attacks. You’re the one doing damage.”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes, but I’m tiny. That’s why your the bigger threat.”
Sweetie Belle: I think I can take one out without Rainbow Dash slamming into it first.
Sweetie Belle: “Here I go.”
Sweetie Belle: Strange. As I’m about to attack, red circles appear where I plan to hit. I’ve never fought before, so I’m just going off instinct.
Rainbow Dash: “Nice moves, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle: “Thanks.”
Rainbow Dash: “Where did you learn martial arts?”
Sweetie Belle: Martial arts? I’ve never learned martial arts?
Sweetie Belle: “Um… it was… it was… I don’t remember.”
Rainbow Dash: “Hmm. It’s strange. I was asking because I don’t recognize it.”
Sweetie Belle: “Then, how do you know it’s martial arts?”
Rainbow Dash: “Well, as a master martial artist with a black belt in karate, it was pretty easy. You perform practiced
jabs while dodging leaps and pounces. Sweetie, you’re even holding a stance.”
Sweetie Belle: Stance? Doesn’t that have something to do with how I stand?
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, time to pulverize another one.”
???: “Preparing barrage.”
Sweetie Belle: Hmm. More circles. And again, I can’t see past the red wall of overlapping circles. Will this happen every time?
???: “Release.”
*Stomp-stomp-stomp-squish-squash-squoosh*
Sweetie Belle: “Yeah, he’s not waking up again.”
Sweetie Belle: “This is going great. We’re…”
Sweetie Belle: The door’s open. Did one of them…? No, there are still two chasing Rainbow. No!
Sweetie Belle: “Scootaloo! What are you doing out here?”
Scootaloo: “I’m here to help. We’ll fight the monsters together!”
Sweetie Belle: “Scootaloo! Go back inside and close the door!”
Scootaloo: “What! Why? You’re out here. You’re fighting. Why can’t I?”
Sweetie Belle: “It’s too dangerous.”
Scootaloo: “It’s just as dangerous for you as it is for me.”
Sweetie Belle: “This can’t be happening.”
Sweetie Belle: How can I convince Scootaloo to go inside to safely? I’m only out here fighting because I’m… different. I-I can survive what she can’t. What’s dangerous for her is merely inconvenient for me. That seems pretty egotistical, but it’s true. Now I know how Rainbow Dash must feel and why she’s so full of yourself. Rainbow Dash! Scootaloo will listen to her.
Sweetie Belle: “Rainbow Dash! Tell Scootaloo to go back inside.”
Rainbow Dash: “Isn’t she already… Scootaloo? What are you doing outside?”
Scootaloo: “I want to help.”
Rainbow Dash: “That’s nice, but I need you safe. I need you inside.”
Scootaloo: “But-but… Sweetie’s out here.”
Rainbow Dash: “Well, I um…”
*Roar*
Rainbow Dash: “Ouch! Aah!”
Scootaloo: “Rainbow Dash! I’m coming!”
Sweetie Belle: “No!”
Sweetie Belle: They’ve got Rainbow on the ground, and Scootaloo’s coming too. I need to end this, now! I’ll go in between the two remaining monsters and pulverise them both.
???: “Pre-pre-par-par-ing-ing bar-bar-rage-rage.”
Sweetie Belle: That sounded pretty cool. Two over overlapping voices.
???: “Re-re-lease-lease.”
*stomp-stomp-punch-punch.*
Sweetie Belle: Instead of using both of my front hooves to pulverise a single wooden wolf, I’m smashing them both to splinters by using my front hooves on one, and my back hooves on the other.
Sweetie Belle: My legs are vibrating and the shaking is reverberating up to my head like each hoof is actually a jackhammer, each running simultaneously. But it’s worth it because…
Scootaloo: “They’re all dead. Rainbow, you could have gotten hurt, and it’s all my fault. I should've stayed inside like you said. Our argument distracted you, and if Sweetie Belle didn’t save you… I’m sorry.”
Rainbow Dash: “It’s all going to be okay. We won.”
Chapter 9
Who Brought Help?
Rainbow Dash: “We survived. We fought off the… the… what were they called? I forgot.”
Sweetie Belle: “Timberwolves.”
Sweetie Belle: Why did I say that? It just came out, but I don’t know what these are. I’m making a fool out of myself.
Rainbow Dash: “Oh yeah, that’s right.”
Sweetie Belle: “Really?”
Apple Bloom: “Yeah, Applejack, my sister, told me about the time she saved Spike from timberwolves.”
Rainbow Dash: “Did she tell you about how Spike saved her from timberwolves?”
Apple Bloom: “No. I guess it never occured to me to ask. Spike doesn’t seem like a fighter.”
Sweetie Belle: I’m a fighter, but I don’t seem like a fighter. Well, maybe I’m not a fighter, but I definitely I am not helpless. The timberwolves! What if they return?
Sweetie Belle: “We’re not done with the timberwolves yet. They haven’t reformed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t. We should burn them to make sure they stay dead.”
Rainbow Dash: “That seems like overkill.”
Sweetie Belle: “What sort of ‘kill’ do you think it takes to bring down an immortal monster?”
Rainbow Dash: “Yeah, your right. Let’s burn these wolves.”
Fluttershy: “No! Don’t burn the wolves! They’re not evil. They’re just misunderstood.”
Sweetie Belle: “Scootaloo? It’s a little late; they’re already burning. Besides, I thought you wanted to fight the timberwolves.”
Sweetie Belle: “No. You can’t be Scootaloo. Your voice is too high, and you’re too tall.”
Scootaloo: “Um, Sweetie Belle? I’m over here. That pegasus isn’t me.
Sweetie Belle: “I-but… that pegasus looks just like you!”
Scootaloo: “Really? How can you confuse Fluttershy with me?”
Sweetie Belle: “Fluttershy?”
Sweetie Belle: Oh, her cutie mark. Things only look orange tinted to me. I must look insane right now.
Fluttershy: “I can’t believe you k-k… I can’t say it. I… I shouldn’t have come.”
Sweetie Belle: “Why did you come?”
Fluttershy: “B-Button Mash said you might be having some trouble with what sounded to me like just some poor, misunderstood timberwolves.”
Sweetie Belle: “B-Button Mash sent you?”
Button Mash: “Actually, my name is Button Mash with a single ‘B.’”
Sweetie Belle: “Button Mash? What are you doing here? I told you to send for help, not return with help.”
Button Mash: “I was certain I’d be safe with Fluttershy to protect me; you said she saved you from a cockatrice. Besides, I wanted to see help protect you.”
Sweetie Belle: “Whatever, today has been a strange day.”
Button Mash: “I’ll say. When did you put on glasses?”
Sweetie Belle: “Glasses?”
Button Mash: “Yeah, you weren’t wearing them when we first entered the forest. You went straight to Zecora’s house, so I can’t think of where you got them.”
Sweetie Belle: “I don’t understand. I’m not wearing glass…”
Sweetie Belle: Oh. Orange tint. I’m wearing orange tinted glasses. Except, these do not consist of two elliptical lenses; instead, the ‘glasses’ are a single orange tinted glass rectangle that is held so close to my eyes that I can’t see above or below it.
Sweetie Belle: “I don’t remember putting them on. Why didn’t anypony else notice I was wearing glasses?”
Rainbow Dash: “I noticed, but I was too caught up in the conflict to mention your new glasses.”
Sweetie Belle: “Wait. Button, did you send Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy here?”
Button Mash: “No. I only got Fluttershy.”
Sweetie Belle: “Then, Rainbow, how did you know we were in danger?”
Rainbow Dash: “Somepony told me that some monsters were attacking the crusaders at Zecora’s house.”
Sweetie Belle: “Who?”
Rainbow Dash: “It was… hmm. That’s strange. I can’t remember.”
Sweetie Belle: It isn’t odd that Rainbow Dash doesn’t remember, but how did anypony know that we were at Zecora’s house or that monsters were attacking us there?
Sweetie Belle: “Button Mash, did you tell anypony other than Fluttershy that we suspected that monsters may be attacking the crusaders at Zecora’s house?”
Button Mash: “No. Why? Does it matter?”
Sweetie Belle: “I’m trying to figure out who told Rainbow that we were in trouble. Was anypony else nearby when you told Fluttershy?”
Button Mash: “No. There was no pony in sight. I was at Fluttershy’s cottage outside of ponyville. It’s pretty isolated.”
Sweetie Belle: “Impossible! Somepony must have overheard you!”
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle, it doesn’t matter who helped warn Rainbow. Citizens of Equestria usually aren’t rewarded for selfless aid because it is the standard. Everypony is expected to help in a dangerous situation.”
Sweetie Belle: No pony seems to understand. I don’t want to find out who warned Rainbow; I want to find out how they knew the things they told her.
Chapter 10
The Argument
Apple Bloom: “Well, that was certainly exciting, but I think we should continue our meeting. We’re going to have to extend the meeting a bit to make up for time lost during… um… interruptions.”
Button Mash: “You still want to hold a meeting? Even after you were nearly killed?”
Fluttershy: “Now, Button Mash. I know you’re upset, but please don’t use the ‘K’ word.”
Button Mash: “Oh, um, I’m sorry Miss Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy: “It’s okay. We all get upset sometimes.”
Apple Bloom: “To answer your question, Button Mash, yes, but Ponyville is just as dangerous as the Everfree Forest. You are just as likely to encounter a monster in Ponyville as you are in the Everfree.”
Button Mash: “The monsters that you see in Ponyville are from the Everfree Forest.”
Apple Bloom: “That doesn’t mean that the Everfree Forest is more dangerous. It just means that the Everfree is the origin of the monsters in Ponyville.”
Sweetie Belle: “Button Mash, the sooner we have our meeting, the sooner we can finish and leave the Everfree. Besides, you don’t have to be here if you’re too scared.”
Button Mash: “Fine. I’ll leave.”
Sweetie Belle: “What! I didn’t actually mean…”
Button Mash: “No. I’m leaving. I’m leaving because I am scared. I’m scared because we almost died!”
Fluttershy: “Button Mash, please, watch your language; Refrain from using the ‘D’ word.”
Button Mash: “What? Oh. Yeah, sorry.”
Sweetie Belle: “We weren’t ever really in danger.”
Sweetie Belle: Well, I wasn’t in danger; the others could have gotten hurt.
Button Mash: “No. You weren’t ever in danger.”
Sweetie Belle: Hmm. My thoughts exactly.
Button Mash: “The timberwolves ignored you. You fought them, broke them apart, but they still acted like you didn’t exist! No, they knew you existed. They just didn’t care. The timberwolves didn’t try to protect you either. When you charged at the giant beast, it didn’t even notice. It didn’t even try to kick either. Speaking of which, how did you survive that? You were launched through a tree! You fought off and permanently destroyed the timber wolves here. And despite all of that, you are barely injured. They must have clawed you because you are missing clumps of fur, yet you have no scratches. You are not bleeding, but that’s a minor issue. After what you’ve been through, should be dead!”
Fluttershy: “Button Mash! That is enough! Please, don’t speak of such morbid concepts!”
Button Mash: “Fluttershy, are you in denial? Death is very real, very dangerous, and it is something we very nearly fell victim to. It’s not even a curse word! You… you need to learn to accept this. Strange things happened today. Things we should not have been able to survive.”
Fluttershy: “I’m… I’m sorry.” *Cry. Sob*
Rainbow Dash: “Button Mash! How dare you! You made Fluttershy cry!”
Button Mash: “I-um. I’m…”
Rainbow Dash: “How could you be so insensitive? You know Fluttershy doesn’t like to talk about… about not living.”
Button Mash: “Well, I am… I didn’t mean to.”
Sweetie Belle: “Calm down, Rainbow Dash. Button Mash is just stressed from the terrifying events he has witnessed today.”
Rainbow Dash: “Yes, but he still made Fluttershy cry. Do you know what we do those who make Fluttershy cry, Button Mash?”
Button Mash: *Gulp*
Sweetie Belle: Oh dear, Rainbow Dash looks really angry. She seems tense. Could she be considering violence?
Sweetie Belle: “Rainbow Dash, I must warn you, I will not tolerate any physical hostility towards Button Mash or any other pony.”
Sweetie Belle: Did I really just say that? That didn’t seem like me. I was so… assertive. I threatened Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash: “Woah! Cool it, Sweetie! I wasn’t going to hurt Button Mash. If you remember what I did to Gilda when she made Fluttershy cry, you’d know I was just trying to warn Button Mash that he’ll find himself the target of a series of pranks sometime in the near future.”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh. Um, sorry.”
*Silence*
Sweetie Belle: “Well, Apple Bloom, should we start our meeting?”
Apple Bloom: “Sure. Let’s meet in Zecora’s hut.”
Button Mash: “It’s fine if you guys have meeting, but I’m not going to stay here for it.”
Apple Bloom: “That’s fine. You don’t have to stay.”
Button Mash: “Yes, okay. Um, Fluttershy? I’m sorry for hurting your feelings; I shouldn’t have been so insensitive.”
Fluttershy: “Oh. Um, thankyou.”
Button Mash: “And, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy: “Yes?”
Button Mash: “I don’t know my way through the Everfree, so, um, could you guide me home?”
Fluttershy: “Um, sure thing, Button Mash.”
Sweetie Belle: Separating the group? Unacceptable! After what happened today, I want to personally escort everypony in the Everfree Forest. How can I personally protect Button Mash, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy without leaving my friends, the crusaders, alone and vulnerable?
Sweetie Belle: “Um, Button? Let me escort you back to Ponyville.”
Apple Bloom: “What about our meeting, Sweetie Belle? Should we go on without you?”
Sweetie Belle: “Actually, I was hoping you could all come with me. We were just attacked by timberwolves and more could come after us.”
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle, you’re starting to sound as paranoid as Button Mash.”
Button Mash: “What! I’m not paranoid, just careful.”
Sweetie Belle: “I know it may be overly-cautious, but I want to be able to protect all of you. I can’t do that if you’re scattered throughout the Everfree.”
Rainbow Dash: “Sweetie Belle, it’ll be fine. I can protect Fluttershy and Button Mash, and you can defend Zecora and the crusaders.”
Sweetie Belle: “No, I need to be with everypony in the Everfree at all times. Rainbow, you’re injured. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, I can’t leave you on your own, even if you are with Zecora.”
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle, you’re right. You are being overly-cautious. We can take care of ourselves.”
Sweetie Belle: “Recent experience says otherwise. If Rainbow Dash and I didn’t save you from the timberwolves, you wouldn’t have been able to fend them off on your own.”
Scootaloo: “I… you don’t have to be so rude about it.”
Sweetie Belle: “I’m sorry. I just want you all safe.”
Apple Bloom: “Okay, we see your point. We’ll let you protect us. I assume you want Zecora to come along too, right?”
Sweetie Belle: “Well, Zecora lives in the Everfree, so I can’t keep an eye on her all the time. I guess I could move in with her, but I think I’ll just stay in Ponyville and deal with not being able to protect her. I’ll be fine with whatever she chooses, whether she comes with us or stays here.”
Sweetie Belle: What I said was true, but it isn’t the full story. I don’t feel the same conviction to watch over and protect Zecora as I do for the other ponies.
Scootaloo: “So what’s it gonna be, Zecora? Zecora? Are you coming with us or staying here?”
*Silence*
Apple Bloom: “Um, Zecora? Can you hear us?”
*Silence*
Zecora: “I speak in rhymes, as well you know.
But how do I say, I cannot go
With all of you, and yet, still rhyme?
It is not easy to rhyme all the time.”
Scootaloo: “I’m sorry, but I didn’t understand half of that. Did you say whether or not you are coming?”
Zecora: “To answer you,
Scootaloo,
If I should go,
The answer’s ‘no’.”
Scootaloo: “Oh, okay. Well, we’ll see you later.”
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, everypony, group together with Rainbow Dash in the front. I’ll be in the back, so I can see all of you and guarantee your safety.”
Rainbow Dash: “Yes, Mam!”
Scootaloo: “Um, Rainbow Dash? You know you’re older than Sweetie Belle, Right? Also, why did you salute to her if you’re a higher rank?”
Rainbow Dash: “What? Oh, did I… oh that’s… that’s embarrassing. I think… I think it must be my wonderbolts training kicking in. Sweetie, you just… you sounded like a high ranking officer with the way you gave those orders. I just kind of reacted as I would to Spitfire. You know, force of habit.”
Sweetie Belle: “Um… thank you?”
Sweetie Belle: I sounded like Spitfire? No, not like Spitfire, like a high ranking officer. I spoke as if I had authority to command those around me.
Button Mash: “Well, we better start walking. The faster we start, the faster we leave.”
*Clop. Clop. Clop.*
Sweetie Belle: They’re going slow. That’s good. That will let me watch and listen for timberwolves, but it would probably be easier if I could get these orange glasses off.
Chapter 11
Paranoia
Sweetie Belle: I was worried for nothing. This expedition is monster-free. It is actually a pretty peaceful place.
Sweetie Belle: If it weren’t for the plants that only grow in the Everfree, I could believe this was just an ordinary forest. The only thing here besides the plants is my friends: Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Button Mash, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.
Sweetie Belle: The only sounds are the clopping of hooves and whisper of the wind as it rattles the branches of the bushes.
Sweetie Belle: Wait, wind? I don't feel any wind, and we are still too deep in the forest for the wind to reach.
Sweetie Belle: Something must be moving through the bushes, but then why can’t I hear its steps? Maybe it synchronizes its steps with our own. If I change my pace, will I be able to hear the creature?
Sweetie Belle: No, that didn’t work. Everypony else is still walking. They’re masking the sound of our stalker’s steps. I need to get everypony to stop. Hmm, how can I … oh, that could work.
*Thump.*
Sweetie Belle: Excellent, they all stopped.
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle? Are you okay?”
Sweetie Belle: “Yeah, I’m fine. I just tripped.”
Sweetie Belle: The clipping of hooves continued a few moments after everypony stopped. It was like whatever was following us stumbled forward to keep from falling because they were caught it off guard with the abrupt stop.
Sweetie Belle: “Continue in. I’m fine.”
Sweetie Belle: Good they’re all moving again. The best part is I now know that we’re being followed. Now, what should I do about it.
Button Mash: “Hey, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle: Red circles. No! That’s Button Mash. This isn’t good; I’ve targeted Button Mash with red circles.
*Fwoosh. Thud.*
Button Mash: “Woah, Sweetie Belle? Are you okay?”
Sweetie Belle: Why is he asking if I’m okay? He’s the one who just … oh. I didn’t hit him. I jumped backwards.
Sweetie Belle: “Y-yes. I’m fine.”
Button Mash: “You are really jumpy. Oh, um, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Sweetie Belle: “What’s on your mind?”
Button Mash: “You stood up for me against Rainbow Dash. Please don’t do anything like that again. It was embarrassing. I don’t need you to protect me from other ponies. I’m not helpless.”
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, but let’s say she attacked you. If I didn’t intervene, she could have harmed you.”
Button Mash: “But, Rainbow wouldn't hurt me. You don’t need to protect me.”
Sweetie Belle: I need to tell Button Mash about how something is following us. I need to discuss the strange events of today. However, I cannot tell him here because there is something spying on us.
Button Mash: “Waah! Sweetie Belle! What are you doing so close to me?”
Sweetie Belle: (Whispers “Button Mash, I can’t speak of it here, but I need to tell you of my personal experiences during the strange events today. Don’t tell anypony about what happened today.”)
Button Mash: (Whispers “What’s going on?”)
Sweetie Belle: (Whispers “I say right now. When you reach Ponyville, hide. When I return from my meeting I’ll come find you.”)
Button Mash: (Whispers “I don’t understand.”)
Sweetie Belle: (Whispers “Will you do as I asked?”)
Button Mash: (Whispers “I… yes.”)
Sweetie Belle: (Whispers “I trust you to be safe. I’ll see you later.”)
Sweetie Belle: Nopony should be able to discern what we said. I stumbled on my hooves to make it seem that I had simply been trying to catch my balance, not having a secret conversation.
Sweetie Belle: “Well, we’ve reached the forest edge. Be safe.”
Rainbow Dash: “Do you need me to escort you back to Zecora’s?”
Sweetie Belle: “No thanks. I am more worried about your safety.”
Rainbow Dash: “Okay, see you later.”
Apple Bloom: “Okay, Sweetie Belle. We are on our own.”
Sweetie Belle: I feel less strained. I feel calmer. It’s like a burden has been lifted off my back. Now, I only have to watch over Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
*Whirr. Flip.*
Sweetie Belle: The world isn’t all orange anymore. The glasses are gone.
*Clop. Clop. Clop.*
Sweetie Belle: It’s still following us. I can hear the hootsteps of our stalker slightly above our own hoofsteps.
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle, when did you learn martial arts.”
Sweetie Belle: “I-I don’t know. As far as I know, I’ve never learned martial arts.”
Sweetie Belle: But I do know martial arts. I could probably take out whoever or whatever is following us. The only witnesses would be Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, and I can trust them to keep secrets. I need to get rid of this stalker, and I doubt I will have a better chance than now. I need to stop it now.
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, I’ve enough of your shenanigans.”
Apple Bloom: “What?”
Sweetie Belle: “Come on out and show yourselves, so we can settle this diplomatically.”
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle? Are you feeling okay? You’re talking to some plants.”
Sweetie Belle: “I doubt that I’m talking to some monstrous plants. I’m talking to somepony or ponies. A monster would have already attacked us by now.”
Scootaloo: “That’s not what I meant.”
Apple Bloom: “Maybe we should go home. Sweetie Belle has been through a lot today, and she’s starting to talk to plants.”
Sweetie Belle: “No, I need to confront them.”
Sweetie Belle: Whoever is following us refuses to reveal themselves, but I’m not going to give them a choice. Let’s see if they can keep quiet with a rock to the face.
*Whoosh.*
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle, stop throwing things. There is nothing there. If there was anything there before, you probably scared it away with your rocks and…”
*Whoosh*
Scootaloo: “Sweetie Belle! Stop throwing rocks and listen to me!”
Sweetie Belle: I haven’t heard any movement, so whatever is following us is still in the bushes. If only my rocks didn’t keep missing. Oh, well. Third time’s a charm.
Sweetie Belle: “Take this!”
*Whoosh. Thud*
?#1: “Ouch!”
?#2: “Shh!”
?#1: “Sorry.”
Sweetie Belle: “You heard that, right?”
Apple Bloom: “Y-yes, You were right. Someponies are hiding in the bushes!”
Scootaloo: “Show yourselves! We’re not scared of you!”
…
Scootaloo: “We heard you; there is reason to keep hiding. We know you’re in those bushes somewhere.”
…
Sweetie Belle: “If you won’t come into the open and surrender, I will have to come to you.”
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle, we can’t see them. How do you expect us to reach them?”
Sweetie Belle: “I don’t expect us to do anything, but I know what I’m going to do.”
Sweetie Belle: Alright, orange glasses, come back to me. Show me these stalkers.
…
Sweetie Belle: Please?
*Whirr*
Scootaloo: “Did you hear something?”
Sweetie Belle: “Maybe.”
Sweetie Belle: Why, yes. I did hear something. I heard the sound of the world falling under an orange tint.
Sweetie Belle: “This is your last chance. I will not be gentle if I have to wrestle you out of the bushes.”
Apple Bloom: “Sweetie Belle, you are only a little filly. You can’t drag anypony anywhere.”
Sweetie Belle: “Tell that to the Timberwolves.”
*Fwoosh. Thud. Roll.*
?#!: “Aah! Why is it always me?”
Sweetie Belle: “You’re coming with me, spy. Now, come into the light.”
Scootaloo: “Wait, is that… Lyra Heartstrings?”
Chapter 12
Stalkers Unmasked (Figuratively)
Apple Bloom: “Why were you following us?”
Sweetie Belle: “No, first answer the question of immediate importance, where is the other one?”
Bon Bon: “I’m right here, and my name is Bon Bon.”
Sweetie Belle: That came from the bushes. Oh, it’s her. I should have known. Lyra and Bon Bon do everything together. I guess that includes stalking three little fillies for possibly nefarious reasons.
Bon Bon: “Sweetie Belle, please release you hold on my friend.”
Sweetie Belle: “No can do. You’ve been acting suspiciously, and I don’t you enough to let her go.”
Lyra Heartstrings: “I can’t believe I’ve been grappled by a filly.”
Bon Bon: “Neither can I, Lyra, just break out of it. She’s only a filly.”
Lyra Heartstrings: “I can’t. She’s too strong.”
Bon Bon: “Unbelievable, you need to go to the gym more often.”
Lyra heartstrings: “Bon Bon, I’m not weak; she’s just freakishly strong.”
Sweetie Belle: I am really strong. I’m stronger than I should be. Bon Bon doesn’t know that. That means she probably doesn’t know my personal experiences of supernatural powers.
Bon Bon: “Sweetie Belle, we didn’t mean any harm. Please, release Lyra.”
Sweetie Belle: “I can’t do that; you’ll run away.”
Lyra Heartstrings: “What? Why would we run away?”
Sweetie Belle: “Why would you run away? Oh I don’t know, maybe because you’re cowards! You hide in the bushes and don’t help when danger comes.”
Lyra heartstrings: “But we did help!”
Bon Bon: “Lyra! Shh!”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, I know you helped. You told Rainbow Dash about the Timberwolves attacking Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, but you did nothing when the Timberwolves attacked Button Mash and me.”
Scootaloo: “When was this? You didn’t say anything about being attacked by Timberwolves before reaching Zecora’s hut.”
Sweetie Belle: “Bon Bon, Lyra, you know more about this than you’re letting on. You will answer my questions.”
Bon Bon: “Why would we answer you?”
Sweetie Belle: “you’re cowards. You’re too afraid to refuse to answer.”
Lyra Heartstrings: “Fine. We’ll answer your questions.”
Bon Bon: “What! Lyra, don’t. We can’t tell them anything!”
Lyra Heartstrings: “But first, let go of me.”
*Thud.*
Lyra heartstrings: “Ouch. Thanks. Ooh, you girls look like you’ve been through a lot. Have you seen yourselves lately?”
Sweetie Belle: “We will be the ones asking the questions here.”
Apple Bloom: “Cool it, Sweetie Belle, she’s just being friendly.”
Scootaloo: “I have to admit, I have not seen myself since the Timberwolves attacked. We didn’t really have access to a mirror while being ‘escorted’ by Sweetie Belle.”
Lyra’ Heartstrings: “Well, if you want to look yourselves over, I just happen to have a mirror with me.”
Sweetie Belle: A tiny hoof mirror? Suspicious. Hmm. This seems familiar. Not the looking at a mirror, but the fact that it’s in the Everfree Forest. Hmm. Looking at a mirror. Everfree Forest. Looking… the cockatrice!
*Slam. Shatter.*
Lyra Heartstrings: “My Mirror! You broke it!”
Sweetie Belle: “Good thing too. A suspicious pony offers a mirror for us to look at while in the Everfree Forest. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, doesn’t this remind you of the cockatrice?”
Apple Bloom: “Yes, but that was a magical creature, not a household object.”
Sweetie Belle: “Maybe so, but Lyra is a magical creature: a unicorn. Who knows what spell she could have put on us if we looked at her mirror.”
Bon Bon: “Oh, Lyra, I’m sorry about your mirror. Here, take mine instead.”
Lyra Heartstrings: “Thanks, Bon Bon. Okay, fillies, you can see your reflections now.”
Sweetie Belle: “No! Girls, don’t look at it!”
Sweetie Belle: I’m a fool. Telling them not to look at something is a sure-fire way to get them to look at something.
*Flash*
Sweetie Belle: A light. She cast a spell.
Sweetie Belle: “No! Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, are you okay?”
Apple Bloom: “Yeah, I’m fine. What are we doing the forest?”
Scootaloo: “Lyra? Bon Bon? What are you doing here? For that matter, what are we doing here?”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh no! Did you forget? Quick! Tell me the name of this forest.”
Apple Bloom: “How would I know the name of this forest? There are tons of forests in Equestria. Wait, is that Poison Joke? We must be in the Everfree!”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh dear. Bon Bon! Lyra! You erased their memories!”
Lyra Heartstrings: “Oh, um. Well, I… whatever you do, do not look at my mirror!”
Bon Bon: “Don’t forget, Lyra, it’s my mirror.”
Sweetie Belle: Don’t look at the mirror? It must be some sort of trick. She doesn’t want me to look at the mirror, so that means I should look at it. Wait, what if she predicted my distrust? Could she be using reverse psychology? I-
*Flash.*
Sweetie Belle: Blackness. Darkness. Nothingness.
Bon Bon: “Lyra! What did you do?”
Lyra Heartstrings: “Reflection Deflection.”
Bon Bon: “Reflection Deflection is harmless. Whatever you did hurt her somehow. If you did the spell correctly, she wouldn’t be laying on the…”
???: “Memory Retrieval Error. Initiating System Reboot.”
Act 2
Chapter 13
A Rude Awakening
Sweetie Belle: I’m awake, right? I think so, but why is it so dark? There is some heavy blanket on me. I don’t think my blanket is this heavy.
*Thud.*
Sweetie Belle: “Ouch.”
Sweetie Belle: That didn’t actually hurt. I just fell out of my bed, but I still can’t see. I need to get this blanket off me.
*Thud.*
Sweetie Belle: I can’t stand up. This isn’t a blanket; it’s a sleeping bag.
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity, I’m stuck in a sleeping bag, and I can’t get out.”
Sweetie Belle: I don’t remember sleeping in a sleeping bag. I thought I used normal blankets last night.
Sweetie Belle: “Is anypony awake? I don’t know what time it is, but I need help.”
Sweetie Belle: Oh well. I can probably get out using my magic on the zipper.
*zzziiip*
Sweetie Belle: I got it.
Sweetie Belle: “Ooh, it’s dark. What time is it? No, why was I in a sleeping bag?”
Sweetie Belle: No use talking to myself. I should probably go back to sleep, but-but I went to sleep last night and woke up in a sleeping bag. It might not be safe to sleep.
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity! Are you here? I’m scared! I woke up in a sleeping bag.”
Rarity: “Uhg, it’s the middle of the night, Swee…”
Sweetie Belle: “What’s wrong? You look scared.”
Rarity: “Swee-swee-swee-sweetie? Sweetie Belle!”
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity, you’re scaring me.”
Rarity: “I’m sorry, it’s just… don’t you remember?”
Sweetie Belle: “Remember what?”
Rarity: “It’s not important. Um, how about you go back to bed, and we can talk about this in the morning.”
Sweetie Belle: “That’s why I’m scared. Last night, I went to bed in blankets, but I just woke up in a sleeping bag!”
Rarity: “Oh, um. Nurse Redheart put you in that, but it won’t happen again. Just sleep now, and we will speak in the morning.”
Sweetie Belle: Nurse Redheart? Why would she come into our house and put me in a sleeping bag while I’m asleep? Oh well. I guess I’ll try to go back to sleep.
Sweetie Belle: “Sure thing, Rarity. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
Rarity:”Goodnight, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle: I may be going back to bed, but Rarity certainly isn’t. She left the building as soon as I entered my bedroom. What’s going on?
Chapter 14 The Visit
Sweetie Belle: Light. That’s a good sign. I’m not stuck in a sleeping bag either. So far, this morning is going pretty normal considering the weird events of the night.
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity, are you home?”
Rarity: “Yes, Sweetie. I’ve made you breakfast.”
Sweetie Belle: She doesn’t look so good. She seems tired. Did she get any sleep after I woke her up? She’s smiling, but it’s strange. Her smile is genuine, or at least it seems genuine. Yet, her eyes show worry. She’s scared, but she’s trying to look happy for my sake.
Rarity: “I’ve made you wheat casserole.”
Sweetie Belle: I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Sweetie Belle: “Thank you, Rarity. It’s nice to see you’re back into baking.”
Rarity: “Back into baking? Oh, yes. I thought I needed to start bakingagain because it’s been a while.”
Sweetie Belle: Why does she seem so awkward? She definitely baked this. I don;t know what sort of special occasion would call for homemade, baked breakfast in bed. Is it that what’s bothering her? Some sort of surprise party?
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity, did you get enough sleep last night?”
Rarity: “No, dearie, but don’t worry. Nurse Redheart is actually coming here today.”
Sweetie Belle: “Is she worried about your sleep?”
Rarity: “Oh, um, something like that.”
Sweetie Belle: Nurse Redheart put me in a sleeping bag last night. I’m not sure how I like the idea of her coming over.
*knock-knock-knock*
Rarity: “Oh, that must be Nurse Redheart.”
Sweetie Belle: Now? It’s so early.
Rarity: “Good morning, Nurse Redheart. I’m glad you could make it at such short notice.”
Nurse Redheart: “Given the circumstances, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Sweetie Belle: “Good morning, Nurse Redheart.”
Nurse Redheart: “Good morning, Sweetie Belle. How are you feeling?”
Sweetie Belle: “I feel fine. How about you?”
Nurse Redheart: “What? Oh, me. I, um, I feel very tired.”
Sweetie Belle: Why is she acting so strange? Oh, she’s a nurse. Maybe when she asked me how I was feeling, it was more than a simple pleasantry.
Sweetie Belle: “I also feel confused. I woke up in a heavy sleeping bag in the middle of the night. I didn’t remember getting into a sleeping bag, so I woke up Rarity and asked her how I got into a sleeping bag. She said you had put me in the sleeping bag. I was wondering, why did you put me in a sleeping bag?”
Nurse Redheart: “Excuse me, but did you say a sleeping bag?”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes. I woke up in a sleeping bag.”
Nurse Redheart: “I don’t understand. Why would…?”
Rarity: “Nurse Redheart, a sleeping bag is a bag in which you put ponies to ‘sleep’.”
Sweetie Belle: Why did she make air quotes with her hooves when she said sleep, and how did she maintain balance with only two hooves?
Nurse Redheart: “A bag for sleep? I know that. Oh. A bag for sleep.”
Sweetie Belle: They’re both looking at each other and nodding in an understanding of something I am not aware of. Are they hiding something from me?
Nurse Redheart: “Um, Sweetie Belle, would you mind if I ran a few medical tests on you?”
Sweetie Belle: “Medical tests? What’s going on? Why did you put me in a sleeping bag?”
Nurse Redheart: “I,um… Rarity?”
Rarity: “Yes, well, Sweetie Belle, you got… hurt.”
Sweetie Belle: “Hurt? When?”
Nurse Redheart: “About a week ago.”
Sweetie Belle: “A week!”
Nurse Redheart: “You don’t seem to remember it, so I came to check for signs of concussion.”
Sweetie Belle: “I-I, but I. I thought it had only been a normal night of sleep. I was going to meet up with Apple Bloom and the Scootaloo at Zecora’s house.”
Rarity: “Zecora’s house? That’s in the Everfree Forest.”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes. What about it?”
Nurse Redheart: “Sweetie Belle, you were injured in the Everfree Forest.”
Sweetie Belle: “How did I get hurt?”
Rarity: “I’m not really sure. We weren’t there for the incident. I think they said it was Timberwolves. Ah, but it doesn’t really matter.”
Sweetie Belle: “I think it matters. What happened to me could happen to somepony else.”
Nurse Redheart: “Yes, but right now, the immediate concern is your health.”
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, let’s take some tests.”
*Knock-knock-knock*
Rarity: “I’ll get it. You continue setting up for the tests.”
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, be quick.”
Rarity: “Oh, hit there, Twilight. I’m sorry, but right now is not a good time. We’re testing Sweetie Belle for a concussion.”
Twilight Sparkle: “Sweetie Belle? But I thought she…”
Rarity: “Shh! Watch yourself. Sweetie Belle can probably hear us.”
Twilight Sparkle: “I think you should tell her everything; honesty is an element of harmony.”
Rarity: “All in good time, Twilight. If we tell her everything now, she’ll be overwhelmed.”
Twilight Sparkle: “Very well, it’s you choice. I could probably help with the tests.”
Rarity: “That’s okay. We’ll be fine on our own. Thanks for stopping by.”
Twilight Sparkle: “Sure thing. Should I spread the word of her… improved condition?”
Rarity: “No. We don’t want everypony to mob us with questions. They’d overwhelm her.”
Twilight Sparkle: “As you wish, Rarity.”
Rarity: “Goodbye. Okay, Nurse Redheart, where were we?”
Chapter 15
Frightened Friends
Nurse Redheart: “Okay, Sweetie Belle, take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.”
*Huff. Puff.*
Nurse Redheart: “Alright, that’s the last test. Thanks for your cooperation. Have a lollipop.”
Sweetie Belle: “Thanks, Nurse Redheart.”
Rarity: “What’s the diagnosis, Nurse Redheart?”
Nurse Redheart: “Please, follow me outside.”
Sweetie Belle: They left. Whatever the results of the medical exams, they don’t want me to know about them. Something is definitely strange. In the conversation between Rarity and Princess Twilight, Rarity admitted that she was hiding somethings from me. I wonder if I’m going to school today.
*Pitter-patter*
Sweetie Belle: What’s that sound? It’s coming from outside. If I look out the window I might… there! Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. They’re heading to school.
Sweetie Belle: “Hey, Apple Bloom. Hey, Scootaloo. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Sweetie Belle: They don’t look very happy to see me. Did they even hear me? They’re not even looking at me!
Scootaloo: “I must be hearing things because I thought I just heard Sweetie Belle.”
Apple Bloom: “Wait, I heard it too!”
Scootaloo: “D-do you think it’s a g-ghost?”
Sweetie Belle: Wow, they turned pale quick. They look like they’ve seen a ghost, oh wait.
Sweetie Belle: “Wait, it’s me. It’s Sweetie Belle. I’m here. I’m alive.”
Scootaloo: “No way, now I’m seeing things. I know it’s not possible, but I see Sweetie Belle calling out to us from a window of Rarity’s Boutique.”
Apple Bloom: “You’re not hallucinating; I see the same thing.”
Scootaloo: “Then it must be a ghost. Run!”
Apple Bloom: “Scootaloo, wait. Let’s think through our options before reacting. What would a brave pony like Sweetie Belle do?”
Scootaloo: “She would run away and get an adult pony for help?”
Sweetie Belle: “No, I would greet my friends instead of running away in fear.”
Apple Bloom: “Exactly. Wait, Sweetie Belle, is that really you?”
Sweetie Belle: “Yes, don’t you recognize me?”
Scootaloo: “We recognize you, but we can’t… we don’t believe it’s you.”
Apple Bloom: “Speak for yourself. That’s Sweetie Belle.”
Scootaloo: “Well, of course it looks like Sweetie Belle; it’s a ghost.”
Sweetie Belle: “Why are you so scared of me? Why would you think I’m a ghost?”
Scootaloo: “You can’t be Sweetie Belle.”
Apple Bloom: “But she is Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle: “Apple Bloom, what’s going on? Rarity and Nurse Redheart said I got hurt and have been unconscious for a week.”
Rarity: “Sweetie Belle, where are you?”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”
Scootaloo: “Hopefully, I won’t have to.”
Chapter 16
Results
Sweetie Belle: “I’m here in my bedroom, Rarity.”
Rarity: “Good, I just finished talking with Nurse Redheart, and we have the results.”
Sweetie Belle: “Great, what’s my score?”
Rarity: “It’s not that type of test, but even if it was… you…”
Sweetie Belle: “I… I what?”
Rarity: “I… I can’t.”
Sweetie Belle: “Rarity, are you crying?”
Rarity: “Um, maybe.”
Sweetie Belle: “I know you’re going through a rough time, but I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s happened.”
Rarity: “I don’t know what happened. That is part of the problem. I thought I knew, and I’m glad I was wrong. I don’t know what is happening, but you…you, … for lack of a better term, you failed the medical tests.”
Sweetie Belle: “I… what? Failed?”
Rarity: “Yes, Nurse Redheart couldn’t find any vital signs. The tests say that you’re dead.”
Sweetie Belle: “But… but I’m alive. The tests are wrong.”
Rarity: “Yes, you’re alive, and I’m glad for that. But… but the tests contradict my common sense. My common sense says that you’re alive.”
Sweetie Belle: “Thanks for telling me. I appreciate you being upfront with me. Is there anything else you want to tell me about? Anything about what you were talking about with Twilight?”
Rarity: “No, I don’t want to tell you anything else at this time. I… you’re right. I’m hiding things from you, but I was deceiving myself when I told Twilight when that I won’t tell you because it might overwhelm you. The truth is I don’t want to accept it, but you would probably adapt to it easily. I’ll tell you eventually. I promise. I just need time to process it first.”
Sweetie Belle: “It’s okay, I understand. Um, am I going to school today?”
Rarity: “No, there isn’t any physical reason why you shouldn’t go, but I can’t let you leave the Boutique. I don’t want anypony to see you or know that you’ve recovered. I know it’s selfish, but I can’t deal with questions about you right now.”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, it’s a little late for that. I saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as they were on their way to school, and I talked to them through the window.”
Rarity: “Oh dear.”
Sweetie Belle: “They thought I was a ghost; or rather, Scootaloo thought I was a ghost.”
Rarity: “Oh, yes… um…”
Sweetie Belle: “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me why they acted so strange. You should recover first.”
Rarity: “Thank you.”
Sweetie Belle: “I’ll just stay in my room.”
Rarity: “Well, I need to consult with Twilight about your medical results.”
Sweetie Belle: “See you later.”
Chapter 17
Sweetie Belle: Staying home from school is more boring than I thought it would be. I had hoped that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would return for another visit, but they should already be home from school by now.
*Knock-Knock-Knock*
Sweetie Belle: Knocking on my window? Maybe they did come back!
Sweetie Belle: “Hello? Is somepony there?”
Sweetie Belle: Well, I guess it’s not…
Button Mash: “Psst, it’s me, Button Mash.”
Sweetie Belle: “Button Mash? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you scared of me like Apple Bloom and Scootaloo? Do you also think I’m a ghost?”
Button Mash: “Hehe, in order to become a ghost, you have to die first. I don’t think that’s possible.”
Sweetie Belle: “What do you mean?”
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle, I’m pretty sure you’re immortal. If not immortal, then you are the next best thing -- you’re unkillable. That’s why didn’t believe those mares when they said they found you dead in the Everfree.”
Sweetie Belle: “Wait, they found me dead?”
Button Mash: “You didn’t know? Everypony thinks you’re dead. They are going to have a funeral, send you to the morgue, then bury you underground in a coffin. The only reason for delay is Rarity’s insistence that she fit you for a proper funeral dress.”
Sweetie Belle: “She was going to put me in a dress? Over my dead body.”
Button Mash: “I’m not sure the citizens of Ponyville are in the mood for jokes.”
Sweetie Belle: “What? I… oh. Nevermind that. They thought I was dead?”
Button Mash: “They think you are dead. Notice the present tense?”
Sweetie Belle: “Oh, okay. Wait, how did you know I was alive.”
Button Mash: “You’re unkillable. I’ve knocked on your window everyday since you ‘died.’
Sweetie Belle: “Okay, so everypony thinks I’m dead. That explains Apple Bloom and Scootaloo’s behavior. Scootaloo thought I was a ghost. Maybe my death is what Rarity is hiding from me. I took some medical exams, but I… failed them.”
Button Mash: “You can’t fail medical exams; they aren’t those types of exams.”
Sweetie Belle: “I know, but I failed to show any vital signs.”
Button Mash: “But… but aren’t you breathing.”
Sweetie Belle: “I… I think so. Hold on, let me check. I… I am now, but I don’t know if I was before. Hmm. I know! I’ll just see how long I can go without breathing. Okay, Button Mash. You keep count of seconds… and go.”
…
Button Mash: “Sweetie Belle, are you done yet?”
Sweetie Belle:”Sure, I could keep on going, but I don’t think it would make a difference. How long did hold my breath for?”
Button Mash: “I… I lost count.”
Sweetie Belle: “Button Mash, you had one job!”
Button Mash: “I know. I know, but it doesn’t matter because you can hold breath indefinitely.”
Sweetie Belle: “Yeah, but we don’t know how long I can hold my breath for.”
Button Mash: “It doesn’t matter, when does it benefit a pony to not breathe?”
Sweetie Belle: “I… good point. Whatever. What’s going on, Button Mash? I woke up and startled Rarity. Nurse Redheart and Twilight seemed concerned, and I don’t have any vital signs.”
Button Mash: “I don’t have any answers for you. I was hoping you would have answers for me.