Prologue

"Spike, let's go over the checklist again, just to be sure we have everything we need for the picnic with Princess Luna." Twilight Sparkle looked around the library at the items that were collected there. "Blankets check. Baskets check. Apple pies, apple cider, apple fritters, apple cupcakes, sandwiches, and apple chips. Food and drink check."

Spike double-checked all the boxes on his checklist. "It looks like we have everything Twilight; I just hope the others get here soon so that we can haul all of this stuff to where we going to eat! I'm starving!"

Twilight giggled. "Oh Spike, you're always hungry. C'mon, help me get all of this stuff outside and ready for them when they arrive." With that, her horn took on its customary glow when Twilight was performing magic, and many of the picnic items followed her out the door, and set themselves on the grass just outside the library.

"Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! Is that great stuff for our picnic today, Twilight?" Twilight turned around just in time to see the owner of the voice come bouncing up the path to the library. Pinkie Pie came bounding toward her, a satchel of what Twilight could only guess were cupcakes hanging by her side.

"It sure is, Pinkie. The Apple family made a lot of it; Applejack dropped them off this morning before heading back to the farm to finish up a few things before we headed off. Everyone else should be here soon."

Pinkie bounced around some more. "This is going to be so much fun. Know why? Know why? We're all going to be together doing something nice for Princess Luna!"

Twilight just giggled and rolled her eyes at her friend. As the laughter faded, there was a flutter of wings and Luna descended from the sky, landing lightly near Twilight, who bowed to Luna. "Oh, hello Luna, I'm glad that you can join us today."

Luna smiled and stepped forward. "I will admit, I was quite surprised to get thy invitation, however, it was my pleasure to accept."

The three ponies and Spike looked down the path as laughter and conversation could be heard approaching. Four ponies could be seen coming up the path, three walking and one flying beside them. Rarity was wearing some new cloak she must have finished the day before. Applejack looked somewhat tired from her workday, but she was smiling and ready to go. Fluttershy and Angel were laughing quietly while walking with them, and Rainbow Dash was just being Rainbow Dash, flying beside them and laughing it up.

"Oh, hi guys. I can't wait to get out there; I have some new tricks I want to show you." Rainbow Dash proudly proclaimed as they arrived at the library, and the four of them all bowed to the princess.

"Sounds like a lot of fun, Rainbow." Twilight replied. "Is everyone here? All right then. Let's get going." Again, she used her magic to place one of the baskets on her back while others took the other items and the eight of them headed for their picnic location.

Once they arrived, the set-up began. Blankets were laid out, baskets were emptied, and the feast began. Unbeknownst to the friends, a dark presence watched them from the shadows of a cluster of bushes.

'These are the ones that master wants?' the shadow thought to itself, 'So cheery and full of happiness. But then, I suppose the master will take care of that.' With the end of that thought, the shadow sent a command to the shadows that were hiding nearby, causing them to leap out and attack.

Caught unawares, the ponies were captured and incapacitated easily, and Spike was sent careening into a tree, knocking him unconscious. He was awoken later by the three fillies belonging to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, asking him what happened.

"I don't know." Spike said, rubbing the back of his head. "We were attacked by these shadows, and I was knocked out. They haven't returned yet?"

Scootaloo shook her head, and Apple Bloom answered, "No, sis didn't come home. Nobody knows where she is."

Spike got up and took on a look of panic. "We need to tell Princess Celestia. I'll send her a letter!" He got busy writing, and Sweetie Belle suddenly chimed in, "We should ask Zecora for help too! I bet she may know something about the creatures."

Spike sent the message to Celestia and the four of the set off into the Everfree Forest to see Zecora.