It was a beautiful day in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash had woken up early to clear the clouds, and the sun was brightly shining all over the small, quaint, town. Twilight Sparkle was sitting in the library, reading a book entitled Starswirl the Bearded: A Comprehensive Guide. She let loose a long yawn, and continued on with her notes. "Starswirl effectively perfected time travel in the year 1200," she wrote in her notebook to the left of her. She smiled, as she knew that this day was destined to be both relaxing and fun.

In the Everfree Forest, a land on the outskirts of Ponyville, which was full of both mystery and unorthodox creatures, sat a cloaked figure. She had been a social outcast everywhere that she had gone. This was none other than the supposed 'Great and Powerful Trixie'; a pony that had clung on to whatever pride that she had left. However, she was there under odd circumstances. Without a job, she had felt meaningless. She had wandered into the Everfree Forest to escape the torment that she was receiving from all of those which she knew, which she loved. However, she was lost, and had recently had an encounter with a colony of vampire bats. She had been bitten several times. To make matters worse, she was in deep distress; her food supply was running low and she was becoming weaker with every passing moment. Her last hope of survival was to put one hoof in front of the other, and walk as far as she could to escape the dark realm that was the Everfree Forest. And so she trotted along, desperate, hungry and weak.

Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle had recently finished reading and analyzing her book. After a quick good-bye to Spike, she left her house and began to trot to Sweet Apple Acres. "Applejack must have something to do, perhaps she needs help bucking apples," thought Twilight to herself. Suddenly, she heard the happy, fun-loving voice that she was used to.

"Twilight! Twilight! Are you having super awesome fun today? Can I join? Pretty please?" questioned Pinkie Pie whilst jumping around Twilight in a circle.

"I haven't had much fun yet, but if you tag along with me to Sweet Apple Acres, perhaps I might," replied Twilight.

"Yippee!" shouted Pinkie, who then proceeded to give Twilight a quick hug. Twilight, caught off guard, gently pushed Pinkie away, and they set out on their way.

Trixie had been walking for hours. She was trembling, and could hardly stand. The dark forest was her world. The black grass, the mysterious-looking animals, and the night were here only companions. Her will to live was the only thing keeping her alive. While strong, it was diminishing with each step she took. She took a step ahead. "Will I die?" she thought to herself. She placed another hoof in front of her. What is to become of me?" she pondered. Suddenly, she could not hold herself up any longer. Trixie rocked from side to side. The world was spinning before her very eyes. She fell to the ground with a thud. With her last touch of energy, she looked upwards. Light. Light was in front of her. But she could not move; she had no energy left. She stuck one hoof out in front, desperately reaching for the light, but it did not come. This effort used the last of Trixie's energy, as well as her will. With a thud, her head fell to the ground, and she lay, battered and bruised, and unconscious.

Pinkie and Twilight had made it to Sweet Apple Acres in record time. Meeting them at the entrance of the barn was Applejack, a strong, iron-willed pony who just so happened to be the most honest in all of Ponyville.

"Howdy y'all! What brings you 'round these parts?" questioned Applejack, with a welcoming tone.

"Applejack! Applejack! Are you doing anything super totally awesome today? I can't possibly miss out on anything of that sort!" said Pinkie Pie, while she invaded Applejack's personal space on multiple levels. Twilight rolled her eyes, and walked towards Applejack. After gently pushing Pinkie Pie out of the way, Twilight said,

"Applejack, we were just wondering if there was something that we could do around on the farm. I've finished my studying for the day, and I could use a little bit of a break." Applejack was quick to respond,

"Why Twilight, ah sure could use some help putting up a fence. With your magic, ah'm sure that it'll be up lickity split." Pinkie Pie stood awkwardly off to the side.

"B-b-but that's not fun! Oh well, I'll go see what Dashie's doing. See you gals later!" she stammered. After Pinkie Pie was out of eyesight, the two remaining mares looked at each other and laughed.

"Typical Pinkie," said Twilight, rolling her eyes.

Twilight and Applejack gathered some supplies and went to the border between Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree Forest. For hours, the two ponies talked while they worked. With Twilight's magic, the job was going by at an almost supernatural speed. After thirty sections had been put up, Applejack a peculiar site in the Everfree Forest. She wondered, "What in the wide world of Equestria is that? Ah've never seen anything like that before…" Applejack had a feeling that this was something of importance; she could feel it in her gut.

"Twilight, come over here real quick," she said, signaling for Twilight to come over and take a look. Twilight gently placed down a shovel, and walked over to where Applejack was standing. "Twi, look at that," said Applejack pointing with her leg.

"Look at what? I don't see anything but darkness," responded Twilight, who had become confused. Applejack grabbed Twilight by the neck, and pulled her closer to her, so that Twilight could get a better view.

"That Twilight," she said. Suddenly, Twilight began to see a dark figure rise out of what seemed to be nothing before falling back down to the earth. "What is this creature?" pondered Twilight. "Could it be a…pony?"

"Applejack, come with me, I'm going to see what this, this, thing, is," said Twilight. And thus, Twilight and Applejack quickly galloped into the Everfree Forest, pushing both leaves and branches out of the way, before arriving at the subject of interest. Both ponies could make out that this creature was, in fact, a pony, and that she was cloaked. Other than that, the only thing they knew was that he, or she, was lying face-down in the mud. Twilight rushed to the pony's side, and with one hoof, gently pushed over the hooded figure. Twilight sat down, and pulled back the cloak. She gulped.

"Trixie?"