Split Fates

Everfree Forest, Equestria

Chapter 2: Truth in Everfree

Dromeda and Candy arrive at the Everfree forest expecting to see Peppermint, but instead of him.. An empty forest and its inhabitants. Dromeda looks up at the sky and calculates the time, meanwhile Candy stayed near and looked around the dense forest.

The forest was alive in color, movement, and feeling.. For Dromeda. For Candy.. She saw it was a reminder of her 'True Self'.

Dromeda calculated the time. "Four hours until midnight." He stated as he looked back at Candy.

She kept on looking around, reminiscing the past. The forest surrounded them in a tight corridor, Candy felt cold breezes brush past her skin as she sat down near Dromeda, still awaiting Peppermint's arrival.

It had gotten colder, so Candy scooted over toward Dromeda for warmth. He did not take notice, for he was lost in his mind.. Looking around the wondrous forest. The night was calm.. Peaceful.. As if it tried to lure ponies into a false alert. Especially like Candy.

Minutes pass and Peppermint finally arrives. He was covered in mud, dirt and sweat..

Peppermint sighed. "Hey.. Guys.. Sorry I'm late.."

They both stood up and walked over to him. "Its okay, at least you came.. Now we can begin!" The forest started to get windier than before.

Dromeda galloped across the ground and takes off into the sky, Peppermint runs after him from the ground. Confused, Candy managed to get herself off from the ground and flew over to Dromeda trying to keep up.

"..W..WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING..?!" She shouted at Dromeda, but the wind blew hard and almost silenced her voice, as if she wasn't even yelling.

He faces Candy but doesn't respond. He looks back at where he's going which makes Candy even more clueless.

Dromeda broke the silence and told her what they were doing. "..WE LIKE TO RACE TO THE CENTER OF THE EVERFREE FOREST EVERY YEAR, THEN, WE MAKE OUR WAY BACK HOME ON HOOVES."

Candy slightly started having second thoughts about coming over, but on the upside she felt happy she had company with her.. Just in case anything went wrong. She tried looked for Peppermint who was hidden underneath the dense trees that were scattered throughout the area, he was nowhere to be seen.

They kept on going until they finally reached the middle of Everfree. Candy saw the area, nothing much but a few trees and large open space.

Dromeda descended onto the ground and Candy followed behind, landing with him. She felt an odd familiarity with the place but brushed it off afterwards.

Dromeda looked around. "..Did'ya see Peppermint anywhere while we were in the air?"

Candy shook her head 'No'.

Dromeda seemed worried, Peppermint usually made it earlier than Dromeda or a few seconds before. "..Maybe we should look for-"

He was cut off by the sound of a Timberwolf growling from a distance, echoing from all over the forest. Without hesitation, Dromeda ran towards the growling.

Candy stood still wondering where he was heading off to. She galloped behind him and looked around at the same time.

"PEPPERMINT!? WHERE ARE YOU?!" Dromeda shouted, feeling nervous. The winds got stronger.

Candy took off into the sky trying to find Peppermint. She spotted him from a distance facing a Timberwolf, he was backing up from it. She quickly flew to his direction, shouting. "DROMEDA! HE'S OVER HERE!"

Dromeda heard her voice and flew upwards looking for her. He found them not too far from where he was and flew to them as quick as he could.

Peppermint backed up but kept on staring at the Timberwolf straight in the eyes, the creature kept on growling deeply trying to strike fear into him, it did not attack.. But it kept on creeping closer.

Dromeda flew in between the Timberwolf and Peppermint, entering in a battle stance. Candy lowered herself and landed behind the both of them, she was terrified by the appearance of the Timberwolf and took steps back.

Moments later, Peppermint charged toward the Timberwolf, distracting it. It turned to Peppermint, giving enough time for Dromeda to buck it with force from behind.

The Timberwolf flinched and roared at at Dromeda, swiping at him. Dromeda tripped once but quickly recovered, keeping his balance. "Urgh.."

Peppermint snuck up from behind the Timberwolf and kicked it down to the ground, leaving it paralyzed for a couple moments.

Candy flinched as she saw the two fighting the creature, she was frozen.

Dromeda noticed her behind them and shouted. "GO CANDY! GO BACK TO THE CENTER, WE'LL REGROUP THERE!"

Candy snapped out of reality and faced Dromeda. "Are you CRAZY? I'M NOT JUST GONNA LEAVE YOU TWO. I'LL GO GET HELP!"

Peppermint turned around and faced Candy after he kicked the Wolf once again. "NGH- IT'S OKAY CANDY. WE GOT THIS. JUST GO TO SAFETY!"

The Wolf swiped at Dromeda with brute force, forming a large open cut on his leg. He shouted in pain.

"DROMEDA!" Candy started running toward them, but Dromeda kept on insisting that she'd go back to the meetup area. Stunned, she looked at the two and quickly thought to herself. She nodded and started to gallop the other way, tripping over stumps, twigs and bushes. She heard the growls begin to fade away due to the strong winds brushing up within the trees.

Candy slowed down, that familiar feeling forcefully compressed within her chest. She looked around and scouted every single spot within the area.. She knew where she was.

A tree stood standing a few feet within her, it was like any other tree you'd expect it to be.. But it had one unique aspect that only Candy knew.. It had value.. A connection to her.

She trotted towards it, upon closer inspection she knew what it was.. A burial.. Where the blood of the only pony who cared for her had passed.. Her aunt.

Her heart stopped. She stared at the very spot she had witnessed her aunt die. She took steps back, trying to keep hold of her tears.. But it was inevitable. This is what she was dreading.. The sight of her loved one die right in front of her at such a young age, she couldn't do anything but stare.. Petrified.

There on the ground layed the corpse of her loved one. Rotting away through the years.. Frozen in time. Some pieces of her clothing still attached.. As maggots preyed and feasted on her flesh and meat. Candy was disgusted by the stench of death whofting in the atmosphere.. It brought chills up her spine and made her sick.

Candy even noticed an amulet around the corpse's neck, she was thinking about obtaining it but decided not to.. For it could have still brought her more heartbreaking memories from within the past.

Candy felt a rush of fear enter her as she heard both Dromeda and Peppermint approach her. She stood still and did not say a word, but she could not hold back the tears.

"Its okay Candy, were fine.!" Peppermint said trotting towards her direction, he slowed down and turned to Dromeda.

"Egh.. I guess, I did get a wound though.." Dromeda limped slightly, dragging his leg along with him. He approached Candy. "Hey.. You alright..?"

She paused and turned.. She ran to the both of them, giving them a tight embraceful hug. She weeped and sobbed uncontrollably.

Both confused, they hugged her back and comforted her. "What's the matter?" Peppermint said.

Candy sniffled and cried-hyperventilately. "..I..It.. It.. It's.. No.. Nothing.. I.. I was juh.. Just.. S-Scared..-"

Dromeda let go gently and let Peppermint continue to comfort her.

She kept inhaling multiple times, trying to calm herself down. He lifted her face gently and wiped away her tears. "..Its okay.. Its okay.. Were here now.. Calm down.."

Candy looked up at him, sniffling and trying to calm down, she began to correct her breathing.

Peppermint slowly let go of her and gave her some space, still staying near.

She rubbed her eyes and sighed, she felt a bit better. "-..I..I'm sorry.. You two okay..?"

They both nodded. "We've been through worse, Peppermint did most of the job though." Dromeda noted, still flinching from the pain.

Peppermint helped Dromeda up.

"We should head to a clinic, he's in awful condition.. Don't want it to get worse." Peppermint noted, Dromeda nodded.

Candy agreed as she looked over at his leg, she felt terrible.

Peppermint helped Dromeda walk towards the exit of the forest. Peppermint glanced over at Candy. "Hey, you comin'..?"

She looked at him and looked back from the corner of her eye. Still remembering what she had witnessed.. She brushed it off and looked at them, nodding and beginning to walk forward. There was a small glimpse of happiness.. Knowing that for once.. She might be heading the right direction.

She looked over at Peppermint and smiled. "..Right behind ya." She galloped toward them and later on made their way back to Ponyville to assess Dromeda's wound.

While Candy did indeed miss her aunt, she knew she couldn't mope forever.. She exhaled beggining to let go of the past, and accept the future.

Hope you enjoyed and Thanks for reading ;)

Edited by: Misticalcreations237

Till Next Time Section 30 Out!