Meanwhile, Applejack, Granny Smith, and Big Mac waited for the cart contest. Suddenly, a tall unicorn named Trenderhoof walked towards her with a gift, expecting to spark a conversation. He was a recent travel writer with expectations of great stories during his visit. However, when he laid eyes on the earth pony, he did everything he could to make the farm pony content.
"Oh, Applejack: a lovely mare with such strong legs. What a pleasure to see you again."
Applejack groaned as she ignored the stallion. She seemed uninterested in stallions, but with Trenderhoof, she became annoyed with his desire.
"Trenderhoof, aren't you suppose to be with Rarity or something?"
"Why should I spend my time with her, Applejack, when I would love to spend all the time with you."
"Well, I'm with my family at this time. So, better luck next time."
She walked, which made him feel determined than ever. While the carts went by, she noticed the girl's cart hadn't come by yet.
"Did the girls' cart passed through yet."
"Nope." Big Mac replied.
"Huh. Where in tarnation are they?"
What she didn't know was at the same time, the CMC had crossed the bridge towards the castle, they were unable to find their personal cart anywhere.
"What are we gonna do now?"
"Let's split up and search for the cart. Sweetie, you go check in the gardens and see if it landed in there. Scootaloo, you come with me and we'll search inside. It may have landed in there. Once we find it, bring it up front and we'll meet back here."
The two others agreed and walked towards their destination. However, the three fillies had expected little of what lied inside the castle from a distance. While the two fillies entered inside the castle, they noticed the castle deserted and several rooms were empty.
"Apple Bloom, how are we going to find a cart in a place like this?"
"Not quite sure, Scootaloo, but I'm sure it's here somewhere. You go to the right side and I'll check the left."
At that moment, they both went in separate directions and expected no traps at all. Meanwhile, as they were in the castle, Sweetie Belle was looking throughout the castle gardens and noticed the cart sitting there still.
"There's the cart!"
She ran towards the area, but noticed a certain shadow from a distance. It looked like a pony, but she couldn't tell.
"Excuse me?"
In haste, the shadow fled in terror. With no hesitation, Sweetie Belle followed the shadow to see where it led her towards. While she came close nearby, she noticed a beautiful set of roses near the castle.
"Wow. These roses are so beautiful. I'm sure sis would enjoy something like this for her fashion line."
As she plucked one with her horn, a ferocious shadow came towards her and she started to scream in fear. Her scream was so loud that both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo heard her cry.
"Sweetie Belle!"
The two, from different areas, ran towards her, however, one fell in a trap as the other found her way towards Sweetie Belle.
"Help! I got to get out of here!" Apple Bloom replied.
As Apple Bloom tried her best to escape, Scootaloo found the exact location where Sweetie Belle resided, but couldn't find her anywhere.
"Sweetie Belle? Where are you?"
"Right here." a voice replied.
As she turned around, Scootaloo noticed Sweetie Belle smiling with her mane disoriented.
"What happened, Sweetie?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you scream."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did. Why are you lying?"
"Are you sure it's me? I mean, we are in an abandoned castle after all."
"That is true. Come on. Let's meet up with Apple Bloom."
"Then follow me."
"Where are we going?"
"I want to show you something."
Sweetie Belle went towards a certain center of the wall and pressed on the brick for the wall to move aside.
"Wow, Sweetie. How did you know you can do that?"
"Figured it out. Look in there."
While Scootaloo looked inside, Sweetie Belle started to transform.
"I don't see anything, Sweetie."
"Well, that," the changeling replied, "shall be your prison."
Scootaloo felt a push and fell in a deep hole. Though she wanted to know what was going on, a chain grasped her small wings for resistance of escape. At the exact time, while Apple Bloom attempted to escape, she noticed a door opening.
"Yeah, made it."
"Apple Bloom?"
She heard a response and noticed Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie, what in tarnation are you two doing here?"
"I was about to find you so that I can tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I found the cart."
"Really? Where?"
"Follow me."
While they walked, Sweetie Belle led her deep inside the castle and into the prison cell room.
"Why would our cart be in here, Sweetie?"
"Because," a different voice replied as the changeling transformed in front of her, "this is the place where thieves reside and you and your friends are thieves."
In fear, she intended to run, but the changeling held her tight with his magic and teleported her to the cell.
"Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo cried.
"Girls, why are you here?"
"We've been tricked."
"We can't get out."
"We can't even get your sister to save us."
"What are we gonna do?"
"Calm down. I'm sure we can do something about this. If I know my sister, she will be hunting us down right now."
At that exact moment, the cell opened, but the figure they had expected wasn't Applejack. A changeling appeared in front of the three fillies. In fear, they screamed until they harmed their ears. However, he held their mouths shut with his own magic.
"Greetings you slaves. You three shall all be my prisoners and shall never return to the pony world ever again."
"Wait. Slaves?"
"We're just kids. You can't expect to stay here?"
"Our sisters will about worry us."
"Unless there is one member of your family that will take your place and set you free, then you will remain here."
Without any more pleas for them to offer, the changeling fled the area and locked the cell. The girls wept for a moment, praying for Applejack or some pony to rescue them. Meanwhile, Applejack was in The Carousel Boutique, being measured for her gala dress.
"Rarity, is this really necessary?"
"But of course," she replied, "How else should you find certain some pony without style?"
"Rarity, I'm not into a certain romantic life, like you. I'll be content with just being on the barn for the rest of my life."
"Suit yourself."
While the measurements were written down, Applejack started to walk away to be prepared for more work. However, it was short-lived when Rarity called her before she left.
"By the way, have you seen Sweetie Belle?"
"Last time I saw her was at the barn this morning."
"Oh, I hope nothing happened to her. She hasn't been home at all last night."
"Hmm. Now that you mentioned it: I haven't seen Scootaloo or Apple Bloom either. I'll see if I can find them. I'm sure they didn't run too far."
"Would you? Oh, thank you, Applejack."
"Sure thing, Rarity."
Later that day, Applejack decided to walk towards the barn entrance where the girls were at this morning. When she looked around, she noticed the same streaks and set of hoof prints that lead her to the Everfree Forest.
"Oh great. Don't tell me that they went in there?"
In rage, she decided to walk towards the Everfree Forest entrance and followed their hoof prints. When she made it to the castle, Applejack prepared to walk through the bridge and towards the door. With hesitation, she pushed the door with her hoof, but it opened.
"Hello? Is any pony there?"
Slowly, she roamed around, trying to find clues to the girls' location. However, a shadowed figure hid and noticed a mare was looking for fillies. Applejack felt like somepony was watching her every move, and as she turned, she noticed the shadow. In fear, the shadow fled, but Applejack followed it all the way towards a certain door.
"Hello? Is any pony in here?"
"...Sis..."
"Apple Bloom?"
She kicked opened the door and noticed Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in chains.
"Thank Celestia you girls are safe."
"How did you find us?"
"Y'all left hoof prints towards this location and I followed it towards here, but now's not the time for that. I'm getting y'all out of here."
"Sis, you shouldn't be here."
"Why not, girls? Who's the pony responsible of locking you up? You all are in serious trouble."
"But sis, you don't understand..."
Suddenly, a great whirlwind came inside the room. The girls screamed in fear while Applejack stood there while holding on to her hat. As they glanced towards their direction, a figure appeared from its hiding place.