November 7th, 1983
November seventh started out as any normal day in Ponyville. Especially to one citizen in particular, Ponyville police chief Shining Armor woke up in his trailer that was located just outside the town and started his everyday routine, he took a shower, brushed his teeth, put on deodorant, had a smoke, took his pills, washed them down with some beer, grabbed his hat and went out the door to begin his day of work.
...
It started off as a normal morning for the Apple family as well, Buttercup Apple and her son Big Mac both woke up and started their morning routines. Big Mac started cooking breakfast and Buttercup ran around getting ready for work, but was unable to find her car keys. "Where in Tartarus are they? Big Mac?" Buttercup yelled to her son in the kitchen. "Did you check the couch?" Big Mac responded in his deep voice. "Buttercup then listened and checked between the couch cushions and sure enough, there they were. "Ah, Got em!" Buttercup said walking back into the kitchen. "Okay honey, I will see you tonight." she said before instantly noticing that her daughter was not present. "Where's Applebloom?" she asked. "Oh, I haven't woken her up yet." Big Mac said, causing his mom to let out an annoyed sigh. "Big Mac, you need to make sure she's up!" she said before turning towards the hallway. "Sorry mom, I'm making breakfast." he called out after her. Buttercup trotted down the hall to her daughter's bedroom. "Alright Applebloom, time to get up sweety-" she said as she entered her bedroom, stopping when she entered and saw that the room was vacant, her daughter was nowhere to be found. She turned around and walked back to the kitchen.
"She came home last night right?" she asked her son. "She's not in her room?" Big Mac questioned back. "Did she come home or not." Buttercup questioned again. "I don't know." Big Mac answered honestly. "You don't know?" Buttercup asked again in an annoyed tone. "I got home late, I was working." Big Mac told his mother, making her frown, "You were working?" she asked, "Yeah, Braeburn asked if I could cover his shift, I thought we could use the extra cash." Big Mac explained. "Big Mac, we've talked about this, you cannot take shifts when I'm working!" she scolded. "Mom, it's not a big deal, she was at the Bell's all day, she probably just spent the night." Big Mac said. "I don't believe you sometimes!" Buttercup said with a sigh as she went over to the phone before picking it up and dialing the number for the Bell's residence.
At the Bell's house, the whole family was gathered for breakfast, Sweetie Bell was pouring syrup all over every item on her plate, which got a disgusted look from her older sister Rarity, "That's disgusting." Rarity said, "You're disgusting!" Sweetie Bell piped back. The phone rang and Sweetie's mother picked it up, "Hello?" she asked. "Hello Shiny, this is Buttercup." the voice on the other line said. As Shiny Bell was about to respond back, Sweetie poured some syrup onto her older sister's lap, making her furious. "What in Tartarus Sweetie Bell!" She shouted, "Quiet!" their mother shouted. "Was that Applebloom I heard back there?" Buttercup asked. "No, it's just Sweetie." Shiny Bell responded. This confused Buttercup, "Applebloom didn't spend the night?" Buttercup asked worryingly. "No, she left here around 8, why, is she not home?" Shiny Belle asked with concern. "Uh, you know what, I think she just left early for school, thank you so much." Buttercup said before hanging up the phone and giving her son a concerned look.
''''
Later that morning, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Dinky rode their bikes to school. Passing by all the other kids, looking around for Applebloom, until they eventually got to the bike racks, and still no sign of their friend. "That's weird..." said Sweetie Bell, "I don't see her." "Her mom is right, she probably just went to class early again." Scootaloo added. "Yeah, she's always so paranoid Cherilee is going to giver her another pop quiz." Dinky chimed in. They were about to head to class, when a familiar voice caught their attention behind them. "Step right up fillies and gentlecolts! Step right up and get your tickets to the freakshow!" Diamond Tiara said sarcastically as she and her fellow bully Silver Spoon walked up to the 3 fillies. "Who do you think would make more money in a freak show?" She asked Silver Spoon, "Chicken?" She said, hitting Scootaloo, "Marshmallow?" She said, hitting Sweetie Bell, "Or Derpy Junior?" she said, hitting Dinky. Silver Spoon held her hoof to her chin, thinking the question over, "I'd go with Derpy Junior!" she said in a voice imitating Dinky's mother. "Hey, my eyes don't do that, and don't pick on my Mommy!" Dinky yelled back at the bullies. "Do the leg thing!" Diamond Tiara said, Dinky stayed quiet, "Do it freak." Silver Spoon demanded. Dinky then lifted her front right hoof, and twisted her leg, so it looked like her hoof was backwards, the two bullies reacted with disgust, "Ah, it gets me every time." Diamond Tiara said as she and Silver Spoon pushed passed the 3 fillies.
"Jerks!" Scootaloo mumbled to Sweetie Bell and Dinky. "I think it's kinda cool." Sweetie Bell told Dinky, referring to her hoof trick, "It's like you have a superpower, like one of the Power Ponies." "Yeah, except I can't fight evil with it." Dinky said back.
...
Meanwhile, over at Ponyville high school, Sweetie Bell's sister was walking to class, when she greeted in the hallway by her friend Fluttershy, a yellow Pegasus with pink hair. "So, did he call?" She asked Rarity in a giddy voice. "Keep your voice down." Rarity told her friend in a lower volume. "Did he?" Fluttershy asked again in the quiet voice Rarity wanted. "I told you, it's not like that." Rarity said as they reached Rarity's locker. "We just, made out a couple of times." Rarity said as she began unlocking the locker. "We just, made out a couple times." Fluttershy repeated Rarity's words with a hint of sarcasm. "Rarity, seriously, your going to be so cool now, it's ridiculous." Fluttershy said. "No I'm not." Rarity protested. "You better still hang out with me, that's all I'm saying." Fluttershy said. "If you become friends with Soarin or Rainbow Dash-" "Gross." Rarity cut Fluttershy off at the mention of the couple. "I'm telling you it was just a one time..." Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, "...Two times thing." Rarity said as she opened her locker, and out fell a piece of paper, she unfolded it and it read, "Meet me in Bathroom-Thunderlane" "You were saying?" Fluttershy asked.
In the bathroom, Rarity and Thunderlane immediately got to making out against the bathroom wall, Rarity tried breaking off after a minute, and when the bell rang she really broke free, but Thunder swiped her back off the floor before she could grab it. "Hey hey, let's do something tonight." Thunder suggested. "I can't..." Rarity said, "...I have to study for the science test." she reached for her bag but Thunder pulled it away. "Aw come on, what's your GPA, 3.999999-" "The science tests are impossible." Rarity cut Thunder off grabbing for her bag again. "Well then just, let me help." Thunder pleaded, "You failed Chemistry." Rarity pointed out. "A C-, so I'll be over at around 8?" Thunder asked. "Are you crazy, my parents would not-" Rarity started, only to be cut off by Thunder, "I'll climb through your window, she won't even know I'm there, I'm stealthy, like a ninja." Thunder said. "You are Crazy." Rarity said heading for the door, "Wait, lets just forget about that, we can just, chill in my car, we can find a nice quiet place to park, and..." Thunder was about to finish when Rarity spoke up, "Thunder, I need to study, I'm not kidding." "Well why do you think I want it to be quiet." Thunder responded in a low, seductive voice. "Your an idiot Thunderlane." Rarity said as she moved fro the door, before stopping and turning around, "Meet me at Deerborn and Maple at 8, TO STUDY." Rarity said before exiting the bathroom, Thunderlane then smiled and grabbed his own beg before exiting the bathroom.
...
Shining Armor finally pulled into his parking spot at the Police station and went inside. "Morning Twily, Mornin everybody!" Shining said to the desk lady Twilight Sparkle and to the Deputies playing cards. "Hey chief." said the first Deputy, a brown Pegasus, "Damn, you look like hell chief." Said the second deputy, a white unicorn. "Oh yeah?" Asked Shining, "Well I looked better than your wife when I left her this morning." Shining joked, making the first deputy laugh. Shining then went and grabbed a donut from a box in the room when Twilight walked over. "While you were drinking, or sleeping, or whatever you deem so important on Monday morning, Cranky Doodle Donkey called, says that some foals are stealing the gnomes from his garden." Twilight briefed to Shining, at some point taking the cigarette out of his mouth. "Oh, those gnomes again, well I'll get right on that." Shining Armor said sarcastically as he walked towards his office. "And on a more pressing matter, Buttercup can't find her daughter." Twilight said, "Twily, what have we talked about mornings are for coffee and contemplation." Shining Armor said, continuing to his office, "Buttercup is very upset-" Twilight began until Shining interrupted her, "COFFEE and CONTEMPLATION, Twily." Shining said loudly. Shining finally opened his office door, only to find a very distraught Buttercup sitting inside.
"I've been waiting here over an hour Shining!" Buttercup scolded as Shining Armor typed up the missing person report on his typewriter. "And I apologize for that." Shining said with a sigh, "I'm going put of my mind." Buttercup said. "Look, girl her age, she's probably just playing hookie, okay?" Shining Armor sternly told Buttercup. "No, not my Applebloom, she's not like that." Buttercup said defending her daughter. "Well you never know, my dad always thought I was on the debate team, but I was really just screwing Lyra Heartstrings in the back of my dads truck." Shining Armor said in a dismissive voice. "No, look she's not like you Shining, she's not like me, she's not like most, she has a few friends, but they make fun of her, call her names, make fun of her hair-" Buttercup explained, but was cut off by Shining, "Her hair, what's wrong with her hair?" Shining questioned. "I don't know, does that matter?" Buttercup asked surprised by Shining's question. "Maybe." Shining responded. "Look, she's a sensitive kid, Bright Mac used so say she was a slut, called her a whore." Buttercup explained, "Is she?" Shining questioned again. "She's missing!" Buttercup shouted. "When was the last time your heard from Bright Mac?" Shining asked. "Uh, last I heard he was in Manehattan, but that was about a year ago." Buttercup explained. "But he has nothing to do with this." Buttercup said. "Why don't you give me his number." Shining suggested, but Buttercup disagreed, "No Shining, he has nothing to do with this, trust me." "Look Buttercup, 99 out of a hundred times, kid goes missing is with a parent or relative." Shining told Buttercup in a stern voice. "What about the other time?" She asked, "You said 99 out of a hundred, what about that one time, the one!?" Buttercup said, now practically standing. "Buttercup, this is Ponyville, you know what the worst thing to happen in the four years I've been here, it was when and Owl attacked Berry Punch's mane, because it thought her hair was a nest." Shining carefully told Buttercup. "Okay fine, I will call Bright Mac, he will speak to me before he speaks to a cop." Buttercup said as she stood up. "Just find my daughter Shining, find her!" Buttercup said in a breaking voice before leaving.
...
Back at the Ponyville national laboratory, several vehicles pulled up, dropping off several stallions in suits, they all approached the building and met up with a brown Stallion with brown hair, a white collar and a green tie. He was Dr. Time Turner, the head of the laboratory, and he led the men in suits into the building. "This way gentlecolts, the entire east wing will be evacuated within the hour, we've sealed off this area following quarantine protocol." A stallion in a labcoat explained as he led the men in suits as well as Dr. Turner into the quarantine area. Once inside, the group of stallions began to put on white hazmat suits and armed themselves with guns before getting in the elevator and taking it down to one of the basement levels. When the doors opened, a dark and eerie blinking hallway greeted them, and the group slowly made their way through the corridors before eventually coming to a door with several scorch marks around it, they all entered and found themselves in a large room, a portion of the rooms walls were covered in what looked like a large growth. One of the suits finally spoke up, "Is that where it came from." he asked, "Yes." responded Dr. Turner. "And the colt?" the suit asked. "He couldn't have gone far." Dr. Turner said.
...
The Colt in question was just outside Ponyville, he was on a small hill overlooking a small establishment, it was a diner, and the colt watched as a skinny yellow stallion with orange hair took a trash bag and threw it into the dumpster. The colt was brown and had a shaved head with no mane to speak of, and he was hungry. He made his way over to the building and snuck his way in through the back door. He peeked and saw the stallion in the dining room talking to patrons. He snuck over to the kitchen and eyed a plate of cupcakes, he then began to eat them, and he would have kept going until a voice ruined it. "Hey!" The colt looked up and say the yellow stallion glaring angrily at him, he then grabbed the plate of cupcakes and darted fro the back door, he almost made it, but the stallion caught him. "You think you can steal from me boy?" he shouted at the colt in front of him, the colt had a terrified and confused look on his face. "What in tartarus?" the stallion said quietly.
...
Back at Ponyville Middle School, the final bell rang and almost every student immediately ran for the door, completely ignoring their teacher, Miss Cherilee, who was giving instructions for the homework, and eventually all the students were gone, except for Sweetie Bell, Dinky, and Scootaloo. "Well, is it here?" Sweetie Bell asked excitedly. "I'm sorry girls, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...It came!" Cherilee blurted a out and led the girls down the hallway to the AV room and opened the door, revealing a large radio on the center table. "The Heathkit ham shack." Cherilee told the girls as they crowded around the radio, Sweetie Bell putting on the headphones. "Ain't it something?" she asked. "I bet you could talk to Manehattan on this thing." Dinky said. "Think bigger." Cherilee said. "The Crystal Empire?" Scootaloo asked. "Bigger." Cherilee said again. "Saddle Arabia?" Sweetie Bell asked. Cherilee just gave a nod to that question and the three immediately began fiddling with the knobs and trying to make the radio work. "When Applebloom sees this, she is going to loose her shit!" Scootaloo piped up, realizing to late that Cherilee was still in the room, "Scootaloo!" Cherilee shouted reacting to the Pegasus' profanity. Suddenly, the door opened and the principle entered with Shining Armor, "Hello Miss Cherilee, can I borrow Sweetie Bell, Dinky and Scootaloo?" He said to Cherilee. The three fillies gave each other concerned looks.
By the time the three of them were in the principles office being questioned by the chief, they all began talking over each other. Eventually Shining Armor got annoyed and shut them up, "Okay, Okay, one at a time!" He shouted, "You.." he pointed at Sweetie Bell, "She takes what road?" "Mirkwood." She responded. Shining Armor looked confused, "Mirkwood?" he repeated, Sweetie Bell nodded. Shining turned to his Deputy, "Have you ever heard of this Mirkwood?" he asked. "I have not. That sounds made up to me." the deputy responded. "No, it's from Lord of The Rings." Scootaloo spoke up, "The Hobbit." Dinky corrected. "It doesn't matter!" Scootaloo shouted. "He asked!" Dinky shouted back, until they were arguing and Shining spoke up again. "Hey, what did I say, one at a damn time!" Shining armor shouted over the argument, stopping it. "You." He pointed at Sweetie Bell again. "Mirkwood, it's a real road, it's just the name that's made up." Sweetie told the chief. "It's where cornwalis and kerley meet." She explained. "Yeah, alright, I think I know that." Shining said. "We can show you, if you want." Sweetie Bell spoke again. "I said that I know it!" Shining Armor said, raising his voice again. "We can help look." Sweetie said looking seriously at the chief. "No." said the chief, this caused the three to once again break into shouting over each other. "No, after school you are all to go home, that means no biking around looking for your friend okay, this isn't some Lord of the Rings Book." Shining Armor said Sternly. "The Hobbit." Dinky corrected again. "Shut Up." Scootaloo said, reaching across the couch and hitting Dinky's leg, causing Dinky to hit back and getting them into another squabble. This time the chief stood up, "Do I make myself clear." he said getting their attention before stepping forward. "Do I make myself...clear?" Shining Armor repeated, his only response were 3 nodding heads.
...
One of the places that Buttercup thought to look for her daughter was fort apple, a shelter made up of sticks and spare wood that Big Mac and Applebloom built together after their dad left, it was where Applebloom would go to be alone, and going back their made Buttercup remember a time with her daughter not to long ago.
Flashback
Buttercup walked quietly over to the small structure and pushed the small button by the entrance. "Ring a ding ding." She said in a Cheerful voice. "What's that password?" Applebloom asked from inside the fort. Buttercup thought for a moment. "Um, Rata...Rataga...Radagast?" she said and waited a moment. "Correct, you may enter." Applebloom said before her mother entered and sat down next to her. "Thank you ma'am." She said. "Guess what?" she asked her daughter in an excited tone. "I got off early and...tada, Poltergeist!" she said as she pulled to movie tickets out of her saddlebag and showed them to Applebloom. "I thought I wasn't allowed to see it?" Applebloom said, excited. "I changed my mind, as long as you don't have nightmares for weeks." She teased. "No, I don't get scared like that anymore." Applebloom protested. "Oh really, not even of clowns?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "No." Applebloom responded, "Or, Witches?" Buttercup said before imitating a witches cackle as she started tickling Applebloom, getting her to laugh.
Reality came crashing back to Buttercup as she peered inside the empty fort, she was now more worried than ever. "Applebloom!" Big Mac called out, his mother also calling her name as they searched the area around the fort.
...
Back at the diner, the yellow stallion, carrot cake, fixed the mysterious brown colt a sandwich with some fries and a milkshake, the colt had not uttered a single word since he got there, and Carrot began to wonder if he could speak at all, he figured the colt was homeless or lost, so he decided to make him a meal at least. The Colt was hungry, he chowed down on the sandwich almost instantly. "Geez, your parents forget to feed you?" Carrot Cake asked from across the table. The colt ignored his question and continued eating. "Is that why you ran away?" he asked, once again getting no response. "They uh, the hurt you?" Carrot asked again, and once again got no response. "They hurt you, you got scared, you ran away, you ended up here is that it?" This time the colt did look up and acknowledged Carrot's presence. "All right." Carrot said taking the sandwich out of the colts hooves. "I'll give this back, all right? And you can have as much as you want. Alright, maybe even some cupcakes, but you need to answer my questions, okay" he told the colt, getting only a stare back in response. "We got a deal?" Carrot asked, getting a measly shrug. "all right, let's start with the easy stuff, all right?" He asked before reaching out his hoof. "My names Carrot, Carrot Cake." He said expecting the colt to introduce himself. "See? Like This." He said as he guided the colts hoof into a hoofshake. "I got you, don't worry, it's okay, it's nice to meet you, and you are?" Carrot expected an answer immediately, but got the same blank stare. Carrot looked at the colts other hoof and saw a marking on it, it looked like a video game controller, but before he could get a better look the colt pulled it away and hid it under the table. "What does that symbol mean?" Carrot asked, getting the stare back, he repeated the question, "No." The colt said in a soft voice. "Well I'll be damned, he speaks." Carrot said with excitement. "What do you mean no?" He asked, getting no response, "All right, I guess no more food." Carrot said as he started to stand up, but then the Colt spoke up, "Button Mash." he said, a little louder than before. "What does that mean?" Carrot asked as he sit back down. The colt placed his hoof on his chest and pat it, "Button Mash." He repeated. "All right then." Carrot said has he slid him back the sandwich, and he chowed down once again.
"yeah, look, all I know is that he's scared to death." Carrot spoke to the woman from social services over the phone. "Yeah I think maybe he's been abused or kidnapped or something." he said as he watch the colt continue his meal. "yeah it'd be great if someone would come by, yeah were at 4819 Randolph lane, yeah Randolph. he repeated to the pony on the other end. As the colt continued his meal, he noticed a rusty metal fan by the table making a terrible racket, he found the sound annoying and wanted to stop it. So he narrowed his eyes at the fan and tilted his head down, until finally the fan stopped spinning, he then finished up the meal and wiped his hooves.
...
The chief took his 2 deputies to the road that the 3 fillies told him about, Mirkwood they called it, and they trotted down the road, calling out Appleblooms name, until Shining Armor spotted something. "Hey, I found Something!" She shouted back to his deputies and they moved to investigate. Down in a ditch on the side of the road was Appleblooms abandoned bike. "That her bike?" one of the deputies asked, "Yeah she must've crashed." the chief responded, taking a glance around. "You think she got hurt in the fall?" the deputy asked, "Not so hurt she couldn't walk away, bikes are like Cadillac to these kids, she would have walked it home." the chief explained as he picked the bike up.
...
At the Ponyville National Laboratory, in a large smoke filled room, a row of ponies sat, each with a headset on, each listening to phone calls from the residence of Ponyville. One listener was listening to an argument. "Is Bright Mac there?" The first mare asked, "Bright Mac isn't here right now." the other mare argued. "Who is this?" Buttercup asked the mysterious voice on the other end. "His girlfriend, Strawberry Sunrise." The Mare responded. "Strawberry Sunrise." Buttercup repeated. "Who in tartarus is this?" Strawberry asked rudely, "Strawberry, this is Buttercup, Bright's ex-wife, I really need to speak to him." Buttercup pleaded through the phone, "He's not here, please try to call later." Strawberry said, "No not later, now I need-" Buttercup was cut off from the sound of the phone being hung up. "Bitch!" Buttercup shouted as she slammed the phone down. "Mom." Big Mac said as he looked up from the missing posters he was making, "What?" Buttercup yelled, "You have to stay calm." Big Mac said in a voice trying to sooth the rage in his mother. Buttercup simply chuckled as she picked up the phone again and dialed Bright Mac's number again. This time it went to voice mail. "Bright, some teenager just hung up on me, Applebloom is...missing, I don't know where she is, I need you to just call me back as soon as-" Buttercup left the message until she heard the line disconnect again, making her furious. "Dammit." She screamed as she slammed the phone down again. "Mom." She heard Big Mac call from the living room. "What?" she asked. "Cops." he responded, seeing chief shining armors car pull up outside. They both went out to greet Shining, but quickly their hope faded as they saw Shining carrying Applebloom's bike.
"It was just lying there?" Buttercup asked. "Yeah." shining replied as he signaled to his deputies to start searching the house. "Did it have any blood on it?" Buttercup asked again. "No." Shining armor replied. "If you found the bike, why are you here?" Big Mac asked. "She had a key to the house right?" Shining asked, getting a nod from Buttercup, "so maybe, she came home." Shining said, getting Buttercup annoyed, "What, you think I didn't check my own house?" She said sounding offended. "I didn't say that." Shining said as he inspected a little hole in the wall by the kitchen door, "Has this always been here?" he asked Buttercup, "I don't no maybe, I mean I have to kids, look at this place." Buttercup responded. Shining was then distracted by the sound of a dog barking, and he went out the back door and saw Winona barking up a storm. "What's wrong with her." he asked, "She's probably just hungry." Buttercup said as she dragged Winona back inside. Shining then decided to check out the back shed. He entered and turned on the light, seeing the work bench and other tools scattered around, suddenly the light burned out, and he took a look around the dark shack, until he was startled when one of the deputies came into the shed. "Geez!" Shining shouted. "What are you deaf? I've been calling you, what's going on." the deputy asked the still shaking Chief. "Listen, I want you to call Twilight, tell her to get a search party together, all right?" Shining told the deputy as they walked back to their police vehicles.
...
The Bell family gathered for dinner that night like they usually do, but tensions were high. "We should be out there right now. We should help look for her." Sweetie Bell said to her parents from across the dinner table. "We've been over this Sweetie, the chief says-" Sweetie's mother began, only to be cut off, "I don't care what the chief said!" Sweetie blurted out. "Sweetie!" Shiny Bell said in shock of her daughter's tone. "We have to do something, Applebloom can be in danger." Sweetie argued. "More reason to stay put." Sweetie's mother argued back. "Mom-" "End of Discussion!" Shiny Bell cut off her daughter before she could argue further. Sweetie Bell rolled her eyes and continued eating. Rarity then spoke up, "So, me and Fluttershy are going to study at her house tonight, that's cool right?" Rarity asked. "No, not cool." Shiny Bell responded in a similar tone she used with Sweetie Bell. "What, why not!" Rarity snapped back, "Why do you think? Am I speaking old ponish in this house? Until we hear that Applebloom is safe, no one leaves." Shiny Bell said to her children. "This is such bullshit!" Rarity snapped back, "Language!" Rarity's father yelled from across the table. "So were under house arrest? Just because Sweetie Bell's friend got lost in the woods?" Rarity argued, Sweetie turned, angry, "So wait, this is Applebloom's fault?!" she yelled at her sister. "Rarity, take that back." Shiny Bell said, referring to her comment on Applebloom. "No!" Rarity snapped again. "You're just annoyed because you wanna hang out with Thunderlane!" Sweetie Bell blurted out, getting an angry look from Rarity. "Thunderlane? Who's Thunderlane?" Their father asked, "Her new coltfriend!" Sweetie answered immediately. Rarity was furious at this point, "You're such a bitch sometimes Sweetie!" Rarity yelled, getting another word of language from her father as a result. Rarity just groaned and stormed upstairs to her room. "Nancy, come back." Shiny Bell said, trying to get her daughter to come back to dinner. "Come back!" she yelled again, but no response. Shiny Bell looked down at the infant next to her in her high chair, "It's okay Jewel, here, have some juice okay." She said to the infant, picking up her sippy cup and giving it to her. "You see Sweetie?" Sweetie's father began, "You see what happens-" "See what happens when what!" Sweetie Shouted, cutting off her dad. "I'm the only one acting normal here! I'm the only one that cares about Applebloom!" she shouted. "That's not true honey, we care." Sweetie's father said before taking another bite of food. Sweetie then felt like enough was enough and like Rarity, stormed away from the table. Shiny Bell looked over to her husband, "I hope your enjoying your meatloaf." She said in a sarcastic, annoyed tone of voice before picking up Jewel and walking away. "What did I do?!" he called after his wife, but she didn't respond, and he was left alone at the dinner table.
...
Out in the woods over by where Appleblooms bike was found, the search party was combing the area, shouting Appleblooms name and searching the entire area for any clues as to what happened to her. Chief Shining Armor was there helping, when a voice caught his attention. "She's a good student." the voice said, Shining looked over and saw a purple earth pony next to him, he couldn't say he recognized her. "What?" Shining asked. "Applebloom, She's a good student, great one actually." she said as the continued forward. "I don't think we've met, Cherilee Blossom, teacher Ponyville Middle School, earth and biology." She explained shaking the Chiefs hoof. "Always had a distaste for science." Shining responded. "Well maybe you just had a bad teacher." Cherilee suggested. "Yeah, Miss Ratliff was a piece of work." Shining said, getting a chuckle from Cherilee, "Ratliff? Well she's still kicking around believe it or not." She said. "Oh, I believe it, mummies never die, so they tell me." Shining said in a sarcastic tone. "Flurryheart, my daughter, galaxies, the universe, whatnot, she always understood that stuff." Shining explained. "I always figured there was enough going on down here, I never needed to look elsewhere." Shining finished. "Your daughter, what grade is she? I might have her in my class sometime?" Cherilee asked. "She uh, she lives with her mom in the city." Shining said, his tone now lowered to what sounded like a sad one. "Thanks for coming out teach, we really appreciate it." Shining said as he walked further through the trees. Cherilees fell behind and was greeted by another member of the search party, "She died a few years back." the mare said. "Sorry?" Cherilee asked. "His daughter." she said, pointing at Shining as he walked away.
...
Sweetie Bell sat there in her basement, staring at the Ogres and Oubliettes board, feeling angry, she didn't want to just sit by while one of her best friends was possibly in danger, she had to do something. She grabbed her walky talky, and tuned it before speaking into it. "Sctootaloo, do you copy, it's Sweetie Bell, over." She said, getting an answer almost instantly. "Hey, it's Scootaloo." Scootaloo answered back with her own walky talky. "I know it's you, and say over when your done talking, over." Sweetie Bell said, getting Scootaloo annoyed, "I'm done, over" She said sarcastically. "I'm worried about Applebloom, over." Sweetie said. "Yeah, this is crazy, over." Scootaloo responded. "I was thinking, Applebloom could've cast protection last night, but she didn't, she cast fireball, over." Sweetie explained, making Scootaloo slightly confused. "What's your point? Over." She asked. "My point is, she could've played it safe, but she didn't, she put herself in danger to help the party, over." Sweetie explained, this time Scootaloo understood. "Meet me in ten, over and out." Scootaloo said before turning off her radio. Sweetie Bell turned hers off, packed a backpack, and snuck out to get her bike, but as she was leaving the driveway, he saw a grey Pegasus outside of Rarity's window, when he saw Sweetie, he just acted casually. Sweetie knew who he was, but she didn't have time, so she just turned and pedaled away.
Rarity was in her room, organizing the cards she needed to use for her studying, when she heard a knock on the window. She turned an saw Thunderlane waving to her, she stood up and went over to open the window. "What are you doing here?" she whispered, "I told on the phone that I'm under house arrest now." "I figured we could just study here." Thunder suggested. "No. No way." Rarity argued. "Oh come on, I can't have you failing this test." Thunder said as he climbed into the window, struggling a bit to get in. "So just...bear with me." he said, finally getting inside. "What'd I tell you? Ninja." He said giving her a smug face. Rarity simply scoffed and closed the window.
...
Back at Carrot Cakes diner, Carrot was washing dishes while his guest Button Mash was eating a few cupcakes he had given him. "You like those cupcakes huh?" Carrot asked, getting a soft smile in return from Button. "Smile looks good on you." Carrot said, making Button give a confused face. "you know, a smile?" He asked as he gave a big toothy grin, making Button smile again. Suddenly, there was a knocking at the front door, making Button glance over worryingly. "All right, just sit tight, whoever it is, I'll tell 'em to go away real quick, all right?" he said to Button, getting a nod in response. Carrot walked into the dining area and over to the door and opened it, standing there was a light purple unicorn with purple hair that had streaks of light blue in it. "Hey can I help you?" Carrot asked. "Hi you must be Carrot Cake." She said shaking his hoof. "I'm afraid I am, listen we're closed for the evening too." Carrot explained. "Starlight Glimmer, social services." the unicorn explained, "Ah, social services, my apologies, I didn't expect to see you so soon." Carrot said "Hey listen, I haven't told him that you're coming yet, I didn't want him running off again. He's a tad skittish." Carrot explained. Button Mash watched silently from the kitchen, he had a bad feeling. "Children I work with usually are." Starlight explained. "Right, right." Carrot responded. "So, where is he?" Starlight asked, "Right, he's in the kitchen." Carrot said motioning for Starlight to come inside. "Sorry again for trying to turn you away there." Carrot said as he led the way to the kitchen. "it's fine." Starlight Glimmer said as she reached into her saddle bag. "You know it's funny, your voice sounds different on the-" Carrot began, but Starlight pulled a small silenced pistol from her bag and shot Carrot directly in the head before he could finish. Button saw Carrot's body fall, and he quickly darted for the back door, and was confronted by 2 stallions in suits with tranquilizer guns. In the dining area, Dr. Turner and more Stallions in suits entered, but then they heard sounds from the back and walked back, they found the two stallions lying on the ground, and the back door wide open. He had escaped again.
...
Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, and Dinky were riding their bikes, when they reached Mirkwood. "Ah, man, this is it." Scootaloo said as the neared the area, police barricades had been place over by where the bike was found. Thunder rumbled overhead, and Dinky looked up. "Guys, you feel that?" she asked. "I think maybe we should go back." Dinky suggested, "No, we're not going back, just stay close." Sweetie Bell told Dinky as she and Scootaloo began to walk into the wooded area, Dinky lagging behind. "Just stay on channel six, and don't do anything stupid." Sweetie Bell said to Dinky as she and Scootaloo continued into the woods. Dinky stood for only a few seconds before running to join them, "Hey guys, wait up!" she said.
...
Thunderlane and Rarity had gotten into the studying over at the Bell residence. "Which Polymers occur naturally?" Thunderlane said in a monotone voice as he read the flashcard. "Starch and cellulose." Rarity answered. Thunder groaned and read another one in his monotone bored voice. "In a molecule of CH4, the hydrogen atoms are spatially oriented towards the center of-" "Tetrahedrons." Rarity blurted out before Thunder could finish reading the card. "Wow, geez, how many of these things did you make?" Thunder asked as he flipped through them all. "You said you wanted to help." Rarity argued. Thunderlane then thought of an idea. "How about this? How about every time you get an answer right, I have to remove an article of clothing, but every time you get an answer wrong, you have to remove something." Thunder suggested, Rarity shook her head. "uh pass." she said, "aw come on." he pleaded, "No" Rarity said again. Thunder ignored her and read the next card. "During fractional distillation, hydrocarbons are separated according to their-" "Melting point." Rarity answered. Thunder looked down at the card, "ooh, it's boiling points." he said, "That's what I meant." Rarity argued, "but that's not what you said." Thunder said, rubbing a hoof against his shirt, signaling for Rarity to take off hers. "no." Rarity said again, "No?" Thunder said leaning up and scooting closer. "Oh, do you need help?" He said as he scooted close and kissed her. Try as she might, she couldn't resist and fell back on the bed, kissing Thunderlane deeply, but it all ended when he tried to unbutton her shirt, she quickly pushed him off and sat up. "Was this your plan all along?" Rarity asked in an annoyed tone. "To, get into my room, then get another notch in your belt?" "no Rarity, no." Thunderlan told her. "I'm not Spitfire, or Bon Bon, or Fleet Foot." Rarity said, "you mean, your not a slut?" Thunder asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's not what I'm saying." Rarity argued. "You know, your so cute when you lie." Thunder said in a smug tone. "Shut up." Rarity said. Thunder then grabbed the teddy bear that was on the bed and put on a sad face and held it up to his face, and spoke in a high pitched voice, "Bad Thunder, bad, don't do that to miss Rarity." he said mockingly in a way. "You're an Idiot, Thunderlane." Rarity said, "And your beautiful Rarity Bell." Thunderlane said, picking up the Flashcards to continue the study session.
...
At the Apple family house, Buttercup and Big Mac were going through photos to use for the missing posters they planned to make. It had started raining outside. "These are some great pictures you took Big Mac." Buttercup said to her son as she held up one of Appleblooms smiling. "I know I haven't been there for you, I've been, working so hard and I just feel bad, I don't even know what's going on with you, I'm sorry." Buttercup sincerely told her son, she was on the verge of tears. Big Mac sat there shaking, he to was about to start crying. "What is it?" Buttercup asked. "It's just, I should have been there for him." Big Mac croaked out as he started quietly sobbing. "No, No you can't do that to yourself, this was not your fault, you hear me? She is close, I know it, I feel it in my heart. You just have to trust me on this, okay?" She told her son, hugging him close, both of them had tears in their eyes. "look at this." Buttercup said, picking up the picture of Applebloom smiling, making them start to chuckle through the tears. "That's it, that's the one right?" Buttercup asked, "Eeyup." Big Mac responded. Buttercup was startled when the phone suddenly rang, she ran over to answer it. "Hello" Buttercup said, but she heard no voice, she heard static and groaning sounds, "Hello?" she asked again. "Bright Mac?" She asked. "Dad?" Big Mac said quietly to himself, wondering what was going on. "Shining?" Buttercup asked again, until she heard breathing that sounded so familiar to her, it had to be. "Applebloom!?" She asked into the phone, "It's Applebloom?' Big Mac asked as he walked over. Over the phone Buttercup heard a sound that she never heard before, it was a horrifying noise. "Who is this!?" Buttercup shouted as she began to sob. "What have you done to my girl!?" she shouted again. "Give me back my daughter!" Buttercup screamed before a surge of electricity came from the phone, causing her to drop it. Big Mac grabbed the phone, "Hello? Hello who is this?" he asked, tearing up again. Buttercup was now sobbing at this point and Big Mac turned to her after giving up with the phone. "Mom who was it?" Big Mac asked, "I don't know, it was her!" Buttercup said through sobs, "What did she say?" Big Mac asked. "She just breathed, it was just her breathing." Buttercup said before embracing her son, tears continuing to stream from their faces.
...
Back in the woods, the rain was coming down hard, and the 3 fillies were soaked even through their raincoats. They called out Applebloom's name, but got no responses. "I've got your X-Mares 134!" Dinky called out. "Guys, I really think we should turn back." Dinky said again. "Seriously Dinky, if you wanna be a baby, then go home already!" Scootaloo yelled at Dinky. "I'm just being realistic Scoots!" Dinky shouted. "No, your just being a big baby!" Scootaloo shouted back. "Do you think Applebloom went missing because she ran into something bad? And were going to the exact spot she was last seen? And we have not weapons or anything?" Dinky argued. "Dinky, shut up." Sweetie Bell said as she stopped walking. "I'm just saying, does that seem smart to you?" Dinky asked, "shut up, Shut up!" Sweetie said again, she heard rustling around them, they shined their flashlights in the direction of the rustling and saw the frightened face of a brown colt, the fillies stared back at the colt, with confusion and worry on their faces, who was he, and why was he out in the rain?
Authors Notes: That's the first real chapter of Stranger Hooves, now I would like to clear some things up. 1. Yes, Buttercup/Pear Butter is Applebloom's mother, I decided to go with her instead of Applejack, because I liked the story line of a mother looking for their child in the actual show. 2. I don't know the actual names of Sweetie Bell's and Rarity's parents, so their names are Shiny Bell and Liberty Bell. 3. Jewel is I guess an OC, she is meant to be Holly, Mike's little sister in Stranger Things. 4. Twilight and Shining Armor aren't related here. 5. Modern Technology exists here (Cars, Guns, Phones, etc.) That should be all, please review and tell me what ya think, I will get chapter 2 out as soon as I can.