No matter how many times I've ventured into the depths of the Everfree my fears of the forest never seems to dwindle. Every snapping twig and branch I hear causes me jump and face the direction of the sound's origin. In a forest where every tree can hide a threat I'm always on high alert, always expecting a dangerous predator to come charging at me from the underbrush. Only when I'm certain that nothing is waiting eagerly to maim me, do I continue on my journey.

I looked up to the sky. Despite the blanket of the forest canopy above me I am still able to make out Celestia's sun high in the Equestrian atmosphere. Judging by its current position it was probably mid afternoon. I was hot, tired, and most of all, hungry. The last time I'd eaten was earlier in the morning, and that was only a single apple. My stomach complained and I finally gave in to it's plea's.

The pleasant sounds of a river caught my attention. I diverted my path towards it, looking forward to washing my faces in its cool waters. The weather hadn't exactly helped much with the journey. While not lethal, the heat was nearly unbearable, and the thick blanket of humidity that rolled through the woodland only added to my lack of comfort. Combine that with several hours of traveling on hoof, and I was beat.

Upon arriving at the river I quickly unstrapped my saddlebag, letting it flop onto the soft sand of the beach. I was happy to relieve myself of the extra weight. I stretched out my back, letting the tension go in my body. I heard a couple of small pops, which felt wonderful.

I walked up to the riverbank and looked at my reflection. A bedraggled messy unicorn looked back at me through the crystal clear waters. She was covered in sweat and dirt and her mane was ruffled and filled with small leaves and twigs from fighting brambles and bushes throughout the day. What a mess.

I lit up my horn, concentrating my magic on the flowing river. Soon a circular, purple aura formed on the water's surface, rippling vividly with the moving current. I concentrated harder, compressing the water underneath and rising it up from the river's bottom. Soon a jiggling orb of water slowly out of the river, its shape twisting and shuttering as it desperately tried to keep its shape. I brought the orb towards me and splashed it on my face, embracing the refreshing liquid as it cooled my roasted face. I did this several times, enjoying the cool water and freeing my face of the dirt and sweat that had accumulated throughout my journey. Once I felt clean enough, I shook myself off, spraying the ground around me with driblets of water.

I didn't bother with my mane. What was the point? Cleaning it would take nearly an hour and it was bound to go into disarray again before this trip was over, though I did take time to remove the larger leaves and twigs that stuck out in my hairline.

My stomach grumbled and I finally decided I had to have something to eat. "I lit my horn and probed my bag with magic, retrieving one of my sandwiches, a water bottle, and a map of the Everfree." I opened the bottle and brought it up to my lips. The precious liquid flowed down my dry throat as I finally had my thirst quenched. I pulled it away from my lips and realized I had drunk nearly half of the entire container. I only had so many of these, I should be more careful.

As I took a bite out of the sandwich I looked over the map, predicting my current location. While there were plenty of small creeks and streams that ran through the forest, only one major river cut through the Everfree; the Horseshoe River. It originated back in Ponyville, parting away from the Saddle Lane River which ran along the edge of the town and rolled over the landscape towards the eastern sea, eventually dumping into a bay near Baltimare. There was no doubt this was the river.

If that was the case, then I knew the best way to get to Ghastly Gorge from here. The river flowed down south until it reached the bogs that lay just north of the southern deserts. There I could turn west and then it would be less than a day's trip to the mouth of the gorge. I knew that cutting straight through the woods would probably be a shorter distance, but it was also a lot more hazardous.

Plus, I still had to find Pinkie, wherever she was.

I sighed as I looked out to the opposite bank. A whole day's worth of traveling and I had seen nor heard any sign of the pink mare. I didn't expect to catch up with her right away. If she left in the middle of the night then she was probably many miles in front of me right of course, something happened along the way.

I felt my heart sink at the thought. I knew Pinkie was a strong pony and courageous in her own way. Problem was, she didn't always know when she was in danger, and I feared that complacency would lead her right into it.. Plus, she didn't have much in the way of defense. Yes she has her Pinkie sense and her other...talents, but they could only help her so much. If something were to finally catch her, how would she get out of it? Laughing could only get her so far in that situation.

I took another bite of my sandwich and rolled up my map, putting it back in my saddlebag. I had to keep moving. I could eat on the walk. I was busy strapping on my bag when I suddenly noticed something on the ground a few hoof steps away from me. I walked over to it to get a better look.

Animal tracks. And strange ones at that.

I thought back to my studies on animals and also to Fluttershy's tracking lessons. Ever since my run-in with the Cockatrice I had been learning out how to read animal tracks. This way I could not only tell what type of animal was in the area, but also how long it had been since they had passed through.

What I saw before me were the tracks of not one, but two different animals. Paw prints with claw markings in the ground showed that they belonged to a predator, most likely some type of feline such as a cougar. But these pawprints were huge, nearly twice times larger than the largest carnivorous cat I knew of. The other tracks however showed that a hoofed animal had run along this very riverbank, most likely a sheep or a goat.

At first I thought I was witnessing the evidence of a hunt that had taken place earlier that day. I looked towards the forest. I could imagine the carnivore stalking its prey from within the shadows of the dense foliage that divided the forest from the river's beach. I could imagine it charging out of the underbrush, blazing towards its quarry with murderous speed. A terrible sight, even if only imaginary.

But as I followed the tracks up the riverbank I noticed something. They were a lot closer in proximity, too close to show the story of the violent chase I had envisioned. Not only that, but there were not enough prints to represent two different animals in the vicinity. They were spaced out as if they had belonged to one single creature.

Then the realization hit me, and I felt a cold chill run through my spine as I figured out what had left these prints.

I had read about Chimera's during my many years of study. They were monstrous creatures that lived deep in the Everfree, far away from Ponykind. Although I had never seen one in my life I had heard the stories on just how much of a terrifying sight they were.

Their bodies were twisted, composed of the parts of several different creatures at once. The front was that of a lion's with razor sharp claws on the forelegs, while the back was that of a goat's.

Two heads hunted in the front, two pairs of eyes stalking and following their quarries, two massive jaws that could bite with incredible force, two sets of terrifying teeth and fangs. There was no chance of escape for you if you were close to it, no matter how hard you tried to hide.

But the most notorious part of the creature was by far the tail, which was the body of a serpent with a viper's head on its end. It did not use venom, but instead was known to terrible flames of bright fire like a dragon, and could strike at lightening speeds. If you managed to survive the front of the monster, the back would surely get you.

The Chimera was a relative of the Manticore and in many ways they were very similar. Both lived deep in the Everfree Forest and other remote areas of Equestria. They were both carnivorous and were among the top predators of their food chains.

But when it came to instinct they were nothing alike. Manticore's, while dangerous, preferred to stay away from Pony civilization and even in the Everfree they tried to avoid us as much as possible. Also with enough time and care you could tame a Manticore no matter how dangerous they may be. Fluttershy had demonstrated that several times in the past. With Manticore's, you could sometimes reason with them.

You can't reason with a Chimera.

If a Chimera see's you, it will never stop pursuing you. They are relentless in their hunt. Fighting them doesn't help much either, only provoking the savage creature even more. Some legends even say that magic is completely useless against them. I hope I don't have to test out that rumor.

The tracks were made in a patch of soft mud along the riverbank. By my guesses I would say they were only a few hours old, maybe fewer. It was hard to tell, but the Chimera could very well still be in the area, perhaps a lost closer than I wanted. I didn't want to find out.

I began to move away from the river, cutting through the underbrush at the edge of the beach and back into the dense woodland. There were still a few hours of daylight left before Luna raised the moon for the night. I still had some time to travel south, but after my discovery of the tracks, I decided not to stay close to the river. Many herbivores would come down here to drink early in the evening, and that would attract predators; predators that I would rather avoid.

As I went my mind raced. How close could this Chimera be? Was it hunting me right now? Ultimately I'd rather it be me than Pinkie Pie. At least I could use my magic to defend myself, or run away if needed. But what if Pinkie Pie had already run into it earlier today? What if it was hunting her right now?

I stepped up my pace.

By the end of the day I had reached the edge of the bogs. "The air around me slowly grew even more humid, and the ground was replaced with mud." Still, there was no sign of the pink pony along the way, just the occasional calls of distant animals.

By now the sun was beginning to set in the distance and darkness would soon be upon the landscape. My entire body was aching from a long day of traveling and my hunger had returned. I decided not to venture any farther.

I made camp just outside the marshes. After finding an ideal location I quickly scouted out the area around the site and picked up several pieces of dry timber and kindling scattered along the forest floor. I brought the pile to the site and arranged carefully till a small teepee had been formed from the branches. A few rocks were used to help support the structure, keeping it sturdy. Finally, I tucked some dry leaves in the base where I would start the fire.

Everything was set. All it needed now was a spark. I carefully lowered my horn into the leaf pile and lit up my horn. A small flash of bright light emitted from the tip and the increasing heat around me told me to pull away. The fire at first was humble in size, a small flame in the middle of the teepee, but as the rest of the wood heated up, it too became lit and the fire slowly spread. Before long, the entire teepee was ablaze and illuminated the clearing. I was staying the night in.

By now Celestia's sun had completely fallen over the horizon and Luna's moon was hovering high above the Equestrian sky. It was due for a new moon soon however and its presence was only dim and minute. The fire more than made up for it though. Its flickering form cast brilliant light and shadows around the clearing. I felt more secure, but I knew there was one more thing I could do.

As I had left for the Everfree I had remembered a crucial spell that would help me get through the forest's nights. After surveying the clearing again and making sure nothing was watching me, I lit up my horn again and carefully concentrated my magic. A purple stream of energy began to emit from my horn, traveling up into the sky several meters before reaching the first layer of tree branches.

At that point I diverted my concentration and began forming a large spread of energy from the tip of the stream. I was creating a magic ward, like the one I had used to surround the library once a couple of years back. The shield began to grow out like a flowing stream till it reached the ground in a circular path. Before long I had completely surrounded the entire camp side in a giant purple hemisphere, ten meters in circumference.

I made sure the shield was stable before releasing my magic. By now my forehead was covered in sweat and a small headache had erupted in me, but I paid no mind to it. If it was all to keep me safe during the night, then I more than welcomed it. I walked up to the magical barrier and tapped it with my hoof. It was solid, as hard as stone. Nothing would be getting in here tonight, from the forest or above. I was safe.

There was nothing else I could do to find Pinkie or the flowers at this point. I knew getting a good night's sleep and starting up early tomorrow was the most important objective now. I spent the next hour or so settling down, eating half of another sandwich and quenching my thirst again. As I did I thought to the challenges of tomorrow.

[i]Where do I go now? What do I do tomorrow? Do I continue on to Ghastly Gorge, or should I stay in the Everfree for another day?[/i]

I sighed as I looked into the dark woods outside the shield, the sound of the campfire being the only noise in the tranquil night. It was hard to guess where exactly Pinkie was going. The cure required samples of both plants, the Seraph and the Nightshade. Would she go straight into the Gorge to get the Seraph, or would she search around the forest for the Nightshade? With Pinkie it was always difficult to decipher what could be going on inside her mind.

The light at my campsite began to dwindle as the flames slowly began to die. It was still early in the evening, but I wanted to get an early start tomorrow. The more time I had in the light to search for her, the better. I pulled my blanket and pillow out of the bag and prepared for a much-needed night's rest.

Plowing my head into my pillow, I tried to relax my mind, pulling my thoughts away from the worries that shrouded it, like a destructive hurricane. The thought of Pinkie Pie being out alone in this dark place was too unnerving for me.

How would she make it? She has so little to defend herself with. What would she do if something was to find her, like that Chimera?

"Please be safe." I softly spoke, hoping that somehow she could hear my voice in the vast woodland. Then I closed my eyes and dozed off for the night.

I found myself running through the Everfree. The forest was covered in a dense fog that enveloped the entire place, blocking out the sun and preventing any light from seeping in.

I ran. I couldn't see where I was going; my view was too restricted. Even so I felt that I was getting nowhere. Every tree, every shrub, they all looked the same to me. Nothing stood out.

I tried changing direction, going left, and then right, nothing changed. The landscape was all the same no matter where I turned. I was lost.

"Pinkie!" I called out, hoping to hear her chirpy voice respond to my desperate calls. Silence. I continued running.

The forest was dead silent; even the air was completely still. The only sounds were of my own hooves as they trudged through the forest, snapping branches and crushing leaves as I moved briskly. My eyes darted left and right, searching, hoping for something to greet my eyes. I felt helpless.

"Pinkie!" I called out again. "Where are you?"

I came to a clearing. The trees and undergrowth seemed to part away from me and I found myself surrounded by fog. Now I couldn't see anything. I came to a stop to catch my breath.

Then I saw it; a small figure curled up on the ground. Even in the fog I could see that it was unconscious. I felt a spark of hope flair up in my heart.

"Pinkie?" I called out as I ran towards the figure. As I got closer the figure began to take better shape. The body was vivid pink and it sported a curly mane and tail. My spirits soared. She was safe!

"Pinkie!"

Suddenly I felt something grab my hind legs, jerking me to a stop and sending me face first into the ground. I yelled as a burning pain radiated throughout my head and legs.

The force that had seized me began to tug and I felt myself being pulled back away from Pinkie. I looked behind me, trying to see what had ahold of me, but its form was concealed within the fog. I looked forward and saw Pinkie Pie, still curled up asleep in the middle of the clearing.

"Pinkie!" I called out desperately. I got up and tried to fight whatever was pulling me back, but whatever had my legs just yanked me backwards again. The grip tightened and I felt several sharp pricks bite into my skin, causing me to scream in pain. No matter how hard I fought, I couldn't get out of its grasp.

Then I saw it, a figure coming out of the fog behind Pinkie. Its huge form was coming down upon the unexpecting pony. I couldn't make out what it was but all I needed to see was the shape of its two heads before the alarm went off inside my head.

"Pinkie! Run!"

The creature bore down on her, its monstrous form closing in on my friend. She remained motionless on the ground. The grip on my leg pulled back sharply and I felt myself helplessly dragged backwards, the fog growing denser in front of me. The last I saw of Pinkie was the creature leaping in the air towards her.

"PINKIE!"

I gasped as I awakened from my sleep, my head and mane soaked in sweat. My heart was pounding violently in my chest from shock and my breathing was quick and raspy. It was still dark outside, the moon hovering high in the night sky and my protective shield was still up. The fog was gone; the creature had vanished, the grip on my legs...

The grip, the same sharp grip that had ahold of my hind legs in the dream, was still present. I yelped in pain as I felt it digging into my skin. I grabbed my blanket and tossed it aside and screamed in horror at what I saw. The shield had done a good job keeping out the creatures of the forest and sky, but was worthless with keeping out those who came from underneath.

A Dragonsnare, a deadly underground plant which preyed on the sleeping.

Several spiked vines had emerged from the soil and were wrapping around my legs, constricting them and digging their thorns into my skin. My mind fully awake, I tried to escape but they immediately tugged and pulled me back to the ground. Two more emerged in front of me and quickly bound my forelegs, preventing any chances of my escape.

"GAHHHH!" I screamed as I struggled, but the vines only tightened their grip. I winced as I felt the blood flow in my legs being cut off and the thorns dig deeper. Another vine emerged and wrapped around my waist before pulling my entire body to the ground, pinning me on the forest floor.

Think Twilight, Think! My mind ran as I tried to recall everything I knew about the Dragonsnare.

Binds its victims, thorns as sharp as needles, grips like a snake, only comes out at night, can't live in the sun's rays...

LIGHT!

The vine around my waist to began to tighten as it started to squeeze the life out of me. I gasped as I was asphyxiate. With each passing second it became harder and harder for me to breath.I had to act fast.

I quickly lit up my horn and put all of my energy into my magic. A powerful radiant white light emitted from the tip, illuminating the entire campsite in a lambent glow that swept the night's darkness away. Immediately, the vines the released me and began retreating into the forest from whence they came, away from the light.

As soon as I was free I ran over to my campfire, which was nothing more than a bed of coals by now. I still had a little bit of tenderling available, I quickly piled it on top of the coals and focused my magic on the base, intensifying the heat of the coalbed and growing the flames as they ignited the tenderling.

Soon the campfire was blazing, flickering its lucent warm lights around the clearing and radiating in the reflection of my forcefield. I collapsed on the ground, gasping and wheezing as my breathing returned to normal. I looked behind me and saw the last of the snare's vines escape into the soil.

I examined myself. The thorns had left countless scars and pricks across my coat but besides that I didn't see any serious injuries to be worried about. It was nothing that had to be tended to. I had been lucky, but the encounter practically ruined the night for me.

I couldn't fall back to sleep.

The rest of the night was long and dreadful. My body ached and burned from the encounter with the Dragonsnare and the very fact that I couldn't fall back to sleep. I didn't want to at this point though. My campfire burned out not long after I had awoken and I was forced to keep my horn lit for the remainder of the evening.

Thankfully I had been awoken late in the night. Before I knew it I saw the first rays of Celestia's sun peeking through the trees as they parted away the dark sky, signaling morning to come. I smiled, relieved that my first night alone in the Everfree was coming to a close.

The early morning air was cool and crisp, perfect for traveling, and I didn't want to waste any of it. I quickly packed up my belongings, removed my shield, and prepared to continue my journey. Just as I was leaving the clearing however, I noticed something sticking out of a thicket in the woods, away from the campsite.

At first I didn't make much of it and was about to shrug it off when I noticed its color. Bright White. Curiosity quickly got the better of me and I began making my way towards it. It wasn't till I was a few meters away when I began to make out what the object was, and a pang of fear spread through me.

I hurried over to the thicket and grabbed the white bulk with my magic. Twigs snapped and cracked as I freed it from its prison. I levitated it in front of my and a heavy weight formed in the pit of my stomach as I clarified what I had found.

A white saddlebag with a now broken strap with three balloons painted on the side, two blue, one yellow, and a claw mark ripping through all three.

The dream started again as my voice cried out for Pinkie.