On the edge of the Everfree Forest, a sturdy door creaked open, revealing Caramel, a strong earth pony known for his sweet disposition and tireless spirit for knowledge, shown from the books on ancient fruits that he placed back into his bag upon exiting the cart. Stepping out with him was a purple dragon cloaked in a black cloak, a pair of goggles, and an assortment of weapons on clear display under his garb. The two were complete opposites to each and yet their accompaniment was far from the strangest thing happening today.
They were met with utter silence upon the forest front. Ponyville had long burned to ash, so the last of sound behind them made sense, but Everfree Forest was always loud with its twisting branches and distinct monsters. Any who lived their expect even the smallest of bouts, not absolute nothingness. It left them both completely unsettled. Caramel turned to the dragon and answered. "Things have changed much since your return, but not this much."
The purple dragon shrugged and tapped the small case on his side. "I've changed far more than these trees have. My collection shall protect us." He looked over the dark forest. Together, the duo made their way into the shadowy embrace of the Everfree Forest, their hearts burdened by the pasts of these lands yet resolute.
Images of his beloved wife, Strawberry filled Caramel with anticipation as they drew closer. A mix of a desire to see her again with the fear of what might have happened to make the Everfree Forest so silent possibly affecting her too. Venturing deeper into the forest, a sense of foreboding clawed at his back. No, it wasn't just that, it felt like something was literally clawing into his flesh from the shadows around him.
Upon reaching Strawberry's cottage, the refurbished former home of Zecora no less, the warm glow of light that usually spilled from the windows over the long garden that bore her name was conspicuously absent. Caramel felt his heart rate quicken upon lifting the torches to reveal thousands of crops decaying at a fast rate, slowly being replaced by the giant blackened vines that had consumed many cities nearby. He had seen such a thing before and it was not the natural rot of a plant, but rather the rapid death caused by a necrotic curse. The Everfree Forest had been a deterrent to the King's power vines and seed thrones ever since he rose to power. To see them fall and surrender even slightly was shattered his mind.
The dragon didn't like the look of all this either, holding a strong resolve to his small case should the need to open it rise. His sharpened and aged senses were picking up a lot more than Caramel. The dragon scanned the darkness for any signs of movement, knowing a trap was obvious. There was no point in trying to sneak up, if the enemy knew they were here.
However, Caramel lacked all that experience. "Strawberry!" The earth pony shouted without any hesitation. He dropped the torch, which lit up a small amount of the area, and rushed to the front door of his home at the slightest echo from inside.
"Fool..." The purple dragon popped the lock on his case and held back his movements. Shadows fell over them as Caramel reached the edge of no return. Emerging from the depths were thousands upon millions of blackened strings, weaving around the cottage and its garden, twisting around their feet and forcing them to the ground.
The door popped open and Strawberry could be seen bound to the floor as well. Her attacker standing over her, looking at them. The blackened stitches were flowing from the rotting corpse held up by the mind beyond the body's original owner. Stepping forth with no need to intrude herself, Veiled Mare applauded their arrival. "Just as the King suspects an earth pony with a dragon by his side," she crooned, her voice dripping with malice. "You've come to save your lovely Strawberry?" She dropped her corpse's head over the mare and cackled out loud. "All I desire is the Diamond Zap Apples... And the dragon..." She pointed out to him
Caramel stood tall, forcing down his fear. However, confusion also fueled his actions. He knew about the fruits for months. They were the very thing that brought him and Strawberry together. There was always a suspicion that King Kray might one day come for the power of those fruits. However, how did she even know he would be arriving with the dragon?! They just met on the chariot that brought him home. The dragon never disclosed the reason why he was going to same way he was. The earth pony was simply glad to have company. And yet upon looking to his ally for answers greater questions arose.
The dragon was smiling with proud strength and valor. Unbothered by the strings binding them down, as though he were waiting for this. With his case opening a faint glow echoed out. Without saying a word, using purely his muscles alone the purple dragon broke the strings and vanished. Both were caught completely off-guard, Veiled Mare's magic flared out around her in an attempt to find him again. Much to her shock, he completely vanished without a single trace.
The dragon appeared right beside the mare, his case open. From its depths, he revealed his most prized and rare possession. A curved blade with a metal hand-shaped bottom cap. Its blackened steel glowed white and cut through the blackness of her power. Such random unique magic made her jump back and away from the weapon. Her eyes glared as she held up her arms, attempting to conjure more strings, only for them to vanish the moment they got near him. She could sense the difference between total destruction of a normal fight compared to this. His power wasn't simply destroying them, but rather teleporting them away.
The dragon smirked. "What's the matter?" He tilted his head and held the blade high. "Don't like fighting on my terms?" He vanished again, this time making a distinct cutting noise before reappearing over her head. Veiled Mare wrapped her strings around his body this time instead of the blade, moving his limb toward Strawberry's throat. He was shocked by this and called the weapon back into the case without needing to sheath it.
Veiled Mare smiled wickedly as his blade retreated. Now free to bend him back under her will, she flicked him to the floor and bashed his body about the room. "There is nothing you can do to stop me." Her strings grew tighter and pulled Strawberry's body against her. However, she was too caught up in her victory, letting go of Caramel in the same action.
The earth pony rushed to his beloved wife's side. He jumped between her and Veiled Mare, holding Strawberry back as the purple dragon called back his blade. This managed to finally land a plow, carving up Veiled Mare's chest. Blood spilled over them, only for the enemy to laugh and cackle out louder. Her power faded either way, so Caramel picked up his wife and carried her to safety. He tried his best to ignore the horrid state she was in, holding her close as she struggled for air.
Veiled Mare lay on the floor, her body ravaged by a grievous wound bleeding profusely. The dragon, with scales that shimmered like amethyst in the fading light of his blade, loomed over her. His eyes were fierce and unforgiving, burning into the mind and soul of the demon before him. The creature had no remorse, no guilt for the horrors it had inflicted upon others. At this moment, there was nothing the dragon could do to save the host body from her might.
With narrowed eyes, he kept a watchful gaze on the Veiled Mare, assessing the severity of her injuries. Though she seemed fragile, the dragon understood that appearances could be deceiving. Her ethereal strings glimmered faintly in the dimness. He could see them weave through the air, fine and delicate, as if they were a tapestry that bore the weight of her very soul.
As the giant gaping wound began to close. Just as the dragon suspected, the strings were working against the ravages and the wound and the gushing blood. A soft hum echoed in the air, barely perceptible to the mortal ear, as she conjured the remnants of her strength through sheer willpower.