Chapter 2

Twilight galloped into the darkness. She sped down the path, but found herself on familiar territory. This was the path to Sweet Apple Acres, the home of her friend Applejack. Twilight started to slow down, taking note of her surroundings, breathing in the chilly night air. She smelt nothing. The usually fragrant pastures were now completely odourless. She noticed apple trees becoming more and more prominent, as well as more gray and dead, blocked off from the living by a line of white picket fences. She followed them, a wind starting to pick up, the trees waving her towards the farm. As she arrived on the complex, she could see a faint light coming from the large barn where the Apple family keeps their farm equipment. Twilight walked further onto the property, everything else falling silent, even the wind. She slowed her pace even more, moving in quite steps, her hooves barely making a sinking into the soil.

She crept closer and closer to the barn. The large front door was cracked open slightly, allowing her some sight of the inside. Twilight leaned up to the doorway, red paint chips coming off into her coat. She swung her around the door, sticking her muzzle through the thin entryway, taking a good look on the inside. It was empty. Twilight stepped further in, her front legs crossing the threshold, opening the barn door further with a creak. The barn was brightly lit by a lamp, the fireflies inside flying in spastic patterns. She crept in closer still, her hindlegs finally crossing into the barn. The smell of hay overpowered her. She had not eaten for days, but she wasn’t swayed by the alfalfa. She investigated the many tall stacks of hay bales, sniffing them intently and eyeing each carefully. They were put into neat pyramids. She eyed the precision of the placed bales, taking note of their shape. Only one pony could not only lift these large bales, but also put them away so carefully. But the unicorn felt shock run up and down her spine, as she heard the long squeal of a large door.

She froze. She wasn’t sure what lay behind that door, but she didn’t really want to stick around to find out. The unicorn looked around in a panic as the barn door began to open. She stood her ground, having nowhere to go, and faced the intruder. The figure walked into the barn. It was a tall stallion, his coat a bright red and freckles lining the brim of his muzzle. It was Big Macintosh. Twilight was somewhat relieved, seeing the first sign of life all night. But something seemed off about him, but the studious pony was stumped as to what it was.

“Twilight?” he asked simply in his low Southern accent. Big Macintosh was a stallion of few words, but managed to get his point across easily. He looked at the mare with a strange look, not sure why or how she was here. “AJ’s still asleep. Should be for some time.” he continued. Big Macintosh was always the first pony awake in Ponyville. He trotted over to a hay bale and picked a stem of alfalfa and chewed on it.

“Big Mac. Wh-why are you so pale?” Twilight asked, her voice beginning to shudder. Big Macintosh’s usually bright red coat had now taken to a whiter shade, almost as if he was sick, or worse. The workhorse said nothing, just staring at the mare that stood before him. He gave a vacant expression, not uncommon for him. But not only was his face blank, his eyes were as well. Usually as green as the fields he worked in, his eyes looked empty and black as night, taking a glazed look. The vacancy of his eyes stared down into Twilight’s very essence, causing her to lower her ears, intimidated by the large stallion.

“A-are you...dead?” the unicorn’s mouth was starting to dry out, fear filling her throat. Big Macintosh came closer, his pale coat getting thinner and thinner with every step, the dirt beneath him turning a sickly black colour patches. His normally stoic face was now twitching and contorting into a wicked smile, showing his sharpened teeth. Twilight backed up, trying to escape but finding no exit. Big Macintosh came even closer, his fur thinning even more, now revealing his taut grey muscles. He kept a low yet aggressive stance, creeping slowly towards his victim.

Twilight found herself touching the back wall of the barn; the hash, unfinished wood catching her coat as she pushed and rubbed into it, desperate to escape the villain.

“Big Mac, please don’t!” Twilight exclaimed; the stallion now muzzle to muzzle with her. His grin grew wider and wider, his forked licking his sharp fangs. His breath was cold, with the ever present smell of decay; it sickened Twilight. He chuckled lowly, his voice now coughing and hacking, bringing a hoof to her face and gliding it across her cheek. She stared at the hoof in terror It was mangled and rotting, barely attached to his foreleg. Twilight began to shriek loudly and pushed to evil entity away with all her might. He staggered back, quickly regaining his footing and starting after her, leaving more black spots behind him. The unicorn neighed loudly in despair, storming out the barn, Big Macintosh following close behind. He was still chuckling, now turning into manic laughter.

“No! Stop it! Leave me alone!” she shouted at the distorted stallion who was struggling to keep pace. Twilight ran down the path back to Ponyville, the wind picking up more, and leaves of once healthy trees blowing into her face. She zigged and zagged, trying to avoid the falling leaves and the zombie behind her. She managed to jump a white picket fence, landing in the apple fields and galloped into the wilderness. The mystery of the Everfree forest welcomed her, the morning sun rising behind it, drawing her in.

Twilight stopped, gaining back her breath. She stood before the ever expansive wilderness, the unknown staring straight at her. No boundaries, no rules, no bindings of law. Twilight wanted it. She wanted it now.