Spoiler
It was a calm day in the meadow. Scarlet felt the gentle breeze against her muzzle, the grass swaying like rippling water. She hummed gently as she magically levitated a sketch pad out of her saddlebag, and a quill. The ink well was already beside her hoof. With her magic, Scarlet dipped the quill into the ink well, and started to sketch the environment. The lush grass, the surrounding trees, flora and fauna she sketched with detail. Suddenly, a noise arose from deep within the surrounding forests. Scarlet dropped her quill onto the grass and listened to the noise. It sounded like a continuous beat of a drum. Scarlet, as a very curious pony, got up and cantered to the edge of the meadow. She entered the forest, not knowing what to expect.
The forest was covered with a canopy of leaves, cooling down Scarlet immensely. The grass was darker, less vibrant here. A chill creeped up her neck as she walked through the forest, a feeling she was being watched. She shook it off. Surely nothing was there that could hurt her? Denying the prospect of being hurt or ambushed in the seemingly deserted forest, she carried on. The trees which were by her side had dark, spruce like wood. It's leaves dropped small drops of water onto Scarlet, but she didn't mind a drop or two of water. It was virtually harmless. As she went deeper into the heart of the forest Scarlet heard a rustle from a nearby bush. "Who's there?" She asked in a high, scared voice. There was no answer, but Scarlet still felt the strange sensation of being watched. "Unlikely, very unlikely..." Scarlet told herself, but she still didn't doubt that she had heard that rustle from the bush.
Suddenly a harsh, cold wind blew from in front of Scarlet. Her amber hair fluttered out behind her, showing the gradual change from amber to a orange like red. Once the wind had stopped Scarlet felt a small pain in her back left leg. She looked at it. There was a cut on it, which seemed to have been caused by a rouge piece of wood flying about during the wind. She ignored it, and carried on stumbling slightly. As she carried on the air became crisper and the forest she was in became quiet. The only sound were her hoof steps. As the forest became darker Scarlet frowned. She couldn't go on any longer without food or sleep. She went over to a patch of grass. "No, no food. I'll have to suffice with good sleep. Then I'll go back home." She said to herself before lying down, and closing her eyes.
Chapter 1
Scarlet stirred slightly before opening her eyes. There was still that irritating feeling in her back leg. She got up, and stretched. Her tummy rumbled. "This was definitely a lost cause. I better get something to eat before I head home..." She thought out loud before searching her surroundings for something to eat. She headed in a general east direction (she had learnt compass points at school). Eventually, after about half an hour of searching, she found a tall, dark wooded tree. It's leaves were a pale, ghostly green and it bore red, juicy and shiny apples. She galloped towards the tree, her tummy rumbling more than ever.
Once she had reached the tree, she saw something quite peculiar. It's roots were covered in a thin, black layer of ,what she presumed to be, unicorn magic. It seemed to be strapping itself tighter around the roots, and growing towards the core of the tree itself. She bit her lip, it could be dangerous eating those apples with the magic growing towards them. She quickly grabbed the apple on the nearest branch with her magic and put it in front of her eyes. It was like a red, shinning gem of which she would consume its beauty and flavour. But she then noticed some of the magic strapped to the end of the core. It was growing steadily towards her treasured prize. She watched in horror as it consumed her only means of food, then the black substance fell of. Under it was a corrupted version of her apple. She dropped it in shock. The now dark green apple stirred as it fell before cracking open and revealing its insides once it had fallen.
Suddenly, a rustling of bushes behind her marked the arrival of somepony new. It was a green pony, her golden, curled mane hanging down and her tail in a plait.
"Come with me." She hissed, her green eyes darting between the tree and Scarlet. She faded into the bushes and Scarlet, her curiosity getting the better of her again, darted after the mysterious pony. As she followed, they got deeper into the forest. They then came across a tree which had a door and was hollow. "This is my home. I live away from the others. Are you investigating the corruption too?" She asked Scarlet, who had only understood half of it. When Scarlet, wearing a confused look on her face, did not answer the other pony sighed. "Come in. We'll discuss the matters at hoof inside." She said, beckoning Scarlet inside.
As Scarlet entered the building, the most distinguishable features was the assortment of furniture. All the wooden tables were in a huddle in the middle of he room, all different woods. The kitchen had a small oak coffee table, a few cupboards and a fire, its floor was not log like the rest of the house but cobblestone. The lounge was made of two beds, set up like couches, and a small counter making the couches adjacent. It took quite a while for Scarlet to take the bizarre look of the other pony's home in. Suddenly, Scarlet was snapped back to reality when the other pony beckoned her onto one of the couches. Once she had gotten on one, she felt very comfy. Then the other pony started to talk.
"I am not like the others, I'm more like you ponies. I do not steal love, but take it freely from someone who gives it to me. Ive lived in the Everfree ever since the invasion. My name is Dark Gem. Now, I believe the corruption started from someone practising dark magic, but that might be just my thoughts. It could be anything." She sighed before going on. "I'm guessing you heard the drum beats too? I have not yet thought of an explanation for this strange occurrence." She concluded before looking up at Scarlet, who was wearing quite a surprised face. Then the pony looked out of a small window. "It is about five o'clock. I'm sure you would want something to eat?" She asked and as Scarlet nodded, passed over a apricot.
The forest was covered with a canopy of leaves, cooling down Scarlet immensely. The grass was darker, less vibrant here. A chill creeped up her neck as she walked through the forest, a feeling she was being watched. She shook it off. Surely nothing was there that could hurt her? Denying the prospect of being hurt or ambushed in the seemingly deserted forest, she carried on. The trees which were by her side had dark, spruce like wood. It's leaves dropped small drops of water onto Scarlet, but she didn't mind a drop or two of water. It was virtually harmless. As she went deeper into the heart of the forest Scarlet heard a rustle from a nearby bush. "Who's there?" She asked in a high, scared voice. There was no answer, but Scarlet still felt the strange sensation of being watched. "Unlikely, very unlikely..." Scarlet told herself, but she still didn't doubt that she had heard that rustle from the bush.
Suddenly a harsh, cold wind blew from in front of Scarlet. Her amber hair fluttered out behind her, showing the gradual change from amber to a orange like red. Once the wind had stopped Scarlet felt a small pain in her back left leg. She looked at it. There was a cut on it, which seemed to have been caused by a rouge piece of wood flying about during the wind. She ignored it, and carried on stumbling slightly. As she carried on the air became crisper and the forest she was in became quiet. The only sound were her hoof steps. As the forest became darker Scarlet frowned. She couldn't go on any longer without food or sleep. She went over to a patch of grass. "No, no food. I'll have to suffice with good sleep. Then I'll go back home." She said to herself before lying down, and closing her eyes.
Chapter 1
Scarlet stirred slightly before opening her eyes. There was still that irritating feeling in her back leg. She got up, and stretched. Her tummy rumbled. "This was definitely a lost cause. I better get something to eat before I head home..." She thought out loud before searching her surroundings for something to eat. She headed in a general east direction (she had learnt compass points at school). Eventually, after about half an hour of searching, she found a tall, dark wooded tree. It's leaves were a pale, ghostly green and it bore red, juicy and shiny apples. She galloped towards the tree, her tummy rumbling more than ever.
Once she had reached the tree, she saw something quite peculiar. It's roots were covered in a thin, black layer of ,what she presumed to be, unicorn magic. It seemed to be strapping itself tighter around the roots, and growing towards the core of the tree itself. She bit her lip, it could be dangerous eating those apples with the magic growing towards them. She quickly grabbed the apple on the nearest branch with her magic and put it in front of her eyes. It was like a red, shinning gem of which she would consume its beauty and flavour. But she then noticed some of the magic strapped to the end of the core. It was growing steadily towards her treasured prize. She watched in horror as it consumed her only means of food, then the black substance fell of. Under it was a corrupted version of her apple. She dropped it in shock. The now dark green apple stirred as it fell before cracking open and revealing its insides once it had fallen.
Suddenly, a rustling of bushes behind her marked the arrival of somepony new. It was a green pony, her golden, curled mane hanging down and her tail in a plait.
"Come with me." She hissed, her green eyes darting between the tree and Scarlet. She faded into the bushes and Scarlet, her curiosity getting the better of her again, darted after the mysterious pony. As she followed, they got deeper into the forest. They then came across a tree which had a door and was hollow. "This is my home. I live away from the others. Are you investigating the corruption too?" She asked Scarlet, who had only understood half of it. When Scarlet, wearing a confused look on her face, did not answer the other pony sighed. "Come in. We'll discuss the matters at hoof inside." She said, beckoning Scarlet inside.
As Scarlet entered the building, the most distinguishable features was the assortment of furniture. All the wooden tables were in a huddle in the middle of he room, all different woods. The kitchen had a small oak coffee table, a few cupboards and a fire, its floor was not log like the rest of the house but cobblestone. The lounge was made of two beds, set up like couches, and a small counter making the couches adjacent. It took quite a while for Scarlet to take the bizarre look of the other pony's home in. Suddenly, Scarlet was snapped back to reality when the other pony beckoned her onto one of the couches. Once she had gotten on one, she felt very comfy. Then the other pony started to talk.
"I am not like the others, I'm more like you ponies. I do not steal love, but take it freely from someone who gives it to me. Ive lived in the Everfree ever since the invasion. My name is Dark Gem. Now, I believe the corruption started from someone practising dark magic, but that might be just my thoughts. It could be anything." She sighed before going on. "I'm guessing you heard the drum beats too? I have not yet thought of an explanation for this strange occurrence." She concluded before looking up at Scarlet, who was wearing quite a surprised face. Then the pony looked out of a small window. "It is about five o'clock. I'm sure you would want something to eat?" She asked and as Scarlet nodded, passed over a apricot.
That's it so far. I'm sorry it's so short, but it is a WIP.
Edited by Purple Shadows, 26 November 2013 - 07:39 AM.



