(First fanfic in years. Only doing a little bit at a time where I can spare a few minutes, and holding back that persistant nagging feeling of OH GOD WRITING MLP FANFICTION. Something a little different maybe?) CHAPTER 1 The air was heavy with clouds - more than usual today. Some of the pegasi weren't going to work today. They were solemnly standing on the sad little hills outside of town, as the coffins were lowered. An orchard without a tender. A secret society without a member. There was one who wasn't in attendance, much as she wanted to be. She had a much more important job. Which is why, on this sad day, a pegasus crept into and out of the empty library. The mail must always go through. Especially today. --- "I still don't believe it," muttered Twilight Sparkle as she trudged home, slower than usual, carrying her dragon companion on her back as always. Spike petted her on the head. "I can't either. It's bad enough losing Applejack that way, but Applebloom too? Makes you think." The unicorn shook her head. "No, I mean I don't belive it happened the way they said it did!" "Not this again," Spike sighed. "You heard what the police said. She was making bootleg cider and caused an explosion." "But it doesn't add up! Applejack has... had been making moonshine for a long time, she wouldn't make a mistake like that! And there's no way you can accidentally make an explosion big enough to destroy a farmhouse! And where were the bodies? Why couldn't they find any trace of either of them?" "Twilight, you always get this way when you're upset, it's not good for you. You just need to-- Did you leave the front door open when we left?" She shook her head... and then saw the library door too, swinging in the breeze. Had someone broken in? She rushed inside. Some frantic searching found that nothing had been stolen. Twilight leaned against the wall in exhaustion, and chanced to see something that had not been removed, but added. An envelope. "Spike, take a look at this. No address on the front... no return address..." "Smells funny though." He took a sniff of the paper. "Like... apples!" "Does that mean it's from..." She frantically tore at the paper with her teeth, forgetting her magic in the excitement. Inside was a short letter, stained with what appeared to be tears. She read it. And then a second time. And a third. "Let me see!" the dragon exclaimed, snatching it away. He began to read it himself, and his breath caught in his throat. --- Dear Twilight Sparkle If you're reading this then everything went as I planned. You've probably poked all sorts of holes in the story by now so I'll be truthful. I'm not dead. I have to skip town, and take my sister with me, without anypony knowing I was still alive. So I'm setting off a keg of my special boomshine to make it look like I blew myself up. Please don't tell anypony, not even the other girls. You're the only one I can trust. There's more going on in this town than you know. Dangerous things. But I think you're the only one clever enough to put an end to it. I won't force anything on you. If you don't want to get involved then burn this letter and forget all about it. Otherwise, go to the bushes north of the park fountain at 1am tonight, and you'll see the truth of Ponyville. Go alone. Be careful, and I'm sorry. Take care of my granny for me. Applejack --- TO BE CONTINUED