"No offense, Rarity," Fluttershy whispered. "This is a nice outfit and all, but it's not really appropriate for walking through the forest."
Rarity had dressed her in a long, flowing green gown and had curled her hair. The six of them were trudging through the Everfree Forest, Twilight lighting the way with her horn.
"So have you thought about what you are going to say?" Rarity asked Fluttershy, ignoring her comment.
"What do you mean?"
"Um, hello? You're about to confess to the one you love that...well, that you love him! You have to do this by the book!"
"I was just going to apologize for everything I said first and then tell him."
"You sure it was wise not to wait until morning?" Applejack inquired. "This forest is even more dangerous after dark."
"The longer we wait, the lonelier he gets! I have to tell him now before something bad happens."
"Ooh, ooh!" Pinkie cried, bouncing up and down. "After you tell him, can we celebrate with a I-Found-My-True-Love Party?!"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "AJ's right. It's not safe out here. Who knows what could be lurking in those trees?"
"I don't care!" Fluttershy declared. "I need to see him! I will do whatever it takes!"
"Wow," Twilight marveled. "You've really changed, Fluttershy."
"How so?"
"For one thing, you're much braver. You haven't shuddered or squealed once since we entered the forest."
The pegasus pondered on this and realized that her friend was right. She had not even thought of the dangers in the woods until Applejack and Rainbow had brought them up. She concluded that after spending a month with Discord, who had been the object of her nightmares for a long time, she was not so afraid of other creatures anymore.
"By the way, Applejack," said Rarity, "at dinner, you said we 'didn't get it.' Did you know Fluttershy was in love?" The cowgirl nodded. "How?"
"It was pretty obvious. She showed all the signs."
"Maybe, but...at the party...you said I knew nothing about romance..."
"Sorry, I just got upset, is all."
"But...you do?"
Applejack blushed. "I, uh..." She halted suddenly. "Y'all hear that?"
"Really, Applejack, if you don't want to answer the question..."
"Shhh. Listen!"
Every pony stopped in their tracks and silenced. They heard a low growl behind them and then the snap of a twig. They spun around and saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing in the darkness of the trees. Applejack took a sniff of the air and gasped.
"Run," she muttered.
No pony thought twice. As soon as they took off, a pack of Timberwolves leapt out of the trees and pursued the group.
"Why is it always Timberwolves?!" Twilight shouted.
Applejack abruptly stopped. "Y'all go on ahead. I'll lead 'em off."
"You mean we'll lead 'em off!" Rainbow exclaimed, flying down to her side. "I'm not leaving you hanging."
The cowgirl grinned. "On my signal, you go right and I go left." She waved her hooves at the approaching pack. "Hey, ya big goons! Over here!"
"Yeah, you ain't so tough!" Rainbow taunted, blowing a raspberry at them.
The wooden beasts roared in anger and sped up.
