She wished she could have seen it before it came, yet when the letters rained down she knew it was already too late.

Orchard had gathered up as many things that she could. Food, water, a few lanterns and a small amount of medical supplies. She felt thankful Rainbow Dash had dropped Appleblooms friend with her a day prior, yet was angry she couldnt have the foresight that the Element seemed to somehow have. They could have left, been safe by now... have Applejack with them too. Yet, for nearly an hour Orchard had been tried, tiredly and desperately to fight to get Granny Smith to come with them.

Both mares were stubborn, all four of the Apples were. Some would say this was their greatest strength - yet it was only their greatest downfall. Granny vehemently refused to budge until her grandmares to return. She couldn't accept that they were gone... Orchard couldnt blame her, as neither could she. She knew that her sister - neither of them, would ever return home. Yet, a small part of her prayed that Applejack would walk through the door after she had saved the day again. The small smirk on her face, with the freckles that looked just like their mothers, and the confidence that their father gleamed with. She never would walk through the barn doors.

When her words caught her tongue, Orchard knew she was out of chips to bargain, and she knew she needed to leave. Yet, when she turned away she hoped maybe Her Grandmare would speak again - yet she was met with the cold silence of a home that now belonged to the Apple family spirits that stayed to linger, and the mare who was ready to greet them all again. Orchard opened the door, and with the light that spilled out so did the remainder of the hope that her sister was alive: consumed by the cold, dark, night sky. An evacuation notice fluttered in instead of Applejack. Orchard saw a streak of rainbow cross the empty horizon. The last stretch of color that would trace the night sky for a long time. She knew that she had to leave now. Orchard hesitated for a moment, then nodded a goodbye. She didnt look to Granny Smith, but she knew didn't matter because her Grandmare watched the door, not for her, but for her children to come back in. They loved each other, but an old mare will never change - and shes been waiting for them to come home for a long time.

Quickly, Orchard saddled up, masked up, and sprinted into town. They needed to get through it as fast as possible to get to where they we're going without running into any of the Hearts Desire or its victims. The cart to her was light - it practically bounced off the stones in the ground as the wheels collided with them. The lighter, the better. The lighter, the faster they could escape. Scootaloo was curled up in the bottom of the cart, desperate to stay hidden. She was braced against the back wall as she tried to hold steady for every bump. Right as she got comfortable she suddenly tumbled forward as they came to an abrupt stop. She hit the front of the cart with a thud, then quickly curled back into the fetal position to make herself as small as possible. She heard Orchard suddenly dropped the the yolk around her neck then trot off in haste.

Orchard stood between Twilights Library and the Carousel boutique. Her cart tucked in the alleys shadow. A vicious trail of blood left a grim path between the two buildings - the unhinged door on the boutique told her everything she needed to know. Quickly, Orchard returned to the cart and grabbed the lone lantern. She gave a tense, yet confident look to the frightened Scootaloo, before charging through the broken doors.

The inside was grim - the strong taste of metal in the made the mare sick. It wasn't too long until she found the source of the odor. It was a struggle. A brutal, brutal struggle. Orchard paled as she saw how easily Rarity had been overpowered. Not even the sewing machines shattered across the floor could have stopped what did this to her. Orchard stood in a grief filled silence for a moment, then continued deeper into the belly of the now grave site. Massive hoofprints left bloody craters in the ground. She followed them into the dark depths of the Boutique. The gore had left a clear trail to an armoire, tattered with claw marks and hoofprints. Next to the dresser was a shattered window - whatever had came through here had left its prey, it must have thought it had won, or more what sent a cold chill down Orchards spine was that it had seen prey that tantalized it more. The first brush against the monsters that would soon take hold of the land she once could call home. Orchard stood in the still for a moment, frozen in fear. She adjusted, and turned to the window. With a sudden creak from the armoire she turned back instantly. Orchard hesitate, and approached. She heard something shift inside - a sharp and quick movement, followed by a sharper inhale.

"Sweetie Belle?"