"C'mon Winona, can't you find her scent!?" Rainbow urged the dog on as the brown and white canine desperately searched for the smell of the yellow pony.

"Easy there Rainbow, she can only smell so much at one time, she's only one dog." Applejack stood in front of her wiped out pet to defend her from the stressed out Dash. The cyan pony stood back a bit, taken back by Applejacks calm demeanor.

"She's right there Rainbow, it's late, we are all tired and Winona should give her noise a rest. Besides, we still haven't eaten since we left Ponyville... We need a break." Twilight helped Applejack against her. Dash continued to look at them in furious awe.

"A break!? What are you saying!?" Dash started to yell at them, wanting them to understand. "We can't take a break, Fluttershy's in trouble and every second we waste is who knows what, the stallion is insane! Or does she really not mean all that much to you!?" Rainbow questioned their loyalties to her, and the other ponies stared at her, a bit stunned that she would ever ask such a question.

"Dash, darling, Fluttershy means as much to us as she means to you, we all want to find her dear but these things take time..." Rarity spoke up, inching forward as her angry friend whipped around to look at her, her wings up and ruffled.

"If she meant even half as much to you as she does to me, then you'd want to find her just as badly as I do! You don't know how I feel for her, you don't even know the beginning of it, so don't say that you do, or that you care for Fluttershy nearly, not even a centimeter as much as I do!" Rainbow screamed at Rarity. Rarity backed off.

"If.. If it makes you feel better Dash, my pinkie senses aren't going off, so it means she's okay, for now.." Pinkie tried to soothe the rampaging pony.

"No pony gives a flying feather about your Pinkie senses Pinkie Pie! They're a load of hooey that warn you of ridiculous things like opening doors and things falling from the sky! When they tell us that Fluttershy is falling from the sky safe and sound then I'll feel better!" Dash snapped.

"That's quite enough Dash! You're not the only one upset about Fluttershy being kidnapped, we are her friends too, you're not the only pony who cares for her! Maybe our feelings aren't as strong as yours, but that doesn't give you the right to yell at us and say such mean things!" Twilight wandered over and placed her hoof around the upset Pinkie's shoulders.

"I'm not saying I'm the only one! Ugh! Forget this, I'm out of here, I'll look for her on my own!" Dash flew off. Zooming into the sky.

"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Twilight called out, running to try to catch her, and then holding a hoof out to the air, as if she could extend her arm and grab the flying pony, who was out of sight in seconds.

TT

Dash landed on the ground when she was almost two miles from her friends. She panted from flapping her wings so hard from trying to get away from her misunderstanding friends. Glancing back for only a second, she looked on ahead and trotted forward.

Rainbow Dash had no idea where to start, no idea where to even go from here. What was I e pony to do in a situation like this...? She couldn't exactly wander around aimlessly, that would be a waste of time and energy.

Dash's stomach then let out a grumbling roar of a hunger, making the cyan pony startled. Chuckling a bit sheepishly to herself, she figured maybe finding a snack would be a good idea... Still, the pony was far too proud to admit she was wrong, and no way no how was she going to take a break in finding Fluttershy. She was far too determined for that. Still, she could let her wings have a small rest as she wandered around to find food.

"Dash.. Rainbow Dash, this way!" A familiar voice called out to her. She turned around, and there was Fluttershy. Staring in disbelief, she rubbed her eyes, but still there stood Fluttershy. She was a bit glowy, almost like an angel pony. That told her right there that this was an imaginary Fluttershy, nothing more than a figment of Rainbow's frenzied mind. Still, why was she hallucinating Fluttershy now? Was she dying? Either way, the beauty her eyes could now seen was unlike any other. Fluttershy truly was her angel.

"C'mon Dash, it'll be okay. I promise." The fake Fluttershy soothed to her as she led her deeper into the woods she had tangled herself in. Dash didn't argue, and followed her.

Looking around, she wondered where this pony was leading her. It seemed like nothing but endless trees. Even the animals, whom always loved Fluttershy no matter where she went, stayed away. Another factor that told her this Fluttershy was not real.

Suddenly Rainbow's hoof slid off an edge, and unable to react in time she fell. A cliff had been there, and Dash never saw it. Fluttershy, the image of her anyway, had already been in the air trying to get Dash's attention before it as too late, but to no avail. Dash was tumbling down a hill, scraping her knees and sides, her wings unfolded trying to catch herself on something. This only resulted in nearly snapping one of her wings. Finally the trip down the hill came to an end. Dash was left covered in mud, pine needles and leaves as blood streaked her fur and bruises swelled.

"I tried warning you..." Fluttershy said as she landed beside her.

"Heh.." Chuckling a bit, Dash got to her hooves, wincing a bit as pain flowed through her like a powerful shock wave. Rainbow grunted as she moved, but ignored the pain and went forward to follow this image of Fluttershy, who had gone on ahead. She wouldn't lose a second one.

Following her, she soon noticed the trees were blooming with a beautiful red and yellow fruit. She had never seen such a type of food, but then again, this was the Everfree Forest, who knew what else grew here.

"Where are we...?" Dash asked Fluttershy. Fluttershy turned to look at her, and smiled at her, making Dash's heart skip a beat. Even an imaginary Fluttershy was as gorgeous as, well, anything. Nothing compared to the beauty Fluttershy had, not even Rarity. Hooves down, Fluttershy was the prettiest pony.

"A special place. Go ahead, eat. They won't harm you." Fluttershy soothed the dirty pony. Rainbow blinked, and looked at the odd fruit. It was shaped weird, indentations on it as if somepony shoved the width of a stick on its out she'll to make it almost shaped like some odd flower. Rainbow walked over to the three, and stood on her hid legs as she plucked one down. She stared at it, and sniffed it. Looking at Fluttershy, her smile calmed her down slightly and bit into it.

The taste was sweet, sweeter than an apple, but not so sweet that it made her lips pucker, or wince from the taste. The taste couldn't help but make Rainbow smile. Swallowing the piece she had in her jaw, she quickly took another chunk and eagerly ate it down.

Merely only eating two, the roughed up pony was full. It was surprising to her, she could usually eat fifteen apples, sometimes more depending on how hungry she was, and before this she was the hungriest she had ever been. What was the deal..? She looked up at Fluttershy for the answer. The yellow pony grinned at her.

"The fruit is meant to last for long periods of time, such as animals that don't hibernate during the cold winter, and need food that is so scarce in the freezing time period. Therefore, only eating a few can fill you up and last for hours, even days depending on ho much movement you create.." Fluttershy explained, as if she were suddenly Twilight giving one of her famous lectures.

"I see..." Rainbow looked at the image of Fluttershy, and squinted at her in determination. "Fluttershy... I will get you back.. That's a promise.." Rainbow whispered. Fluttershy was taken aback a bit in surprise. Then her eyes watered and she grinned sadly.

"I believe in you, Dashie..." She said, calling out Dash's pet name that was given to her by Pinkie Pie. "Come, this way. Follow me." She instructed as she flapped her wings carefully, gracefully, beautifully. Like she always did. Dash winced when she started to flap her bruised wings, but ignoring the pain, she floated after her.

TT

"Pinkie, come on and lay down. We can't rest if you're up.." Twilight took a place beside her pink pony friend, who stared into the sky, concern and depression written on Pinkie's face.

"It's alright Twilight, go ahead and rest. I'm not tired." The hyper pony reassured bleakly. Her blue eyes never left the clouded dark sky. Twilight sighed.

"You know Dash didn't mean what she said.. Dash is just stressed out from losing Fluttershy, we all are actually, but you know how Rainbow is, she already has an attitude... This just makes it worse.." Twilight mentioned, trying to make her companion feel better about being yelled at.

"I know, it's not that.. It's.. I'm worried about Dashie.. I feel something bad is going to happen, but for some reason my Pinkie Senses aren't going off.. They didn't the night Fluttershy was in trouble either. It happened the day after, when I came running to you all. That's why I went to her cottage in the first place, my senses went off.. But no pony was there." Twilight blinked at Pinkie's explanation. She understood now.. Pinkie blamed herself just as much as Twilight blamed her own self for this. Pinkie felt like she let everypony, epsecially Fluttershy, down. Twilight smiled empathetically at her, and leaned over, giving the worried Pinkie a nuzzle under her head, rubbing against her neck. Pinkie was surprised by Twilight's sudden show of affection.

"Silly pony, enough of that. It's no pony's fault for this other than the criminal who took her. Dash is capable of handling herself, besides, she has no way to find Fluttershy, I'm sure we'll find her in the morning and we can all look for her together again." Pinkie looked to the side. She then hugged Twilight, and together they laid down side by side, manes and tails covering the other for warmth.

Twilight was already asleep, and Pinkie's eyes felt heavy as she yawned and snuggled a bit into her hooves. "Oh Twilight... Thank you, but you don't understand.. Love can make any pony do crazy things.. Love can.. Overcome any.. Obstacle if.. strong enough..." Pinkie mumbled as she closed her eyes, and drifted off into a deep sleep.