A growing number of ponies herded into the courtyard, waiting to be organized into search parties. Mittens pranced angrily around in small circles.

"This is all wrong Snowflake!"

"I know! Babies shouldn't just vanish." Small tendrils of mist formed worried wisps as Snowflake spoke in the cold air.

"No! I mean we shouldn't BE here. We should be out looking already!" Mittens snorted angrily, her peppermint pink ears flat against her head, "and I know you're going to tell me all about how we need a plan, and to be organized. So I'm just going to GO, and I hope you come with me. We lost her, we need to find her," Mittens reared up and pawed the air emphatically, "We need to find her now!"

Snowflake started to placate her twin, but before she could Mittens had begun to gallop away, a flurry of snow following her pounding hooves. As she watched her sister dwindling Snowflake realized that she was right, their place was out in the snowy wilds, and it would be until they found their little friend. They simply could not feel right returning to Ponyville until Baby Glitterlilly was returned.

The low moaning woods met them with open arms. As they ventured into the forest the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the land in an eerie blue violet glow. Everything started to look cold and twisted where before it had looked white and pure. The shadows reached out and seemed to chase their hooves as they plowed through the snow.

"Mittens, what are we looking for?"

"We're looking for a witness, or a clue." A wise and friendly voice answered from behind them, startling both the sisters. "Would you mind repeating who was around when she vanished?"

"Gingerbread!" The two sisters cried at once, both of them bounding over to greet the older white mare. "What are you doing here?"

"You were on your way to see me, so I feel responsible in a way." Gingerbread shushed their protests by gently huffing and continuing, " Besides, I helped find Mittens when she was a baby and had run away from home to find my cocoa. Maybe my experience will be helpful?"

Mittens sneaked Snowflake a look that clearly said *I knew that was me!* before answering, "No one was there except me and Snowflake. Now lets keep looking for clues!"

Wise bright eyes twinkled as Gingerbread took a slow look around. "You two...and the trees?"

"You don't think she was cocoa crazed enough to climb a tree, do you?"

Gingerbread laughed, "No, I think we should ask the trees if they saw anything."

Snowflake thought she heard Mittens say something about their old friend cracking from the stress, but a quick look revealed that she hadn't said anything. Though it did seem a bit strange to find Gingerbread following them in the woods, in the first place. Maybe being associated with another missing foal was too stressful.

Gingerbread pulled out a pouch from a purse around her neck. "Do you remember that old story about how I made gingerbread cookies with stardust? The eyes were so bright, and everyone that ate one was blessed with bright eyes like mine. It seems silly, but it's a true story," Gingerbread had pulled out a few shimmery leaves as she spoke. "Ever since then I've collected magical herbs, spices, and sugars. You never know when you'll need a magical torte, after all!" The leaves were caught up in an evening wind, and soon became entangled in the branches of a Birch tree.

"Oh, you lost your leaves!" Mittens chased after a few while Snowflake looked on the ground for some. Finding none she turned back to Gingerbread, "Were those leaves from a tree we could talk to?"

"I hope not child, the only ones with leaves this days are the Evergreens, and they have fir-for-brains," said the chuckling Birch tree. "You wouldn't want to talk to THEM."