The trek through the Everfree forest was tense and drawn-out. Everyone was slightly on edge; despite Rarity's reassurances, the forest was still dark, gloomy, and eerily silent. Twilight's horn acted as a flashlight, exposing the narrow trail ahead. But the trees on either side of the path seemed to swallow the light, leaving the ponies' vision limited to directly ahead and behind them.
"We must be getting close. We've been walking forever."
"We've been walking for five minutes, Rainbow."
"Well, we'd better be there soon. We should try to set up camp before nightfall."
"Yes, we should. I hope we can find a clearing somewhere."
"Aha!"
Twilight jerked to a halt, and Rainbow nearly crashed into her.
"What?"
"Look!" Rainbow craned her neck to see around Twilight's head. Her light was shining on Zecora's house.
"Should we ask her now?" she asked hesitantly.
"No, it's too late. Let's just keep walking, and see if we can find a place to sleep. We'll come back in the morning."
The ponies edged around the house, careful not to slip into the darkness around them. As Twilight passed by the window, she glanced into the house. Zecora was nowhere to be found. But of course, she's probably just in another room. No need to start worrying until we find a body. Still, just thinking these words sent a chill down her spine. I need some sleep.
Soon, they were back on the forest trail, plodding deeper into the forbidding wood. We've been much farther into the forest than this. The elements of harmony must have been miles away. There's no need to be scared. But fear still came. It's not the same. It's just not the same without Pinkie.
But Twilight didn't need to persevere for long, for better or for worse. Soon, they found what they were looking for.
"Whoa…" Twilight stopped dead, causing Rainbow to crash into her. "Oh, sorry." She stepped forward, allowing the others to see what she was marveling at. They had come upon a large patch of empty earth, perfectly round except for the two ruptures where the clearing melted into trail.
"Well, this looks good," commented Rarity, as she delicately stepped around the awestruck Twilight.
"It's perfect!" Rainbow followed her, and leapt into the air the moment she was free of the ceiling.
"Too perfect; it's pony-made. A clearing like this can't have occurred naturally." Fluttershy looked around as joined the others, followed by a silent Applejack.
"You think so?" Rarity opened one of Twilight's saddlebags and stuck her head inside. Twilight showed no sign of response. "Who do you think it was?"
"Who knows? It might have been Zecora. We can ask her tomorrow."
"Mm," Rarity's voice called from the depths of Twilight's baggage. Eventually, she withdrew, holding a green roll of plastic in her mouth. Dropping onto the earth, she looked around. "Well, am I going to have to set up this tent on my own?"
Twilight snapped out of her stupor, and looked over at her.
"Right! Sorry." She closed her eyes, and her horn began to glow. The tent rose into the air and unfurled, in smooth, mesmerizing movements. Fluttershy flicked her saddlebag open, and shook herself violently, causing the second tent to pop out and onto the ground. She picked it up in her mouth, and tried to shake it open.
"Don't bother, Fluttershy. I've got it." The purple glow around her horn brightened, and she plucked the tent out of the shy little pony's mouth.
"Oh… okay," Fluttershy said quietly. Nobody heard her. Pegs flew into the air, and hammered themselves into the earth. A few more plastic rolls jumped out of her bags. She gritted her teeth, straining to manipulate so many objects at once. The sleeping bags rolled out and flew into the tents, which were now fully erected. Finally, she let all of the mallets fall to the ground with a final clink.
This demonstration was received with a round of impressed applause from her friends. Twilight smiled weakly. I really need some sleep.
"So, where're we gonna be sleepin'?" asked Applejack.
Twilight Sparkle looked over her friends. Applejack was smiling encouragingly. Rarity was simply looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Fluttershy was looking away, clearly uncomfortable. Rainbow was still flying in circles above, completely indifferent to the goings on below. Well, I guess it's my job to decide, then. She looked over them again, and as her eyes passed over Fluttershy, another wave of bitterness rose in her stomach like bile. Stay calm, Twilight. Friendship will always triumph over catharsis. What would be the right thing to do? She mulled it over for a bit, deciding what would be the tactful way to resolve this situation. More as a play for time than anything else, she looked up.
"What do you think, Rainbow?" Rainbow Dash stopped in mid-air, hovering above them.
"I don't care," she said, almost icily. "It's your choice."
"Well…" Twilight made her decision. "How about Applejack, Rarity and I be in one tent, while Fluttershy and Rainbow be in the other?"
"No!"
Oh dear! I said that out loud, didn't I? It would appear that she had. Everybody gaped at her; even Dash momentarily let go of her cold indifference in order to stare.
"I mean… why don't we trade off? Switch every night?" Twilight continued to stare. "Because… that way… we won't…" her voice trailed off.
"Um… okay, why not? So, tonight, it'll be Fluttershy, Applejack and I in one tent, and Rarity and Rainbow in the other. Sound good?" Fluttershy nodded weakly. "Okay then. Let's go." Twilight trotted over to one of the tents, and slipped inside. Applejack followed her, and Rarity proceeded into the other. Rainbow didn't move.
"What was that about?" she asked, landing next Fluttershy. "It would have made much for sense for us to be together."
"I'm sorry." Fluttershy felt terrible. Why couldn't I have just kept my mouth shut? Why do I always do this? "I didn't mean to say it. It just… slipped out." Rainbow looked away, frowning in frustration.
"Well, it doesn't matter, as long as we're together tomorrow."
"Why tomorrow?" She looked back, confused.
"Well, that way we can patch up your leg." Fluttershy stared for a moment, nonplused. Then, the realization clicked into place. She gasped.
"Rainbow! Last night… we forgot to apply the medicine!"
They certainly are taking a long time. I wish they'd hurry up. I mean, I know they're sharing a moment right now, but that's no reason to keep the rest of us waiting up. Twilight shifted about in her sleeping bag, and glanced over at Applejack. She was lying on her side, facing the tent wall. She might have been asleep – it was impossible to tell. Twilight returned to the book she was levitating above her face, but she was having difficulty focusing. She found herself glancing at the tent flap obsessively, waiting to see Fluttershy's head poke through. Against the light that was shining from Twilight's horn, which she could now keep ignited without even thinking, she could see the faint silhouettes of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash through the fabric. The temptation to step outside and see what they were doing grew stronger as the minutes ticked on, particularly once one of the silhouettes began to rub against the other. I don't care. After all, that could be anything. That could be Fluttershy fetching something from Rainbow's saddlebag; although, I doubt it. But I don't care. Once one of the silhouettes bent over and began rubbing its face against the other's leg, Twilight gave up watching. She stared resolutely at her book, but it no longer had a chance of keeping her attention. I really need some sleep. Eventually, she put the book down. It was no use.
"Applejack?" she whispered. "Are you awake?" There was no reply. Huh. She went out like a light. I guess this has been a bit tougher on her than she's been letting on. Twilight let own a huge yawn. Poor thing. She rolled over in bed, and put out her horn.
"Thanks, Rainbow." Fluttershy shook her leg experimentally.
"How's it feel?"
"Fine. Just fine. So, should we do it again tomorrow?" Rainbow shrugged.
"I don't know. You're the doctor."
"Well, I guess we should, just in case. After all, it can't hurt, can it?" Again, Rainbow just shrugged. Fluttershy felt a twinge of annoyance at her refusal to contribute anything more helpful to the discussion, but it passed. "Well then, why don't we go to sleep?"
"Sure. See you tomorrow, Fluttershy." Rainbow turned, and trotted off toward the second tent.
A rustling noise filled the tent, informing Rarity of the fact that Rainbow had returned. Please, don't talk to me. I'm not in the mood. Perhaps you could just-
"Rarity?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes?" she replied rather pointedly.
"Nothing. Just seeing if you were awake."
"Well I am awake, so if there's nothing else you need, I'll continue attempting to remedy that." Rainbow raised an eyebrow at this.
"No need to lash out at me. I was just checking in." Rarity sighed, seeing the truth in these words.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude." Rainbow just nodded slowly, and set about undoing her saddlebags. Over the soft noise this task produced, Rarity was thinking.
I don't know why I said it. I suppose I'm just not used to this sort of thing. After all, my problems usually wrap themselves up after a few days. But I've been trying to get Pinkie her medication for almost a week now, and there's no end in sight. Perhaps I just don't handle long-term projects that don't have to do with fashion well. Well, from now on, I'll try to improve my attitude. Because after all, friendship is more important than fashion.
A rustling noise filled the tent. This would have informed Twilight and Applejack of the fact that Fluttershy had returned, if they had been awake.
Fluttershy slipped off her bags, and crawled underneath her sleeping bag without making a sound. It's the least I can do. I've already cost them enough. If I hadn't been such a coward, and just gone to the hospital, this never would have happened. I just can't seem to do anything right. First, I just stand by and watch as a filly is beaten within an inch of her life. Then, I'm willing to shut down the entire cloud-removal department for a week just so I won't have to go to a hospital. And now, I can't even be a good fillyfriend to Big Mac. It makes you wonder why they even want to be friends with me.
But if nothing else, glumness is fairly powerful sedative, and Fluttershy had drifted off before any more depressing thoughts could seize her.
This meant that Rainbow Dash was last of them to fall asleep. Rarity had a habit of fidgeting while she lay in bed, so it was easy to tell when she had finally dozed off. But Rainbow stayed awake for at least an hour longer. She wasn't worried, per se, but there were nagging doubts clinging to the back of her mind. Starting tomorrow, we have seven days to find Pinkie. On the eighth, I'll need to be back at Ponyville to leave for camp. It sounds easy, but... I have a feeling it won't all go according to plan. Well then, I'll just have to make it go according to plan. I can have everything - My friends, and my dreams, and my work - as long as I never stop to rest. I will find Pinkie, and go to that flight camp, if it kills me! She rolled over in bed, bearing a slightly evil grin. Rainbow Dash was never one to dread a challenge.
Day One
Twilight Sparkle was the last to wake up the next morning. When she did, she was dazed and confused, and utterly incomprehensible.
"Wha... da... guh?" was all she could force out of her mouth. This made Fluttershy, who had been sitting in a corner and playing with a marble, look around.
"Oh! You're awake! We were getting worried."
"Why?" Twilight asked, blinking rapidly. It was shockingly bright in the tent, much more light than Rarity could have produced.
"The rest of us have been awake for hours. Rarity and Rainbow Dash have already gone to visit Zecora."
"Oh," she said, disappointed. I wish I could have gone. It would have been nice to see her, if only as a reminder that we're not in the middle of nowhere quite yet. "So then, what time is it?"
"It's nearly one in the afternoon."
"Oh." Twilight couldn't think of anything else to say to that, so she looked around. "Where's Applejack?" she asked, noticing the vacant sleeping bag to her left.
"She's just outside. She wanted to get some fresh air."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Twilight furrowed her brow, concerned. "Shouldn't she be resting?"
"That's what I said. But she doesn't want to rest. She gets bored easily, just like Dashie." Then, realizing what she had just said, Fluttershy blushed and returned to her marble. Twilight rolled her eyes, but made no mention of the use of Rainbow's pet name. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care. More to distract herself than anything else, he stared at the little glass ball that Fluttershy was rolling from one hoof to the other, and back again. It was mesmerizing, and Twilight found herself following its path with her eyes.
"Why did you bring that?" she asked, tilting her head back and forth.
"Oh, I don't know. It's just a trinket. It helps me think." Back and forth, back and forth.
"What are you thinking about?" Fluttershy brought a hoof down on top of it, and it stopped rolling. She looked up at Twilight.
"Nothing in particular. Just... life." She set the ball rolling again. Twilight nodded as she watched its progress.
"I know what you mean." Should I tell her? Should I tell her that I know about them? Or would she get angry? She looks like she's feeling pretty down as it is. Would she just burst out crying if I told her now. Ugh, I would hate that. Maybe I should just hold it in for now. Maybe it would be better to tell Rainbow first. Or... maybe I should just not say anything at all. I mean, they were planning on telling us anyway. They probably would have by now if it weren't for the whole Pinkie thing. I suppose I should just let them come out in their own time. A little white lie won't hurt anypony.
As she reached this decision, she heard a voice call out from outside the tent. Another voice - easily identifiable as Applejack's - responded. Twilight scrambled out of her sleeping bag, eager to escape the rather depressing sight of Fluttershy and her marble. She stuck her head through the tent flap, and was blasted by by afternoon light. She squinted, trying to make out the scene before her. But before her vision had fully returned, Applejack's voice called out to her.
"Twilight! There you are. You've been sleepin' like a log all day. Pleasure to see you're still alive."
"Thanks," she said, still unable to open her eyes. "Applejack, who were you talking to?"
"Us, silly!" said the voice of Rainbow Dash. "Did you just wake up?" Twilight nodded, slowly opening her eyes. She could make out Applejack, standing in the middle of the clearing and smiling warmly. Then, looking to her side, she found Rainbow and Rarity, standing by the entrance to the forest path which led back to Ponyville.
"Well? Did you talk to Zecora?" was the first thing she asked once she could see properly.
"Well, not exactly talked, darling," said Rarity, walking forwards. "It was more like exchanging couplets. It's really quite fascinating, the way she speaks."
"Okay," said Twilight impatiently. "But did you find out if she'd seen Pinkie?" Rarity shook her head.
"I'm afraid not. Pinkie must have walked past her house at some point, but I guess she didn't notice."
"How do you know she walked past Zecora's house?" asked Rainbow, also walking over to join the others.
"Well, she must be following the path. Pinkie may be insane, but she's not stupid and she's not suicidal. Running off the path and into the forest proper would be just that - suicide."
"So," piped up Applejack, "at least we know we're going the right way." They all nodded in agreement. "Why don't we go tell Fluttershy?"
"You go ahead and tell her," said Twilight. "But we should get moving soon. Remember, we need to move fast if we want to catch her. Rarity and Rainbow, you should go pack up your bags. We'll go as soon as we can."
"Got it. We'll be done in a jiffy!" And with that, Rainbow sped into her tent, with Rarity following behind her.
She was as good as her word. By the time Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy stepped out of their tent fully packed, she and Rarity were already waiting. Twilight folded up and packed the tents, and they started on their way once more.
Traveling by day was much more cheerful than the alternative, and spirits were high all around as they continued their journey through the Everfree Forest. Every now and again, they stopped to eat, or to provide a rest for the three of them that were not as used to physical exertion. Perhaps it was the length of the journey that contributed to the good feeling; by the time the ponies were beginning to become snippy with one another, the sun had began to set, and it was nearly time to find another place to sleep.
However, they did not have the good fortune to happen across another perfect circle of camping ground. As they proceeded deeper into the forest, the winding dirt path became narrower, and thick ropes of ivy began to creep across their way. Even during midday, the canopy of leaves and vines blocked out all sunlight, and soon it was impossible to tell the time of day, unless a small gap in the trees allowed a feeble beam of line to shine through. Eventually, it became clear that setting up camp on the path was the only option.
"I'm not sure the tents will fit," said Fluttershy, looking up and down the path nervously.
"Well, I don't think we have much of a choice. We haven't found a clearing all day, and I am certainly not going to stay up all night looking for one."
"Can you please stop whin-" Rainbow began, but at a dangerously haughty look from Rarity, she changed tack immediately. "I mean, can you please stop complaining, Rarity? We all want to get to bed as much as you do."
"Well, I've been walking all day, and I'm just exhausted! A lady shouldn't have to put up with this."
"News flash, Rarity: We've all been walking all day."
"Yes, but you're used to it. You're an... athlete." She spoke this last word as if it were something vile. Rainbow was about to tackle her, when Twilight stepped in.
"Girls! In case you haven't noticed, the tents are already up." They both looked around. Sure enough, Twilight had been erecting the tents with surprising speed as they argued. "Now, I think we'd all better get some sleep. It's been a long day, and we've made good progress. Pinkie can't be too far ahead of us. We just need to keep it together, and we may have caught her by the end of tomorrow." Rainbow Dash and Rarity were still looking daggers at each other, but they decided not to let Twilight's skillful peace-making go to waste. "So, I think we'd better split the two of you up tonight. How about... Applejack, Rarity and I in one tent, with Fluttershy and Rainbow in the other?" She looked cautiously at Fluttershy, prepared for another outburst. But she simply nodded, blushing slightly. "Well then! Let's get off to bed."
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack all proceeded to their assigned tents. They all had their own worries, and priorities, and secrets. But they all had one thing in common: Tonight, sleep came quickly.