"PINKIE PIE!" Rainbow Dash yelled into the air, flying frantically around the tree in search of the bubbly pink pony. She may not have any romantic feelings for Pinkie but that didn't mean that she was just going to let her best friend be taken away. After her search revealed nothing except one of Pinkie's hidden balls, she dashed into the chaotic streets of Ponyville in search of her.
Hours passed, and to no avail. Night began to fall on the town as Rainbow Dash shouted Pinkie's name once more into the air, then collapsed, sobbing. What had happened? Had Pinkie been abducted? Killed? Endless questions clouded Rainbow's mind as she passed out on the streets. Although she would deny it later, spending the whole day flying had proven too unbearable, even for Dash.
Applejack packed up her stall. No business, as usual. Those dang Golden Apple saleponies had once again stolen all of Sweet Apple Acres' customers with their charming words and their swift deals. They had come from Appleloosa, claiming to have the best apples in Equestria. Applejack highly doubted that, but they were cheaper that Sweet Apple Acres' stock. Slowly but surely, ponies started preferring to buy from them.
She sighed. The taxes for her farm were already overdue, and with Ma and Pa no longer here to create amazing business stunts for them, Applejack didn't know what to do. The only food they could afford was their own apples and soon they might be gone too. They could always go and ask for charity, but Applejack's stubborn pride prevented her from doing so.
As she trotted down the dirt roads of Ponyville, she heard a small noise, like a foal crying, getting softer by the second, as if whatever was making the noise was giving up hope. Curiosity tugging at her brain, she trotted around the corner to investigate.
What she saw was not a foal. It was her best friend, Rainbow Dash. She was about to rush up to her and ask what was wrong, when she realized that Dash was asleep. She had an old and worn cloth placed over her, as if somepony had seen her but not wanted to wake the sleeping pony. It was lucky that they had done that too, because the night was freezing. If the cloth had not been providing warmth for Dash she would have probably caught hypothermia.
Still, Applejack could not bear to see the usually brave and bold Rainbow Dash laying there, crying in her sleep. As gentle as she could, Applejack lifted Rainbow onto her apple cart, and trotted back home, sleeping Dash in tow.