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// Need for Advice 
// Story: Laughter Lost In The Dark 
// by Siyuan 
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	The six friends looked at each other. Now that they were together again, they didn't know what was the next thing to do. The silence was getting heavier and heavier with every second that passed. Finally Twilight Sparkle spoke:
"Come on, let's go."
"Where?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"To find out about what is happening." came the answer. The purple unicorn started trotting towards the library, with her friends following her silently. After some time passed, they reached their destination. Spike opened the door, and the group walked in. They lit some candles, and started looking for some information about anything similar to what was happening. After a few minutes Rarity broke the silence:
"Oh, look, I found something that might be helpful in our horrible situation."
"What is it?" the others asked. Twilight trotted to Rarity happily.
"Show me the book please." she said hoping to find the answer to the questions in her head. But what she read disappointed her. It was just a spell to make light similar to a lamps, maybe  little stronger. She smiled sadly.
"Yes, might be useful." she said. But even after hours of reading, they couldn't find anything other than that.
"What shall we do? We are doomed!" Rarity said.
"No, we mustn't give up! I have an idea." said Rainbow Dash with a determined face. "Let's go visit Zecora! She knows everything!"
The others all agreed, and they started walking towards the Everfree Forest. It was now the blue pegasus who led the way, the others following behind without a word. Fluttershy was the one at the very back. She was walking slowly, not wanting to go to that forest in such dark.
"Um.., I think we could go to someone else..." she said in her soft voice. But nopony heard her. They finally reached the edge of the forest, and when they stepped into the forest the shy pegasus spoke again, now a little louder than before:
"I... I will stay and watch out for... enemies here if it's all right by you..." The ponies turned towards her with a surprised face. Then Twilight Sparkle let out a giggle and said.
"Oh, Fluttershy! It's alright if you don't want to come with us. No need to find excuses, just stay here and wait for our return." She smiled, and turned towards the deep dark forest again.
"Okay girls, let's go!" she said with a voice that was meant to sound strong, but turned out a little shaky.
Fluttershy watched as her friends were getting further and further into the forest, leaving her all alone in the dark. Then she realized that she forgot to take one of the lamps. Now she could only see the lights of the lanterns lit in ponyville, and the small lights of her friends' lanterns getting further and further away from her. She started shaking.
"Wait!" she meant to call out to them, but they couldn't hear her. She started galloping towards the moving light. When she got near them, she heard them talking.
"I can't believe I have to go into this dark and dirty forest! Why does Zecora have to live in this terrible place?" Rarity complained.
"You can always turn back to Fluttershy." Twilight Sparkle replied.
"Speaking of Fluttershy..., I think we left her without any source of light." Spike said, who was able to speak again. Finding everypony else made him feel a little safer.
"We should go back to help her." Rainbow Dash said, looking back with a worried face. That worry changed to surprise as she saw the yellow pegasus standing right behind her.
"What's wrong Rainbow?" asked Twilight, as she turned towards her surprised friend. "Oh, you decided to follow us? That's great!" she said happily, noticing her shy friend. Fluttershy gave a small nod, and they continued walking. After a few minutes, they saw a light in the distance. That must have been Zecora's home. They happily trotted to it, and Applejack knocked on the door. Zecora opened the door, looking at the hopeful faces of the 6 ponies and Spike.
"I know what you wish to know, but the answer was lost long ago." she said, shaking her head slowly.
"You mean there used to be an answer, but you don't know what it was? Did something like this happen before?" Twilight Sparkle said, hope could still be heard in her voice.
"Yes, this happened before, but now it is just ingored."
"But is there anything at all about it that you know?"
"It happened after the death of one: murder by her own son. But for little ponies like you, things like this are all new."
"That's... horrible. But who was... killed? Zecora, please tell us!"
"I was told no more than what you already know." the zebra looked down with a sad expression. The little group was staring at her. Twilight could take it, she read of many horrible things in her life. Not as bad as what they just heard, but still nearing it's level. But the rest heard of nothing like this before, to them life was all fluff, candy and happiness. And now, it got a dark side. Bigger things than loosing a competition, bigger problems than messing up a dress, bigger problems than a whole lot of apples ahead to be collected, bigger problems than a few sad faces, bigger problems even than bullying. It was murder, something they never heard of before. When Twilight said "killed", they realized what was the talk about. And it shocked them.
"What shall we do?" Rarity muttered.
"I don't know." came the honest answer from Twilight. "I don't know, but we should fight together to find out. We are the elements of harmony! Loyalty, kindness, generosity..." she looked at each one of her friends while saying their elements. "honesty, laughter... laughter? Where is Pinkie?"
The ponies looked at each other. Pinkie was missing, and none of them realized. They felt guilt and sadness. Confusion and fear. Where could Pinkie go?