Twilight found herself lost in thought as Pinkie was holding a plate with cake on it. “Twilight? Did you want some?”
Pinkie looked at her concerned. “Do you have a tummy ache? Maybe you ate already?”
“Huh?” Twilight shook her head and finally noticed her. “Pinkie? Oh sorry, I was lost-”
“In my eyes? Hehe! Twilight you charmer you!” Pinkie giggled cutting Twilight off. “You don't have to be fresh with me, but you might want this fresh cake!”
Twilight blinked and blushed hard at what she said. “Pinkie...I'm not! I swear....I think”
“Wow Twilight you really need to relax, I'm only kidding, if you want I'll stop” Pinkie said, she was usual good when knowing if she took things to far.
“No, it's not that” Twilight said. “But Melody brought up a good point...I don't really know any colts only mares, and that does make me look like a lesbian doesn't it?”
“Well only to strangers or new friends, that's all really, we know your still experimenting and that's a good thing” Pinkie said happily. “Heck, I'm still there myself”
“Really? You don't know any guys?” Twilight asked surprised the party pony didn't know what she was into herself.
“Well sure, there isn't a whole lot of colts IN ponyville, their ether way to old or too young, or their just not my type” Pinkie said. “I've been throwing parties for every pony in Ponyville and I know them all by heart, but I don't feel that way towards any of them, well one time I thought I did, still working on that though”
“Wait, you have feelings for somepony?” Twilight asked even more surprised. “Who?”
“Oh no, that's for me to know, and for you to guess and guess until you can't guess anymore, because if I said anything, it would make our friendship reallllllllllllly awkward, she might never speak to me again” Pinkie said and realized what she said at the end of her sentince. “Oh hay barrels, I didn't mean to say that!”
“She?” Twilight giggled a little, she was relived to know she wasn't the only one with troubles like that. “Maybe we can face our experimenting troubles together huh Pinkie?”
“Sure thing, but don't tell her anything okay?” Pinkie said as if Twilight already knew. “It's a secret, a secretly secret secret okay?”
“You have my word, I won't say a thing to 'her' I promise” Twilight said smiling.
Rock Candy laughed as she listened in on them, she enjoyed their friendship and how they were able to joke around and tease each other without any worry of insulting each other, Winter poked her shoulder and looked at her. “Rock Candy?”
“Huh?” Rock Candy looked back at her. “What is it?”
“This oven isn't working” Winter pointed to one of the many oven in the shop. “I don't know what's wrong”
“Oh I can fix that” Rock Candy said as she went over to it, she took out a wrench and some tools from a nearby drawer and got to work.
Winter watched as she quickly fixed it, she did amazing work, it was only five moments before she was done, Rock Candy put down her tools and backed off to look at it. “What did you do that was so fast?”
“Oh, it was an fix, just some wiring problems with a broken element, it should work now” Rock Candy said and went over to the sink and washed her hooves.
“I thought your cutie mark was for baking?” Winter asked confused.
“Well if you look, it's some candies and weather patterns, to be honest it took me a long time to get my cutie mark, and I always wanted to be an engineer when I was little, so I worked with tools a lot back then, and then I took cooking classes and learned how to make weather candies, so my main skill is candy making, but I still know how to work tools really well”
“Wow, I never thought about my life at all when I was little, I just loved to bake so much that it was the only thing I did” Winter Sugar admitted.
“Well everypony wants to be something when they grow up, so we all retain skills of that even if we don't pursue what we wanted to as filly's” Rock Candy said.
“Your cutie mark should have both a wrench and candy!” Winter laughed and went back to baking. “Thanks!”
“My pleasure Sugar!” Rock Candy said and went back to what she was doing, she noticed Melody's pink mane slowly come up from the counter. “Melody? What are you doing?”
Melody looked into a bowl used for some chocolate brownies and looked at Rock Candy drooling. “Can....can I have.....some?”
“You want to lick the bowl?” Rock Candy laughed a little and nodded. “Haha, go ahead darling”
Melody's eyes were replaced with stars as she took the bowl and quickly started to lick the bowl clean. “Mmmmmmm!!! Oh so good!!! I haven't had chocolate in sooooo long!! Delicious!!!”
“Wow!” Rock Candy watched as she almost ate the entire bowl. “You really love chocolate!”
Melody kept eating and enjoying the mix. “Mmmmmm!!!!”
“You'll love the brownies we're making then!” Rock Candy said with a smile.
“Oh boy!!” Melody drooled so much at the thought it filled the bowl she was eating. “Creamy...creamy chocolate....”
“Haha!” Rock Candy couldn't help but laugh at this scene, Melody's face was covered in chocolate, she had never seen someone love chocolate that much. “Your silly”
“Oh! Oh! I found some chocolate!” Pinkie suddenly appeared next to Melody with the same stars in her eyes and as quickly as Melody was eating the chocolate she licked the chocolate off of Melody's face. “Mmmmmmmmm!!! It is creamy!!! Yum!!”
Rock Candy sweated a bit as they both had their starry eyes on her. “Uhhhh...”
“Creamy, creamy chocolate....” They both said in unison.
“Whoa, whoa, you'll both have to wait, it's not done!” Rock Candy said backing up.
They both now drooled in the bowl as if watching and waiting. “Put frosting on it to! And nuts! And fudge dressing, and lots of oats on the inside!”
Rock Candy didn't know what to do, but since they really wanted it. “Well I guess I can do that”
The stars in their eyes grew and Twilight got in between them. “You two done flooding the place?”
They stopped and looked down, they saw the floor was flooded with their drool and Melody spoke up. “Ohh...oops...”
“Heheeh! We need a mop!” Pinkie said happily.
“And why does my face feel like it was licked all over?” Melody asked feeling her wet face. “Eww...”
“I have NOOO idea!” Pinkie said getting two mops.
“Talk about tunnel vision” Twilight said with a small giggle. “I know I get like that with books”
Melody and Pinkie then started to clean their mess, around that time there was a knock on the door. “Could you get that Twilight?”
“Sure thing” Twilight went over and opened the door. “I'm sorry we're-oh my gosh!”
Celestia smiled at her from the other side. “Hello Twilight, I see you solved the commotion down at the refugee camp, you saved me some time and effort, the Cakes told me that you and your friends would be here”
“Oh my, uh, please come in” Twilight moved and bowed. “We're just getting ready for when Rainbow Dash returns with the others”
“That's very kind of you” Celestia walked in and saw the ponies all working. “Hello my little ponies”
They all stopped and looked at her. “Princess!!?”
They all quickly bowed except for Melody and Rock Candy bowed so fast she hit her head on the counter. “Oof!! ow”
Celestia laughed at the sudden surprised greeting, Pinkie looked at Melody confused. “Why aren't you bowing? She's the princess!”
“Huh?” Melody looked at her and then back at Celestia. “She said before not to be formal with her, so I'm doing as she wishes”
“Melody!” Twilight ran over to her and put a hoof on her head and made Melody bow. “You don't not bow to a princess!”
“Oof! Hey, what are you doing?” Melody glared at her annoyed.
“It's okay Twilight, she's from a different time, and I really did say that, she doesn't need to bow to me” Celestia said calmly. “And after our past...”
“Oh right...sorry princess Celestia” Twilight took her hoof back. “I just don't want her to insult you or anything”
“Why would I insult her?” Melody looked confused as she stood up. “And what do you mean our past?”
“Oh uh, nothing, you misheard her” Twilight quickly spoke up.
“I did? Well okay then” Melody said and the other ponies stood up now.
“I heard about what happened with Discord, I'm sorry for not keeping him on a tighter watch” Celestia said.
“It's okay Princess, I don't mind, it's better this way, and Twilight can help me get a special somepony, she's really skilled at “picking flowers” if you know what I mean?” Melody giggled a little at the tease.
Celestia blushed knowing what she meant. “Oh my...I had no idea Twilight Sparkle was into that sort of thing”
“NO!!! No!! lies!! I haven't decided that yet!” Twilight smacked herself. “I mean I'm not into mares! I swear Princess Celestia!”
“Hahaha, oh Twilight, you must lighten up, we're only teasing” Celestia said with a small laugh.
Twilight sighed and felt very embarrassed, Melody put a hoof around her and smiled. “Don't worry, we won't tease you anymore...that much”
Rock Candy and Winter looked at each other and then back at them, Rock Candy rubbed her head from the red mark due to the counter. “How come you guys are being so familiar with THE princess of the sun?”
Pinkie smiled and pointed to them. “That's easy, Twilight is princess Celestia's pupil!”
“WHAT!!?” Rock Candy jumped back. “Are you for real?!”
“Well of course I'm real and so is Twilight!” Pinkie said jokingly.
Celestia went over to the counter and saw the candies in the shop. “This is quite unique, may I try one?”
Rock Candy could only nod, Celestia used her magic and one flew out of the candy dish and she ate it, she rather enjoyed the natural flavors of the sweet candy. “Mmmmm! This is very good”
“The...the...princess...praised my cooking...” Rock Candy smiled widely then she fell back and fainted.
“Oh dear” Winter grabbed a pillow and laid it under Rock Candy's head.
“Would you like to eat with us!?” Pinkie asked as she took out the brownies that finished cooking.
“Well if it's not to much trouble, I would like a little something before I have to go” Celestia said.
“Hey Twilight!?” A familiar voice called out from outside.
“Huh?” Twilight looked outside and saw Rainbow Dash looking around for her. “Rainbow Dash?! She's back!”
“Really!? Great!” Pinkie jumped excitedly.
Twilight ran out followed by Pinkie. “Rainbow Dash! Did you find them!?”
Rainbow Dash turned to face them. “Twilight! Good we need your magic right now!”
Celestia and the others walked out and Twilight looked confused. “Did something happen?”
“Yeah! Rarity's....I don't know what happened to her!” Rainbow Dash said quickly.
“Slow down, where is Rarity?” Twilight asked getting worried.
“She's with Fluttershy and Applejack and all the other survivors, but those bug things did something to her, she doesn't respond, and I'm freaking worried!” Rainbow Dash said without stopping to take a breath.
“Let's go then Rainbow Dash, lead the way!” Twilight said.
Rainbow Dash nodded and flew off, Twilight quickly followed after her and Melody couldn't help herself and quickly went after them. “Wait up!”
“Melody?” Celestia questioned and followed after her, she was actually very concerned with what was going on.
“What are we waiting for!? Let's go!” Pinkie said hopping after them, Rock Candy and Winter Sugar nodded and ran off.
Near the refugee camp Nightwish was happy to see that families thought lost were getting reunited, the terrasects took those mares looking for something, but didn't kill or eat them, so it got her thinking why they would release them after going and gathering them, it was far to easy to get out of there, she knew they where up to something, and it had something to do with what happened to Rarity.
Nightwish looked back and saw Applejack and Fluttershy taking care of Rarity, Fluttershy was brushing Rarity's mane because she hadn't been taking care of it due to being fillynapped by the bugs.
“Your mane is looking much better now Rarity...” Fluttershy said brushing her mane more.
“........” Rarity didn't even move, she looked ahead without saying a thing and that broke Fluttershy's heart, she hated seeing one of her friends like this.
“Please say something...Rarity...” Fluttershy begged keeping tears back. “Anything....please...”
Rarity looked back at her and saw the tears form around her eyes, she just stared blankly at her as if she knew that she was going to cry but couldn't do anything about it, then Applejack went over and gave Fluttershy a Handkerchief. “Don't cry Fluttershy, Rarity will recover, ah know it”
Fluttershy took it and wiped away her tears. “I know...but it hurts to see her like this...it's like she's there...but isn't...”
“We're back in Canterlot and Twilight should be here and should be able to help” Applejack pointed out.
“Okay, I know things will work out, but....” Fluttershy stopped and looked at Rarity unsure.
“I know what you mean” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash flew up and smiled. “I found her!”
“That's great!” Applejack said feeling relieved as Twilight and the others ran up.
“What happened!?” Twilight quickly went over to them and looked at Rarity. “Rarity!?”
Rarity looked at her as if she didn't have a soul, she moved her head a little and it looked like she tried to smile but couldn't, Twilight looked at her eyes and gasped.
“What in Equestria happened to you?” Twilight examined her. “Her eyes are so...empty...”
Pinkie ran and hugged Fluttershy and Applejack. “You guys! I was so worried about you!”
“Hey Pinkie! Glad to see you too” Applejack smiled at her.
“I was worried about you and the others as well” Fluttershy said.
Celestia went over to Twilight and Rarity. “How is she?”
“It's not good, she's alive, but...missing something, like her soul or something” Twilight guessed still examining her.
Celestia's horn glowed and the golden energy went over Rarity, she stayed like that for a bit and then shook her head. “It seems you were right Twilight, I don't sense any magic in her body”
“And that means....” Twilight backed up.
“It means something was powerful enough to take Rarity's very being without killing her...as if they wanted her alive, but why?” Celestia pondered.
“Maybe to-” Twilight suddenly turned to Rainbow Dash. “Wait, were you followed!?”
“Uh, I don't think so” Rainbow Dash thought about it. “But Applejack said she talked to one of the bug things and it let out all the mares they took, it was a little odd really”
“The large brain like bug thing said something about seeking elements, but I didn't know what they meant” Applejack add.
“Large brain like bugs?” Celestia repeated to herself.
“So you weren't followed then?” Twilight asked.
“I don't think so” Applejack said.
“I want to get ready in case those bugs attack Canterlot, but Rarity needs me” Twilight said thinking of what she could do.
“Don't worry about those strange bug creatures Twilight, I'll make sure they can't get to the city, you focus on your friends, I'm sure you have some ” Celestia said getting ready to leave. “I have to be going now, I have some research to do, your welcome to use a guest room at the castle for Rarity”
“Thank you Princess Celestia” Twilight seemed to relax a bit. “Come on everypony, let's go”
“Aww, can't we get some of our snacks from the candy shop before we go?” Pinkie asked.
“Chocolate...” Melody said feeling like she could taste it.
“Hehe, traveling with these ponies things keep getting crazier and crazier” Rock Candy said smiling.
“Pinkie has great friends” Winter said.
“I need my brushes” Nightwish said to herself. “Painting them is my new goal”
“Okay Pinkie, you and your friends can go, me and the others will get Rarity to the castle and try to get her back to normal” Twilight knew they all could use something to eat, and when it came to snacks she wouldn't argue with Pinkie.
“Great!” Pinkie, Rock Candy and Winter all left to the shop as Twilight and the rest took off to the castle.
As they all left a figure moved from the shadows, it was a mare with a beautiful mane and tail, her eyes glowed a light cornflower blue, her mane was colored golden and her coat was pearl white, she didn't even have a cutie mark ether, she could hear a voice in her head giving her orders. “Greed, retrieve the elements we seek!”
“Yes....fathers...your will is mine” Greed spoke to herself and went into the shadows once again.