Soils was off. Canterlot was miles into the background, it's weeping skylines still pouring tears on anyone who cared to look. Do not turn back Soils, do not look upon that anymore. Your garden is gone, wasted, ash.
The closest city to Canterlot was Ponyville. The search would begin there.
As Soils walked into Ponyville as discreetly as he could muster, he couldn't help but notice the Everfree Forest adjacent to the small village... The plants seemed to be different than what he was used to. He had heard stories of the wonder of the plants inside, but never of the- WEEDS! As Soils drew closer to the forest he noticed the incredible amount of weeds, untamed, uncontrolled. They had a place and that was nowhere. Who kept these grounds? This is just unacceptable, completely unacceptable.
As Soils began to walk straight to those intruders to give them the just reward they deserved, a pink pony ran up to him and stood in front of him, obviously observing him.
The pink pony jumped up quickly, much to Soils' surprise, and jumped over his head, dashing to what seemed to be an impossible speed back to the town, finally disappearing inside what seemed to be a bakery.
Soils looked to the terrible abominations that were weeds, and then back to the bakery. Lives had to come first.
Soils reluctantly walked into the bakery, not knowing what to expect. It was very cheerful, very lively. Cakes and treats littered the tables, and many fine looking treats were on display. The pink pony was speaking very quickly to an older couple, who were nodding and smiling. Something about a party, it was hard to keep up.
Soils approached the threesome. "Excuse me..."
The pink pony turned to Soils, excitement showing in her face. She spoke, her speech was quick, without pauses, "You're new here, right? I saw you and didn't know you but I know everyone in Ponyville so if I've never seen you before that must mean you've never been here before and if you've never been here before you don't have any friends and if you-"
Soils stopped listening, waiting simply for the noise to die down. It didn't. The pony seemed content speaking for eternity. Soils, losing his patience after several minutes, finally placed a hoof on her mouth. "I'm not really here to party... Honestly, not really a fan of those things. I'm looking for Princess Celestia, did she come by this way?"
The pink one tilted her head, and then spoke, "She DID and I know right where she's going because I was in the room when she said that she was going to this place but she said I shouldn't come or tell anyone where she's going and so I was all 'Aww, I want to come though!' and she was all "No, you can't come Pinkie Pie' and I was all 'But but but' but then she interrupted me and said I couldn't go and that was it!"
Soils blinked twice. Communicating with this one was difficult, much quicker paced than anything he had seen before. "... So you can't tell me where she's going? I really do need to find her, really I do."
Pinkie Pie looked like she was deep in thought, and she smiled and seemed to explode with happy. "Oohhhhhh, she told me not to TELL anyone but I guess if it's really really really important I could SHOW you where she's going!"
"Pardon?"
"Yeah! I'll just take you there Mr...."
"Soils."
"Soily! I'll take you there Mr. Soily, we'll get this whole mess worked out!"
Great. Perfect. Fan-freaking-tastic. This will be so much fun. But... I guess if she knows where she is, she knows where she is right?
Pinkie Pie hopped happily down the stairs carrying bags full of Celestia-knows-what on her back. She grinned openly at Soils, but looked confused for a second. "Don't you have anything to pack there Soils?"
Soils stared at Pinkie Pie for a long second, "I used to... I mean, no. I don't."
Pinkie Pie just laughed, "You're silly Soils. I like you, let's go!"
It was blatantly obvious she was oblivious to everything around her.
The duo walked out of the bakery into the sunlight. It was warm and inviting. Soils got a good look at the buildings, and noticed one which was nested inside a tree... That was odd, how does the tree not rot and die? Magic? Most magic doesn't sustain that kind of life. Soils resolved to come find the owner of the tree and ask that pony how it is sustained without dying, leaves and all.
The buildings grew thin as they started on the road, a sign informed Soils that they were headed to Appleloosa; a field was all that seemed to remain for an endless expanse, yellow wheat rising higher than most ponies were tall. Pinkie had told him normally there was a train to Appleloosa, but since the castle had been destroyed, the trains were shut down as a precaution against their possible destruction on the unprotected stretches they traversed..
It was odd, she didn't seem nervous at all, as if her happiness was a shield from all that would attack her, as if her laughter and joy could protect her from anything the world could throw at her, including death. She had an aura of pleasure, an air of euphoria. How does a pony maintain that in the bleakest of times? The castle was destroyed, her Goddess's castle was destroyed, and she knew of it. How was it that she was able to maintain such a blissful nature?
Pinkie Pie talked about her life at the bakery, making cupcakes with young ones and having adventures at the gala. Soils was attentive, though he didn't find himself caring too much about Pinkie Pie's life, he was focused on simply walking, getting to the next destination. The fields were clean, no weeds to be found... So he simply just walked for what seemed like hours.
Pinkie Pie stopped suddenly, gazing forward. Soils stopped scanning the field for weeds and also stared to find a pony standing in the middle of the road, staring straight at them. His skin was an ashen black, and his hair was flaming, blowing in the gentle breeze; his piercing dragon's eyes locked on Pinkie Pie, the red growing as the black strips of pupil drew in closer and closer on Pinkie Pie's face. This was a Duskheart, this had to be. This monster was responsible for destroying his garden, his beautiful garden, and the castle. Nowhere in hell did this creature belong. It spoke, fierce and powerful, without averting his gaze, "Pinkie Pie, I'm afraid you'll have to come with me. White earth pony, if you wish to live, you will leave."
Soils stared strait back at this pony, he just stared until its eyes were no longer locked onto Pinkie Pie, but him. He would not confront this beast without its full attention.
"If you think we intend to do what you ask, filth, you are sorely, sorely mistaken."
The Duskheart laughed, just sat there and laughed, "Alright then, fine. I was hoping to try this anyway."
The sky darkened, and the Duskheart flew straight up into it's black-clouded air. The air whipped Pinkie and Soils so that it was incredibly hard to maintain balance. Soils would not die today, could not die today. This wasn't going to happen to him. Grabbing Pinkie Pie by the tail, Soils darted into the fields, randomizing his path as much as possible. Daring to look back, he saw what he hoped he wouldn't see; a flaming tornado consuming everything in it's path. The Duskheart flew at the top, commanding it's massive destruction.
Run Soils, faster. You can do better than this!
In the distance, Soils saw a boulder rising up from the grass. Turning, they pressed their bodies up against it. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. This was going to be it...
Soils felt himself falling... Blackness enveloped him. He landed in a room with Pinkie Pie, it was dark, nothing could be seen.
Soils called out, "Pinkie Pie?"
"Y-y-y-eah?"
"Where are we?"
"I don't know."
Moments of silence passed. Pinkie Pie was shaken. Her tremors could be heard and felt. Stay strong Soils, stay strong for her.
Light flooded in. Somewhere, a door had opened. Hoofsteps were heard. An alicorn filled the doorway's space. Looking down upon the two frightened ponies, it bowed, and spoke.