//------------------------------//
// Next Scene 
// Story: Party of Two? 
// by The Iron Brony 
//------------------------------//

Meanwhile, at the barn in Sweet Apple Acres:

Rainbow Dash fidgeted in her hiding place. “What is taking them so long?”
“It has been a while. Ah reckon ah could use a bathroom break.” Applejack replied. Rarity wrinkled her nose disapprovingly, but remained silent.

“M-maybe they got lost?” Fluttershy squeaked
“Why would they? It’s not like we live in bucking Manehattan.” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “Dash here is right. Ah think it’s mighty fishy they haven’t gotten here yet.” “Now, now, let’s not go jumping to conclusions. Maybe Pinkie has so many mental issues that she relies on our attention and love for sanity and when we started ignoring her she went insane and started talking to a pile of rocks, a bag of flour, and a bucket of turnips.” Rarity said, calmly.

“Don’t forget balls of lint!” Applejack piped up. Everyone laughed heartily. When the laughter died down, Dash suddenly stamped her hoof. “Well, I’m sick of standing still, so I’mma go look for ‘em. Ya comin’, AJ?” “Ah reckon. Ah really need to pee.”

“Then let’s go already!” Dash said impatiently. “Hold your buckin’ horses, ah’m comin’, ah’m comin’.” AJ replied, stumbling as she stood up from her hiding place.
“Um, may I come, too… if it’s not too much to ask?”
Rainbow sighed rudely. “Fine.” She said, irritably. “But you better not slow us down!” “Um, I won’t. I mean, I’ll try not to, um, I…” Fluttershy trailed off, squeaking adorably.

And so, the (mostly) brave adventurers set off on a quest. A quest to find Pinkie! A quest that in no way would go horribly, horribly wrong.

--
Meanwhile
back at Twilight's Library
Spike is taking a well-deserved nap, having spent all day cleaning the library from top to bottom. Suddenly, Twilight burst through the front door, locking and barricading it behind her. "Spike, what are you doing!? Help my barricade the house!"
"What's goin' on...", grumbled the sleepy dragon. Nonetheless, he got up, and quickly helped Twilight bar all the windows and doors and turn off the lights before asking for an explanation. His eyes widened as Twilight told him all about the surprise birthday party, and how Pinkie had gone crazy and breaking the Pinkie Promise™, and the extensive chase scene that went on before Twilight finally reached the Library. Spike stared in shock for a while. "Wow." he finally said. "So you broke a Pinkie Promise™? Are you sure you want to stay in Ponyville, and not, you know, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE??"
"Oh, Spike, Pinkie may be... relentless, and... scary... and impossibly fast, and..." She trailed off, quickly running for her suit case and favorite books.