Applejack looked at her Dinner with a frown "I'm not hungry," she stood up "I'm gonna go and get some shut-eye." She began for her room when the voice of her little sister spoke up from behind her. "Applejack," Apple Bloom said from across the table "Yah should eat that, you havn't been eating much lately and it's beginnin to worry me."
Applejack turned around and looked at her sister with a reassuring smile "I'm fine sugarcube, I'm just not hungry."
Apple Bloom just shook her head with a sad frown. Applejack sighed as she walked over and sat down next to Apple Bloom with a small smile "What is it? Ya can tell me."
Apple Bloom looked up at Applejack with a frown "Applejack, ya realize that yer not fooling anypony with that. Everypony knows yer hurtin," she hugged her older sister, Applejack returned the gesture "Ah just wish you'd let us help."
Applejack let go of her little sister and looked at her with a frown "I'm sorry Apple Bloom. Ah just don't want anypony to be worried about me." She stood up and looked at Apple Bloom with a small smile "Ah'll try ta be better, okay?"
"Okay Applejack, I just wished-" Apple Bloom was suddenly cut off by a massive bang on the door. "What in tarnation!?" Applejack yelled as she turned towards the door.
She ran over to the door and opened it. Outside the door was a dazed mail delivery pony on her front porch. The pony shook her head and quickly get back to her hooves and yelled "You have mail!" She then dug out a letter and a newspaper out of her saddlebag and handed them to Applejack.
Applejack smiled "Thanks Ditzy Doo," she then gave her a concerned frown "Ya okay? It sounded like ya hit this here door real hard." Ditzy Doo smiled brightly at Applejack "No, I am perfectly fine. By the way you're welcome!" she then turned around and flew off into the sunset, hitting a few apple trees as she did so.
Applejack shook her head as she turned around and walked back towards the diner table "They really shouldn't let her do that there job. She'll hurt herself one of these days."
Apple Bloom shrugged "If she gets the job done and she likes it then Ah don't see no problem." Applejack just shook her head and sat down across the table from Apple Bloom and took out the newspaper, setting the letter down for latter.
Applejack opened it up to the front page. She gasped as she read the big bolded letters on the top of the page. Prince Shining Armor goes missing. Ponies going missing left and right. Are we safe?
"What is it?" Apple Bloom asked, hearing Applejacks gasp. When Apple Bloom saw Applejack's face her own filled with worry "Applejack?"
Applejack reread the newspaper header again and again. Her mouth was agape in shock and her ears were firmly against her head 'First Twilight and Spike, and now her brother as well? What da hell going on?'
She looked at Apple Bloom and though 'She can't know about this. Ah'm her big sister, Ah need to keep her safe.' She stood up and grabbed the letter "Ah gotta go Apple Bloom. I'm gonna be in ma room." She began towards the stairs when Apple Bloom yelled "Applejack, what is it? Come on, talk to me here!"
Applejack looked back at her sister "Ah'm sorry, I've gotta go," and with that she ran off up the stairs and into her room. She then locked the door behind her.
Applejack walked over to her bed and sat down. 'I hate it when Ah need to do that,' she thought with a sigh. Applejack put the newspaper on her lap and looked down at it with a frown.
Prince Shining Armor went missing last week along with some of his most trusted royal guards. They were sent on a mission into the frozen north of Equestria after a recent sighting of a monster in the area. This has led to mass panic in the Crystal Empire as the fear that that this monster (some are calling it "The Totenberg Monster") has killed their beloved prince. The princesses have yet to comment on the matter.
Applejack looked down at the paper with a worried frown 'Ah hope he's okay,' she shivered 'And ah really hope Sombra isn't back. If he is back and we don't have Twilight...' She shook her head 'But he's not back, he can't be.' She looked back down at the paper and continued.
All across the nation hundreds of missing persons reports have been filed, a seven hundred percent increase since last month. The princesses say that there is nothing to worry about but even with this reassurance many ponies still fear that they or one of their loved ones could be next. The FPIA is currently investigating these recent disappearances and have been on record saying quote "We're on their trail, we'll get'em soon." There a few ponies pointing the blame on Princess Celestia and Luna, even a few who say they are the ones behind the disappearances! There is no evidence of this being the case. Let's just hope that soon this will all be over.
Applejack turned the page and saw that was the end of the article. She tossed the newspaper to the side and sighed 'The whole world seems ta be falling down around me. Twilight goes missing then Spike goes after her. What if they'll never come back? What if they're dead?' Applejack shook her head 'Stop thinking like that, Ah know that we'll find them and Ah know that they will be okay.'
Applejack turned to the letter and picked it up with her hooves, it had her name on it. She opened up the letter with her teeth and read the paper inside, at the bottom of the page it was stamped with a large golden C. Quickly her frown became a joyous smile, she could barely keep her excitement and joy in.
Applejack,
I have some news for you, we know how to find Twilight. There was a sighting of her going north from Whinnyapolis about a week ago. I believe that she was following the necromancer that attacked Whinnyapolis and was trying to stop them. There is much, much more I must tell you, too much for me to write down. Go to Twilight's Palace this Wednesday night, all the other elements of harmony will be there and we will talk about everything we know. I have a mission for you all.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
Applejack's smile was too big for her face. She looked over at a calendar on her wall, it was Wednesday. "Yes!" Applejack yelled, jumping down from the bed. She ran to her door and down the stairs.
Apple Bloom looked at her sister with a very confused look "What is it? What's got ya so happy all of a sudden?"
Applejack looked over at Apple Bloom with a massive smile "The princesses know how ta find Twilight!" Applejack gave Apple Bloom a grin "We're gonna find her and bring her back!
She then turned around, opened the door, and ran into the twilight. She galloped through Sweet Apple Acres towards Ponyville "I'm comin for ya Twilight. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to bring ya back."