The next day, as Celestia’s sun calmly rose against the crystal clear orange and blue canvas of the morning sky as it produced a showering blanket of warmth over Equestria, Fluttershy started to wake up and then started to refresh herself. When she got out of the covers and stood up, Fluttershy went to the kitchen to grab some food and then attended to feed her animals their breakfasts, while there was still an eerie silence that appeared in her son’s bedroom and she was unaware of the absence of her precious little colt, who was not in his bed.
Fluttershy giggled as she continued to feed her animals and as some of them gave her hugs and gentle tickles, “Okay, my precious little babies. Now you all eat up, and while you get your cute little tummies full, I’m going to give Angel his special salad, and then I’m going to go see if my precious little Thomas is up yet and dressed for school.” After her animal friends replied with chirps and chitters, Fluttershy smiled warmly and then went to the kitchen to make Angel his salad. When she went outside and gave it to the bunny until he started eating, Fluttershy trotted upstairs humming a soft tune.
When she arrived, she went over to his bedroom and whispered softly, “Thomas. Sweetheart, it’s time to get up for school.” She suddenly didn’t hear a reply, “Thomas?” When she uncovered the bed blankets, he wasn’t there, “AAAHH! Thomas?” She looked underneath his bed, “Thomas?!” She suddenly started to have tears streaming down from her eyes and she felt a huge crack in her heart, “Why? Why would he run away?” She suddenly trotted downstairs and cried on the couch. Angel hopped over and hugged Fluttershy, “Oh, Angel, it’s terrible! My son... My precious baby ran away from home!” Angel and the animals were scared about the news. “I better warn my friends!” Fluttershy said, then she got up and wrote a letter to each of her friends and used her birds to deliver them.
One hour later...
Fluttershy was pacing around the house trying to stay calm, but some part of her was worried about that something might happen to her precious little boy, until she heard a knock on her door, then she went to answer it, “Twilight! Applejack! Rarity! Thank goodness you’re all here!” She hugged Rarity, then let them come inside.
“We’ve read your letters. What’s the matter, darling?” Rarity asked, closing the door. “It’s awful! I can’t find Thomas! He ran away, but I don’t know why. He wasn’t sleeping in his bed,” Fluttershy answered, while she had a few more tears streaming from her eyes. She lowered her head in sadness and continued to cry.
“Aww, poor dear Thomas,” Rarity said. “I just don’t understand. Why would the little feller run away?” Applejack said. Twilight went over to Fluttershy, “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. We’re going to go look for him. Let’s go see if he’s at the school.”
Fluttershy sniffed, then blew her muzzle, “Okay. Angel, can you be a good boy for mommy and watch over the others while we go search for my son?” Angel nodded, then Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack and Rarity left the cottage and trotted down the pathway to Ponyville.
Somewhere, deep inside the Everfree Forest, the thick woods were darkened quickly with a small thick fog. Limbs from a few trees were covered with moss and had many vines that were hanging from the trees, and several bushes surrounded most parts of the forest. Meanwhile, Thomas continued his journey after another long night’s rest.
He was sniffing with sobs as he walked, “W-Why would th-they hurt me after all they d-did for m-me? I-I would never do anything to hurt th-them. I-I love them... a-and they’re... th-they-they’re my f-fa-family. They s-saved my life.” He then closed his eyes and looked down in sadness, “Maybe Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were right. I don’t belong here or anywhere in Equestria. I belong back in the orphanage, alone forever.”
While he was walking, he looked up and found a big cave to find shelter. He went inside and journeyed deep inside the cave, then he saw a big portion that was filled with treasures consisting gems and gold coins and jewelry, then he sat down near a big boulder and set up camp for him. After he laid down, he curled up and laid his head between his folded arms and started to cry.
Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity and Applejack arrived at the schoolhouse and they saw the fillies and colts playing in recess and having lunch. Twilight gently knocked on the door, then Ms. Cheerilee trotted over and answered the door, “Oh, Princess Twilight, good morning. Why’s Fluttershy upset? Did something happen?”
Twilight and Applejack stepped forward while Rarity comforted Fluttershy, “Ms. Cheerilee, I’m sorry for disturbing you during recess, but has Thomas come here? Fluttershy’s worried about him, so we were wondering if he came here.”
Ms. Cheerilee shook her head, “No, I’m sorry, dearie, but Thomas hasn’t come today. Why’d you ask?”
“He ran away with no note. He wasn’t in his bed this morning,” Fluttershy said. “Oh, dear. Why would he run away?” Ms. Cheerilee. “Well, last night, when I was tucking him into bed, he asked me if I loved him if he was different, but I don’t know why he asked,” Fluttershy said.
“Well, that’s the most ridiculous question I’ve ever heard! Why would he ask you that question?” Applejack asked. “Something might’ve scared him,” Fluttershy said. “We know why,” a little voice said.
“It was because of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” Sweetie Belle said. “What about them?” Ms. Cheerilee asked. “I’ll handle this,” Twilight said, then she walked over to the three fillies and lowered herself a little. “Girls, can you tell us what happened with Thomas and those two yesterday?”
“Well yesterday after a lesson on types of ponies, we were having lunch with Thomas and pushing him on the swings,” Apple Bloom said. “When we were about to play ball, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stopped him. Diamond Tiara was jealous of him because she thought he was stealing her spotlight, so she cornered him to wall and then started calling him names, and said that he was a mistake and that he didn’t belong here,” Sweetie Belle said. “But we were there to stop them from hurting him, so we told to back off and leave him alone,” Scootaloo said. “Because picking on a little colt like him is way out of line.”
“Is it true? Did he really run away?” Apple Bloom asked, with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, sugarcube. It’s true,” Applejack said. “Rarity, he’s our friend, and he needs us,” Sweetie Belle said, hugging her big sister. “Aww... Don’t you cry, darling. We’ll find him,” Rarity said, then she gave her sister a kiss on the forehead. “I’m glad you told us, girls. I’ll deal with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon later. You three can go play now,” Ms. Cheerilee said. Twilight and the three mares were disappointed in Diamond Tiara’s behavior, but proud of the fillies’s bravery. “Ms. Cheerilee, thank you for your time. If he comes, can you tell him that I’m not mad at him and to wait here for me to take him back?” Fluttershy asked. “Of course, dear. Now you go save him,” Ms. Cheerilee said.
Fluttershy and the other mares nodded, then left the schoolhouse to begin their search for Thomas. Suddenly, they saw Rainbow Dash appear in a flash, “Heya, guys! What’s happening. Is Fluttershy okay?”
“No, darling. Our precious nephew ran away,” Rarity said. “WHAT?! But why?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “It’s because of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” Fluttershy said. “Why those little-!” Rainbow Dash was cut off by Applejack, “Simmer down there, sugarcube. Now’s not the time for anger.”
Fluttershy was still crying over her missing son, “Oh, Twilight, I hope he’s okay. My little Thomas is out there. He must be scared, lost, cold, alone and... starving. Poor baby.” She started to cry on Rarity’s chest, until Twilight came over and stroked Fluttershy’s neck. “Calm down, Fluttershy.” Twilight then felt a spark in herself, then made a confession, “Listen up, I’m going to go look for him, but I need the rest of you to go to my castle, wait for me there, and keep her company. I promise I’ll return with him, if I find him in time.”
“Are you sure, Twilight? Don’t ya need support?” Applejack asked. “I’m sure. I just need to give Fluttershy some faith, so I’m going alone,” Twilight said. “Alright, Twilight. We’ll be waiting,” Rainbow Dash said. “Good luck, darling. And be safe,” Rarity said. Twilight nodded, then trotted off to look for Thomas, while the other mares, including Fluttershy, went off to the Castle of Friendship to wait for her return.