The entire Apple family was there, Pinkie Pie brought the Cakes from where she worked at Sugarcube corner, the police, and even ponies I didn’t know. The Mayor came with them too. They all gathered in front of me and the Mayor began to speak.
She said that they were all here to look for me. Again, the waves of sadness and regret took me but this time I didn’t have Angelbunny to comfort me…Twilight then came center and addressed the group, telling them when I was suspected missing and about where I was last seen. She told them time was important and that she didn’t want to lose a friend. My tears swelled.
The Mayor then broke the ponies into different groups. The Pegasus were divided into pairs and flew out in every direction, with most of them flying out over the Everfree forest. Groups of four ponies each were then sent into the Everfree Forest. The mayor said that even though a pony was missing, for the protection of others and so no more went missing, groups had to have four ponies, two Unicorn and two Earth, and had to remain in sight of another group at all times. The remaining ponies were to form a long line shoulder to shoulder and started slowly walking towards the Everfree forest with their eyes on the ground, searching for any signs of me.
All I could do was watch in silence. The ponies took to their roles and headed out. Rainbow Dash took the skies and nearly left her partner behind, she was going so fast. Applejack and Twilight went into the forest and Rarity and Pinkie Pie stayed behind, searching for clues. There were young fillies there too, like Applejack’s and Rarity’s little sisters, but they mainly ran errands and weren’t allowed into the forest.
To be honest, I was touched by what they were doing for my sake but I was also covered with guilt. It was as if each leaf on me was inscribed with sadness, guilt, regret, and pain. The burden was heavy but all I could do was hold it and watch with silent tears that only I could see and feel.
Only an hour into the search, there came back a few ponies in a commotion. It seemed like they found something. An Earth pony with an auburn mane and mint colored coat found something with his group. He was bringing something back with him in my direction, probably taking it to show the mayor who was near me. Twilight and Applejack came galloping out to see what it was. Pinkie Pie was still busy searching for clues of my disappearance but Rarity noticed what was going on and started making her way over.
When Applejack and Twilight got here with the Earth pony and showed the mayor what he found, I gasped. At least, I would have if I had a mouth…What they were looking at was my torn umbrella. The one that Angelbunny brought me that day it was going to rain. The one that blew away and torn itself up on the foliage around the Everfree forest.
They argued about it. Twilight said that something must have happened that day during the storm but Applejack said that she thought Twilight had said I was missing before it started raining. Maybe Fluttershy got sidetracked and wasn’t missing until after it started raining; Fluttershy forgetting to feed her animals is like grass forgetting to grow; What if she did feed them and Angelbunny just wanted a snack but Fluttershy was shopping; You said it yer’self, the animals were hollering like they were starving; But then…maybe she was outside and brought her umbrella just in case; I don’t know, but maybe; Fluttershy is a cautious pony, it could happen; But there is just so much about all this that doesn't seem right…
They continued like this but eventually agreed on something: I was missing and the umbrella was connected. How I wished I could have told them how wrong that was. I was right next to them and that umbrella was just a coincidence. But I couldn’t do those things, I was a tree.
Rarity arrived with her sister, Sweetie Belle, as the two continued to figure out how the umbrella was connected to me. I guess the mayor wanted to avoid trouble so she broke them up and asked them about what could have torn the umbrella up. They both looked it over and then came to the same conclusion: Timberwolves. They claimed Timberwolves dragged me away.
I wish they would’ve said anything but that, especially in front of Sweetie Belle. She started crying right there. The crying seemed to break Twilight and Applejack out of their concentration. It seemed like they never realized that Sweetie Belle was there. They immediately rushed over to try to comfort her but Rarity shooed them away and did her best to do the comforting. The mayor gave Applejack and Twilight a glare and they looked around guiltily.
From behind me, I saw that the crying got the attention of Pinkie Pie. She started making her way over here with a hurried pace. Then I saw who was following her and I wanted to scream again. Applejack’s sister, Applebloom, and her friend, Scootaloo, were coming too. I wanted them to turn back. I didn’t want the sorrow to spread but then…well, I guess it wasn’t the fillies I should’ve been worrying about.
When Sweetie Belle’s friends saw that she was crying, they rushed over and asked her what was wrong. She sobbed and told them what Twilight and Applejack said: That I had been taken by Timberwolves. She pointed at the torn umbrella that Applejack still held in front of her. Twilight quickly used her magic it to through it behind her and hide it but the damage was done. I saw that they were heartbroken. They all know how fierce Timberwolves can be. But Applebloom and Scootaloo remained strong for their friend. They held back their tears and helped her up and away.
Rarity gave them a look and Applejack and Twilight looked away, now feeling even more guilty and reprehensible. She was about to leave with the children when she caught sight of Pinkie Pie. I had only just noticed what she was doing too. Pinkie Pie was just staring out into space. I followed her gaze, and saw she was staring straight at the torn remains of the umbrella that were behind Twilight. She just kept staring.
Now the other ponies there were starting to get worried too. Pinkie Pie wasn't responding to anyone. The mayor also spotted at what she was looking at and then moved to remove the umbrella. This was probably the worst thing she could have done.
Pinkie Pie snapped. She just broke down right there. I never knew she was like this. She always seemed so happy, so perky and bouncy, like nothing could cloud her skies. What a fool I was. Out of everyone, I should’ve known. Pinkie Pie was the most like me. We both had rough childhoods and sad histories. But I guess I always had Rainbow Dash to help me and worked through my pain. Pinkie Pie never had anyone. She was alone as a child so she learned to hide her pain behind her smile. She never wanted to be alone again so she always through parties and acted happy to keep her friends. I should have realized how fragile she was. Stupid. I’m stupid, a dumbo! Why did I have to make such an evil wish?!
Pinkie Pie was friends with everyone. She had to be. It was what kept her sane. The umbrella was the last straw. She was holding on to me, believing I was still alive, just lost. Now, the umbrella…now the light was gone. Her hope, snuffed. She thought she lost a friend, and now…we’ve lost her.
It was so sudden. She collapsed right there. Her legs just buckled under her. As soon as it happened, everyone rushed over. The mayor immediately started giving orders. She told Rarity to take away the children and ordered Applejack and the mint Earth pony to run as fast they could and find Nurse Redheart. But they were all paralyzed, stunned. I was too. I didn’t know what was going on, what had happened. All I knew was that it was bad…and it was all my fault.
But the mayor slammed her hoof down and it broke the spell. Rarity began herding away the scared fillies, trying to obscure their view of what was behind them. Applejack and the other Earth pony ran off to two different directions, yelling for Nurse Redheart. Twilight looked around confused, unsure of herself. She started stuttering and the mayor had to shake her out of it. Twilight calmed down enough to say that she thought it would be best if she ran off to get the Cakes since they were practically Pinkie Pie’s family.
It must have only taken a minute or two before Nurse Redheart came back with some other medical ponies but it felt like forever. I watched Pinkie Pie from where I was rooted. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was my friend, and this is what I have done to her. What kind of “friend” was I? Could I even be called hers or anyone else’s friend after all this?
She just laid there, now on her side and shaking a bit. Her mouth was slightly open and drool started leaking out. The mayor didn’t notice, she was trying to talk to her, to maybe sooth her, or failing that, cover her to stop the shaking. The glow that always seemed to follow Pinkie Pie was gone now. All that was left was a shadow. But what will always haunt me are her eyes.
They were always so full of life. Blue as the sky she would always be hopping into, trying to put her head even further into the clouds. But now…I have never seen anything so empty. It is like she just gave up on everything. They were so defeated. I can only imagine what was going through her head. She must’ve thought that if she lost one friend, she was going to lose them all and be alone again. It just broke her.
All my fault…
A crowd was already forming by the time Nurse Redheart and the other medical ponies arrived. So much was happening all at once. It was so very confusing. It wasn’t long before Mr. and Mrs. Cake arrived. They went into a panic, as if it was their own child laying on the ground like that, and it may as well have been. Pinkie Pie was practically their over-aged daughter.
By Celestia’s mane! What happened? – Mr. Cake – Nurse, nurse! Is she going to be alright? – Mrs. Cake – What’s going on over here; Hey what happened; Is everything okay; Did someone find Fluttershy; Dear Celestia! Is that Pinkie? – Please, people, give me some space! We need air! – Nurse – For the love of Celestia ponies, give them room! – Mayor – Mayor, we need to move her to the hospital. – Make a corridor people; Get her on the stretcher; First a missing pony, now this? – Come on people, back to searching, there’s nothing to see here.
So many ponies, so many people speaking at once. I have never seen so much confusion and panic. I guess ponies don’t need “his” help to create discord. All of this…because of me.
I didn’t become a tree, I became a monster.
***
I’m sorry. I’m done for today.