//------------------------------// // The Missing Foals // Story: Electric Fruit Bungalow Dance Team // by ShamrocknRoll //------------------------------// Rarity opened the door to her house as she got home from Sugar Cube Corner, she finally convinced Pinkie Pie to be a lady and learn ballet. She scanned the room for her sister, Sweetie Belle. The empty house's fan sqeaked, but there was no nay. Rarity galloped towards the kitchen wondering if Sweetie Belle left a note for her on the fridge. There was nothing on it, just white, cold metal. There was a knock at the door, Rarity opened the door, it was Applejack. “Have you by any chance seen Applebloom?” Applejack asked Rarity. “Granny Smith is worried she didn't come to dinner tonight, thought she was with Sweetie Belle.” Rarity shook her head. “I myself am looking for Sweetie Belle, I'm worried something happened to her.” Rarity answered. “She wasn't in Sugar Cube Corner, I just got from there and I doubt she went anywhere else, I mean you know those little sisters. Always trying to find their cutie marks, I doubt they went anywhere twice.” “I know what you mean, but that doesn't really help us.” Applejack pointed out. “We need answers or at least clues to this mystery I mean Ponyville doesn't really have that high of a crime rate ya know?.” The two ponies put their hooves to their chins and thought. “I think we should talk to some of our friends, see what they have to say about this. Maybe they even have the same thing happening to them.” Rarity said. “Excellent idea.” Applejack answered. The two ponies trotted towards Sugar Cube Corner trying to get to Pinkie Pie before she closed for the night. “Do you think the Cakes are victims of this as well?” “Possibly, we have to check up on Pinkie Pie. I hope not but I am prepared for anything.” Rarity answered. As they came across Sugar Cube Corner, they saw Pinkie Pie outside crying. “I would ask what's wrong but I think I know what it is.” Applejack bluntly stated not realizing how cold she sounded “What do you mean?” Pinkie Pie snarled through her tears. “I just lost two foals to my employers!” “We both lost our sisters.” Applejack and Rarity said in unison. Pinkie Pie blinked and apologized to her friends. “We forgive you, but we have to learn what's happening here. It seems all the foals are disappearing.” Pinkie Pie opened the door to Sugar Cube Corner and the three friends decided to think inside there for fear of what was outside during this night of disappearances. “Have anything Pinkie?” Rarity asked. “I have a lot of candy... I mean I do work at a candy shop.” Pinkie answered. Rarity and Applejack both facehooved. “We meant anything related to the disappearances of the foals.” Applejack pointed out. “We both have nothing, however Applebloom went missing before dinner, we have no idea if that's relevant though. We also obviously know that they simply vanish without a trace.” Pinkie Pie started chomping down on a sundae thinking, after a moment she answered. “Well, I did serve the Cutie Mark Crusaders today some suckers, they said they would go into the Everfree Forest to see if they could get their cutie marks by digging for buried treasure, that or planting suckers either one worked for me.” Pinkie Pie answered. “Other than that I don't know what could possibly happen to them.” “Then let's go.” Applejack walked out and headed towards the Everfree Forest. Rarity followed her, then Pinkie Pie, who was surprisingly skeptical about her friends' recklessness. “You do know this is just an idea, not where I last saw them.” Pinkie stated. “Yes but we need to find our friends. Who knows they could've been ponynapped, especially with Fluttershy near the Everfree Forest. We need to at least check up on her.” Rarity pointed out. “OK we split up how's that?”Applejack said trying to play compromiser. “I'll check up on Fluttershy, while Rarity checks up on Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie looks into the what Rainbow Dash is up to. Maybe she has found some evidence towards some other being in Equestria. "We will meet up at Twilight's house. How's that?" “We can dig that.” Pinkie Pie said as she cantered away from her friends onward towards Rainbow Dash's Cloud and Rarity heading to Twilight's house and obviously with Applejack heading towards Fluttershy's cabin. Applejack's nerves were getting the best of her, she swore she saw at least ten things that made her look back at her shadow when she was heading to Fluttershy's cabin. She was tempted to head back and just say she did check up on her, but she knew honesty was her power and it showed through in the end. She saw Fluttershy's cabin that was obscured by the trees at this time of night. She peered through the window, she saw Angel and that was a good sign and realized that this could narrow down the suspects. Something that avoids animals and only goes after ponies either because they have no interest in animals, by orders of another being or just wants to hunt ponies, the only species that seems to have a civilized society in Equestria. Applejack knocked at the door after a few tense seconds, Fluttershy opened the door. “Oh hello Applejack. What's going on? I haven't been to Ponyville today so please tell me what is happening?” Fluttershy asked her friend to do. “My sister is missing. Along with other foals such as the Cake twins and Sweetie Belle.” Applejack answered. “The six of us have to solve this mystery and well, you're drafted.” Fluttershy blinked. “Um well, hangin I need to get some things. It will be some time for me to get them however so you can um, leave while I get packing.” “Nope, I'm staying right here. We go together, no way we're going seperately this time of night with these disappearances.” Applejack stated. Fluttershy knew she couldn't trick Applejack into leaving her alone so she invited Applejack in to help her pack some things.