Applejack and Rarity watched as the large crowd milled outside The Golden Oak Library. They were knocking furiously on the door, begging Twilight to help them to which they got no response.
"Ya think Pinkie visited Twi last night?" asked Applejack
"I think so" replied Rarity, pointing up at the great tree.
One of the windows higher up had its curtains draw slightly, through which a distraught princess was peering through.
"We gotta get in there." said Applejack.
She approached the crowd and with a little shoving began to push through towards the door.
The gathering of ponies were shouting for Twilight. Many were in tears, their eyes red and bloodshot, trembling.
The chorus of shouts occasionally allowed for a sliver of sense to pass through.
"It came out of nowhere!"
"The giggling! It was horrible!"
"The horror! The horror!"
"Pink. Pink everywhere"
Once the two of them reached the door they began knocking.
"Twilight dear! Let us in!" cried Rarity
After a moment the door opened enough for them to fit through. The two ponies ran into the library, helping Twilight close the door on the anxious ponies outside.
"Whew" said Applejack "What ya thinks got them so worked up?"
"Um, Applejack dear" said Rarity, pointing at Twilight.
In all the time Applejack had know Twilight, never had she seen her so disheveled.
Her mane was frayed and messy, framing her wide, bloodshot eyes. Her entire body was trembling as she sat wearily on the floor.
"What's the matter Twi?"
"B...Books" stuttered Twilight "Monster..."
"Was it Pinkie Pie dear?" asked Rarity
Twilight shrugged weakly in response.
"What 'bout them lot out there?" asked Applejack, nodding towards the door.
"Complaints about ...hauntings"
"I'm tellin' ya! It Pinkie Pie!"
"But it can't be" replied Twilight weakly.
"All of us, and from the sounds of it, half of Ponyville, have had a visit from our new spectre" said Rarity
"What about Fluttershy?" asked Twilight "Has anypony seen her?"
The other shook their heads, neither had seen Fluttershy since the party.
"We better check on her" said Rarity "Who knows what one of Pinkie's pranks would do to her?"
"Well first we need to get through them lot" said Applejack.
"They want answers. Answers that we don't have" said Twilight
"But we do have answers!" cried Applejack "It's gotta be her!"
"Till I see her with my own eyes I will not believe that Pinkie has somehow broken the veil of death, It just doesn't happen!"
Applejack sighed.
"Ok then, what do ya propose we do?"
The three ponies emerged onto Twilight's balcony, overlooking the rowdy scene below. Her horn lit up brightly and a loud trumpet blast rang through the morning, causing all the ponies to look up at her.
"Citizens of Ponyville" she began "I know of your fear, I too have been visited by this poltergeist."
The ponies below muttered. What powerful spirit dare attack the princess?
"I know all of you are scared, so am I" continued Twilight "But we do not know what we are dealing with here, some of us have suspicions" she looked back at Applejack.
"So go back to your homes, the dark night has passed, believe that we will try our best."
The anxious ponies, thankful that something was being done to ease their fear, began to disperse, chatting away about their individual encounters with the ghoul.
"Nicely done Twi" smiled Applejack
"Like a real princess" said Rarity
"Thanks girls" Twilight said "Now, to Fluttershy's"
Discord answered the door when the three ponies knocked, his face beaming when he saw who was there.
"Why if it isn't our very own princess!" he exclaimed, stooping into a ridiculously low bow.
"Not now Discord" huffed Twilight "We need to talk to Fluttershy"
"Hmmm, that may be a problem, she's a bit...occupied" he opened the door to reveal to still sobbing Fluttershy, her sofa an island among the tissues on the floor.
"I didn't know a pony could cry for so long" he said, closing the door quietly "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"
"Has anyone else visited Fluttershy's cottage in the past two days?" asked Twilight
He raised a paw and began stroking his goatee in thought.
"Not that I remember" he replied "Nopony living anyway"
"What?!" exclaimed Twilight
"Well, a certain pink pony decided to come and 'cheer up' Fluttershy" he said "Being the good friend I am I knew Fluttershy was in no such mood for those antics. So I suggested she visit the Library instead"
He grinned at Twilight who glared at him.
"How did you sleep last night princess?" he said mockingly.
"You knew Pinkie Pie was running around and you didn't tell us?!"
"But of course! Who am I to ruin her fun? And anyway, you could all loosen up a bit, have a laugh!" He clicked his fingers, reappearing in a overly colourful clowns outfit, he squeezed the large yellow flower in his lapel, spraying the three ponies with chocolate milk.
All four of them stopped as Fluttershy's crying went up another few decibels. Discord sighed, throwing away his outfit.
"On second thought, Please get that pony back, I don't know how many more tissues and mugs of hot chocolate I can bare to conjure."
And with a flash he disappeared back inside the cottage.
The three of them made their way back down the path,brainstorming as they went.
"So it's definitely Pinkie Pie" sighed Twilight "I don't know how but it is."
"What can we do Twilight?" asked Rarity
"We have to confront her, convince her to stop" said Twilight
"But we don't know where she is! She could be anywhere in Ponyville!" said Rarity
"She could be, but she wont. She'll be where she feels most comfortable"
"Where?" asked Applejack
"Home"