"Now," Fluttershy said as she opened the door to the cottage, "I want you to go straight to the tub and start washing up."
"I know, I know," Luna grumbled as she headed for the stairs. Her eyes were narrow and ears pinned back in annoyance. Her normally deep blue coat was currently mostly brown in color due to being coated in mud. There were also leaves, bits of grass, dandelion seeds, tree sap, and orange feathers (the last one she refused to even talk about). Suffice to say that she was not a happy filly, and that she had no intention on trying to drive a scooter again for a while -- if ever.
Once she heard the sound of water running from upstairs, Fluttershy finally been letting out the laughter that she had been holding since seeing the condition that Luna was in. The filly was already in a foul mood from being befouled. Admittedly, Fluttershy was aware that she should not laugh at all, but it was just too cute to see Luna so messy and upset.
Heading to the kitchen, Fluttershy put the kettle on the stove to start making tea. While it was heating up, she got some crackers from the cabinet as well as a cucumber and some sour cream from the refrigerator. Before she could begin cutting the cucumber, there was a knock at the door.
Standing outside was Rainbow Dash. The mare sagged, ears pinned back while her head, tail, and wings all drooped.
"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.
"Can I come in?"
"Okay." Fluttershy moved aside, letting Rainbow Dash come in. "I just put the kettle on. Do you want some tea?"
"Thanks."
Fluttershy went to the kitchen to grab the kettle. The snack would have to wait. She also grabbed the cups, saucers, sugar, honey and milk (she had never seen Rainbow Dash drink tea before, so she was uncertain how the pegasus took it).
"Pinkie was right," Rainbow Dash stated.
"I'm sorry?"
"Pinkie was right," Rainbow Dash repeated. "Zecora is missing." She slumped down, chin on the table. "How does she do that?"
Fluttershy walked over to Rainbow Dash and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"There, there. You have nothing to be jealous about."
"I'm not jealous," Rainbow Dash snapped, glaring at Flutteshy.
"Oh," Fluttershy mumbled as she pulled back. "Sorry. I..."
Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and slammed her forehead against the table.
"No. I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I mean yes it would be nice to figure out how she does stuff like that. It's more...." she let out another groan. "I just don't get why anyone would want to abduct Zecora."
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
"There's not really much to tell..."
*****
Rainbow Dash flew through The Everfree Forest, following the path to Zecora's hut. She flew as quickly as she could while trying to pay attention to everything going on around her. It would be kind of embarrassing to show up checking to make sure Zecora was okay only to need help because of busting a wing against a tree or being for poison joke (....again....).
Seeing the large tree that made the zebra's home, she landed and walked toward the door.
Except the door was open.
"Zecora?" Rainbow Dash called out as she got closer. "Zecora, are you home?"
She stopped as she looked inside, her eyes going wide and her wings drooping.
The place was a disaster. The cauldron she used for most of her brewing was knocked over, with the contents spilled across the floor. There were also multiple shattered bottles normally used for brews, potions, and salves. Rainbow Dash had to be careful not to step on it. Getting glass shards stuck in the frog of her hoof would hurt, and there was no way of guessing what might happen if some of the contents still remained potent or mixed together.
It was already pretty clear, but Rainbow Dash decided to check one more thing just to be certain. Soon, she found Zecora's staff, broken in two, and her traveling cloak.
*****
"Since the door wasn't broken, we know she wasn't attacked by a creature from The Everfree."
"How can you know?" Luna asked, having joined after her bath.
"If they wanted to get in, they wouldn't knock. They would try to smash their way in."
"So, what happens now?" Fluttershy asked.
"I told the guard," Rainbow Dash said, "and Pinkie Pie. In fact, I just came back from leading some of the others out to her hut to look for clues. Decided to stop by here while they take everything we found back to the office. Thought you would want to know since you were there when Pinkie told me what happened."
"I got an idea," Luna shouted as she ran to the kitchen. In seconds, she came back with a box of cookies and held it out to Rainbow Dash.
"Here. Cookies always make me feel better."
"Heh," Rainbow Dash chuckled as she took one. "Thanks, squirt." She took a bite.
Luna grinned.
"And since you're having one..." she reached in and pulled one out. The grin grew wider before she bit down.
Unfortunately she bit into nothing. Opening her eyes, Luna found that the cookie and box were gone from her hooves, with Fluttershy looking down at her, smirking.
"Nice try," she said.
Luna let out a huff as she crossed her front legs.
Fluttershy tucked the box under wings and held the cookie back out to Luna.
"Just one," the older pony stated. "We don't want you to spoil your appetite."
Smiling, the filly takes the cookie and eats it.
"Thanks for the tea," Rainbow Dash said as she got up from the table, "and the ear. I need to get going though. We have a missing zebra out there waiting for us to find her." The other two followed after her as they walked to the door.
"I'm sure you'll find her," Fluttershy said with a smile.
"I really hope so."