Rainbow Dash was flying as fast as she ever has trying to spot even a remote resemblance of the now lost light blue pony. Seeing how fast Trixie ran away, she could be anywhere by now. The sun was also setting, which meant that the party celebrating the new castle was going to start soon, so she had no time to waste and began her search.
Rainbow Dash started her search right in the middle of Ponyville, and branched out form there. She looked around every corner and through every alley, but didn't see Trixie anywhere. She decided to ask a nearby pony for any signs of Trixie.
"Excuse me miss. Have you seen a light blue pony named Trixie? about ye high, with a whiteish mane?
"Oh you mean that wonderful pony, Trixie? Hmm... No I can't say I have."
The rainbow haired pony was taken by surprise by what the pony just said.
"W-wait? You think that Trixie is wonderful?"
"Why of course! A little filly was going all around the town telling everypony about how Trixie helped her with her kite. It has gotten all around Ponyville, and it seems like like everypony here is very happy that Trixie did such a sweet thing. I completely misjudged her for her past events, and It seems she really has changed from her former self."
"Yeah... I guess I misjudged too."
"What was that dear?"
"U-Uh, nothing... If you see her, could you tell her to come by the castle?"
"I certainly will, Rainbow Dash."
"Thanks."
Rainbow Dash continued her search for Trixie. Back and forth she went, hoping to find any sign that would lead her to the poor pony. She wounded up asking almost everypony in Ponyville if they had seen her. She would get the same story from everypony, but no answer as to where Trixie was. Rainbow Dash didn't want to give up, but she couldn't find Trixie on her own, she knew that she needed help. Rainbow Dash flew back the Rainbow Kingdom castle to tell Twilight what is going on.
In the castle, Twilight was discussing with Pinkie about the party supplies. The interior of the castle was now covered in streamers and balloons.
"Well Twilight! Everything should be almost set! Vinyl Should be here soon to set up her DJ booth, and we will start the party!"
"That's great to hear Pinkie. I just hope that everypony makes it to the par-"
"Twilight!"
Twilight and Pinkie turned to see a Rainbow haired pony blasting through the front doors and stopping just before hitting them. Rainbow Dash tried catching her breath from flying so fast. The purple Alicorn knew this wasn't just an early arrival for the party, which made her looked at Rainbow Dash with concern.
"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing back here so early? What's wrong?"
"Twilight. So- Something bad has happened..."
"What, Rainbow Dash? What happened?"
Pinkie gave a big gasp.
"Oh no! Did nopony get the hundreds of invitations I sent?!?"
"No... It's about Trixie..."
Twilight knew that something wrong happened to Trixie, just by looking at Dash's face.
"What...happened... Rainbow Dash?"
"Well... You see..."
She began to explain all of the events that occurred during the day. One by one, she told Twilight about Trixie's events with the other five ponies. Twilight already knew about Pinkie's story with Trixie. The cupcakes were pretty good. With each story, Twilight grew more worried and saddened about Trixie's events through out the day. She thought Trixie would atleast find one thing she was good at, atleast not by mistake like with the cupcakes.
All that changed however, when Rainbow Dash told her about the events that took place back at Sweet Apple Acre's. It was easy to say, Twilight was livid, but not just at Applejack, but at Rainbow Dash aswell. All Twilight did was smack a hoof to her face,shake her head, and look back at the guilty feeling Pegasus in front of her.
"That Applejack! She is such a hard head sometimes, but so are you! I knew you two weren't going to be easy on her, but to do so much as to not only spy on her the whole day, but to dig into her personal business like a locket is just plain out of character, even for you Rainbow Dash. You both should've just given her a chance!"
Rainbow Dash continued to feel guilty, with an obvious hoof rubbing her left arm and he head down.
"I know Twilight. I tried to stop Applejack from opening it, but I should've never spied on Trixie to begin with. all she ever wanted to do was find something she would be good at, and maybe make some friends, and me and Applejack let our pride get in the way of that. I realize that now."
"YOU'RE DARN RIGHT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE!"
Rainbow Dash and Twilight looked at the obviously upset pony staring right at the Rainbow haired pony.
"Trixie has been nothing but nice to us since she's returned! Was I upset that she took my mouth away and tried to control all of us? Sure I was, but I'll always forgive anypony willing to change and become a better pony then they once were! I won't lie, I was pretty upset that she made a mess in my kitchen today, but guess what? Even with her mistake, she ended up making a cupcake mix combination I have never tasted before, and it was delicious!"
She gave out a big sigh and continued.
"The point is... Sometimes, even the ones who make even the worst mistakes, can still do something that will make up for them, and ultimately, make them a better pony. All it takes is a little initiative... And some support from your friends. That's what Trixie needed, Dash... A friend."
Dash was beginning to feel horrible after hearing what Pinkie had to say to her.
"She's right," Dash said to herself, "Maybe if I would've just given her a hoof and helped her along the way, then maybe she would have found something that would be right for her... At the very least, I would've made a new friend."
A slight tear fell from the guilt driven pony's eye. The sun was going down fast, however, and Twilight knew they didn't have much time before the party would be starting.
"Well, we're not going to find her just moping around here. We still have time to find her before the party starts tonight."
"But I've looked everywhere in Ponyville, Twilight. She's nowhere to be found."
Twilight thought about this. Even if Trixie ran away form Ponyville entirely, she wouldn't have gone far, and Rainbow Dash would've seen her easily. Then it hit her.
"Well, if I were upset and wanted to get desperately get away, I would go to the only place where no ordinary pony would dare explore.
It didn't take long for Dash to catch on.
"Oh no, you don't think..."
Twilight nodded her head.
"There's no other place that was seem fitted for a pony to get away. We're going to the Everfree Forest. Knowing how fearful Trixie is of the creatures within that forest, she couldn't have gone far in, so we might have a good chance in finding her before sundown. we must hurry though!"
"Right! Let me just place these decorations over her-"
"Sorry Pinkie, but I need somepony to stay here and not only finish preparation, but to also make sure that everypony makes it into the castle with out creating a hassle. Me and Rainbow Dash will be much faster with our wings, so if we do find Trixie, we will be back in a flash."
Pinkie was disappointed, but she understood that there was a party still to prepare, and she needed to make it the best party that she could create.
"Okay then, but please find her soon, I'm SUPER DUPER worried about her now!"
"Don't worry Pinkie, we will! When the other equines show up, let them know what's going on. They need to know just as much as you do."
Pinkie nodded in agreement.
"Rainbow Dash, let's book it!"
"Right! See ya Pinkie."
After a wave goodbye, the two flying ponies were off, and the search to find Trixie was on again. The two ponies flew as fast as they could, knowing that time wasn't on their side.
"I just hope Trixie is okay. If those creatures find her..."
"They won't Rainbow Dash, we'll have her in and out in no time."
"I swear, I'll never doubt her again..."
"Let's just hurry."
Alas, the two ponies were now just outside of the Everfree Forest.
"We don't have much time left Rainbow Dash, the sun has almost down, so let's make this fast."
"Got it!"
They walked in and began to search for Trixie. They were looking for any clues of the missing light blue pony. they looked through every bush and around every tree around the front end of the forest, but to no avail.
"Trixie!"
"Trixie! It's Twilight, are you here?"
They were starting to get worried. How far was Trixie in the forest? Did one of the creature's get her before they did? So many negative outcomes went rushing through Rainbow Dash's mind all at once. After about 30 minutes of searching, Rainbow Dahs couldn't take it any more, and began running around calling out for Trixie.
"Trixie please! Where are you?!?"
"Dash, settle down!"
"I'm so sorry Trixie! I promise I will fi-"
Before she knew it, Rainbow Dash was face first into the dirty path after her front leg tripped over a n exposed root that grew within the beaten path of the forest. It was nothing, but Rainbow Dash wasn't very happy about it.
"Rainbow Dash are you okay?" asked Twilight.
She didn't say anything.
"Rainbow Dash...?"
Yet still, Dash answer. Instead she reached for something that was hiding under a nearby bush. When she grasped it within her hoof, her eyes widened and her face was showing a display of shock, for what she had found... Was the front piece of the locket Trixie has.
"Look what I found Twilight!"
Rainbow showed Twilight the locket, while explaining hat it the front piece.
"Well, there's no doubt that she is in here somewhere. She must've dropped the piece by tripping on the same exposed root."
"Mhm! Oh hey, look!"
The excited pony pointed next to where she found the locket piece. What lied in the pointed direction was what looked like hoof print in some old mud, leading off the beaten path and into the deep forest.
"Let's go Twilight! This may be our only chance in finding her!"
"I'm right behind you!"
Not wasting anymore time, the two ponies made a mad dash within the forest, trying not to lose the trail of hoof prints that were fading in and out of the bed of the forest. They knew they were close, but even so, they were still keeping a eye out for any possible creatures lurking about, they are off the regular route after all. It was not long before the trail of hoof prints ended at a bush sitting right next to a large tree.
"Where's the trail? it can't b-"
"Shhhhhhh..."
Twilight hushed Rainbow dash as they began to listen. What they were was some sort of whimpering. Not taking any chances, they followed the noise. With each step, the noise got louder, and louder, and louder until they were behind some overgrown bushes and Everfree plants. The whimpering was just on the other side, and with each step, they made their way through the shrubbery to the other side. What was on the other side was exactly what they were hoping, for what was causing the noise, was none other than Trixie. She was lying on the ground with her head laying in her arms, obviously crying her heart out, so loud even that it didn't seem that she heard Twilight and rainbow Dash moving through the shrubbery behind her.
"Hey, Trixie," said Twilight.
The sudden call of Trixie's name cause her to jolt up and turn to see two familiar ponies staring right back at her tear streaming purple eyes. For a long while, there was silence, for none of the three ponies knew what to say next.