Having just departed, each pony had lots of time on their hooves. They tried their best to keep their minds off of Discord's party and the disappearance of their beloved Pinkie Pie.
Sitting in the dark unknown, Discord watched each of the mares in their futile attempts at everyday life. "My, this is upsetting. They don't trust me, and here I thought we were friends."
"Well don'tcha worry, Discord, we're gonna make this the bestest party in all of Equestria. That way they'll realize how silly they were. Hee hee~"
"Thanks for the support, at least I have two TRUE friends. Speaking of which, where is Fluttershy?"
"Isn't she still out with all of the dragons?"
"Ah, of course. How silly of me to forget."
"I wonder what the others are up to right now. I'm hope they're super excited for the party like me!"
"Why don't we check?"
"Okie dokie, Loki~"
Both the draconequus and the pink earth pony peered into the crystalline orb in the center of the darkness. Slowly, an image rose to the surface.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Walking towards the Everfree forest, Twilight seemed to be lost in heavy thought. If she didn't have the answers to her problem, maybe she knew somepony who did. She had reached her wits end when I certain friend came to mind. Somepony well versed in more cryptic magic. A zebra of enormous knowledge of all things "dark magic", if she couldn't help, no pony could. Stepping over the vines and roots in the ground, the purple alicorn navigated the treacherous Everfree forest floor, checking for any danger along the way. At one point in the trail, she stopped abruptly. There on the ground immediately in front of her lay a bed of flowers. Marked by their blue leaves and petals, the princess instantly recognized the plant and used her magic to grab a stray branch. Making a path through the flower bed, Twilight gingerly walked through. "It's a good thing I saw this poison joke," Twilight said aloud. "I wouldn't want my horn to go all floppy again." Reflecting back on past experience, she realized how truly foolish she had been. "I just wish I had listened back then," she stated.
After walking for another hour, Twilight had finally reached her destination. A rather peculiar tree, it stood out among those around it. It's roots, much like the rest of the tree, was a winding, twisted mess, rising in and out of the ground. Adorned by strange hanging fixtures and wooden masks, it was hard to believe something like it existed unless one saw it for themselves. Stranger still was the fact that not only was it a tree, it was some pony's home. Pausing for a moment in front of the door, the purple alicorn prepared herself for speaking with the friend that lie beyond it. Knocking with her right hoof, she called out. "Hello? Is anypony home?"
"I hear a knocking, what's it for? Is that somepony at my door?"
"It's me Twilight."
"Ah, Twilight, I thought it might be you. Come on in and join us two.
The princess opened the door using the magic from her horn. Afterwards, she stepped inside and shut it behind her.
"Heya Twilight!"
There gathered around the hut's central cauldron stood a zebra and a filly. The filly was an olive-colored earth pony with a medium-length red mane. Although her flank was bare, her determination to discover her destiny was visible in her attitude.
"Hi, Apple Bloom. Working with Zecora on another potion, I see," Twilight responded.
"Yep! Granny said there's nothin' for me to help with at Sweet Apple Acres, so I thought I might come on down and earn mah cutie mark."
"Well, I don't know if your cutie mark will be potion making, but you sure are getting better at it."
"Really? I guess ya were right, Zecora. All that practice IS payin' off."
Quickly replying to the filly's words, the zebra spoke. "Yes, Apple Bloom, it's exactly like I told you. All it takes is hard work, dedication, and patience, too."
"Don't forget Zecora, you ARE the best potion maker in Equestria."
"Oh, Princess Sparkle, not you, too. I appreciate your flattery but that's just untrue. I only dabble in potions, this much you can see. Plenty of ponies in Equestria know much more than me. Please do not take offense, and do not pout, but what did you come here to talk about?"
"Oh, right." Twilight paused, taking a large breath. "I need to tell you something, but first things first," she quickly glanced at Apple Bloom, "I'd rather talk about it in private."
"Don't worry about me none, Twilight. I'm just gonna git back to fixin' mah potion."
"But..."
"Do not worry your head, it is okay, Princess Twilight. We can talk alone right outside, it is quite alright."
Zecora and Twilight opened the door and stepped outside into the forest. Apple Bloom tried to get back to her work at the cauldron, but she quickly lost focus. "Why can't they just trust me? I AIN'T no little foal anymore." Looking at the window, a sinister smile crept onto the young filly's face. "But, if I 'overhear' them, they can't say nothin' about it." Walking over to the window, Apple Bloom crouched just out of sight, eavesdropping on the two outside.
"Discord. . . . .Pinkie. . . . . .Party. . . . .Town Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Summer Sun Celebration. . . . . . . . .Friends."
"Pinkie Pie and Discord are throwing a party at the town hall? What's so bad about that?" Hearing the sound of hooves, Apple Bloom quickly returned to her cauldron, and not a moment too soon. Just as she returned to her position, the door slowly opened.
"I understand you worry and how you missed her, now here you are, your baby sister."
"Thanks Zecora, I hope Apple Bloom didn't cause ya too much trouble."
"It was quite fine, we both shared quite the laugh. It was no trouble, she was quite the company to have."
Turning around, the young earth pony filly realized that there was one other mare entering the door. Applejack was right behind the zebra and the alicorn. She had a slight look of worry on her face.
"Sis, what're ya doin' here?"
"I've been plumb worried about ya, Apple Bloom. I thought I'd come along and bring ya on back to Sweet Apple Acres before dark."
"I'm not a little foal anymore," the filly protested.
"Fret not little filly, there's always time for more, but your sister is right; it is half past four."
Reluctantly, Apple Bloom started for the door with her earth pony sister.
"I'll be seein' y'all around. First, I better get back home. Bye for now."
Both the alicorn and the zebra nodded in response to the sisters's departure. Once the door was shut, Twilight proceeded to restart the conversation from earlier. "Do you think we can trust Discord? I know the map told Pinkie to help him, but what if something is wrong? What should we do?"
Zecora paused, seeming to ponder the matter at hand. She opened her mouth, but only air escaped. At a loss for words, she gave the best answer she knew. "In truth, I know not what the future has in store, but I know that, other than you, it will take four. Chaos is no thing to take light, try your hardest, but do not fight. Friendship is key to aid your quest, that's all I know, you have the rest."
"Well, thanks for everything, Zecora. If anything comes up, I'll be sure to try to fill you in."
"Farewell, and safe journey, Princess Twilight, may you find peace in sleep tonight."
With that, the Princess of Friendship stepped out of the door and into the evening air. There was nothing left to today but go home. Although Twilight was sure that she might be able to find peace, she was unsure if she would be able to sleep tonight. Her mind still weighed heavy, but she found a sort of new found resolve with her conversation with Zecora. Perhaps, things would not be so bad. Maybe she was exaggerating, and Pinkie was just throwing a normal party. If only she knew now what the future held in store for her friends...