Forever

    "Hey Fluttershy." Twilight said cheerfully as she passed her in the market.

    "Oh. Hey there Twilight." Fluttershy responded.

    "You're still coming to my slumber party right?" the lavender unicorn asked as if any of her friends would ever dream of cancelling on her. "It's going to be my biggest one yet."

    "Oh of course I'll be there. I wouldn't miss is for the world." Her timid voice covering her own excitement.

    "I have to finish getting the food for the party now, so I'll see you tonight. Bye Fluttershy."

    "Goodbye Twilight."

    "Oh. One more thing Fluttershy." Twilight said just before leaving speaking distance from her friend. "Have you seen Pinkie recently?"

    "I can't say that I have, but i don't see her very often anyway. She usually seems to avoid my cottage whenever she can."

    "Ok well thanks anyway. See you tonight." With that, Twilight sparkle trotted off to finish her preparations.

    Twilight went to sweet apple acres soon after she ran into Fluttershy at the market. Applejack was going to make some special apple cider for the slumber party, and Twilight was not going to let her forget. After all, this was her biggest slumber party yet. She wanted everything to go perfectly.

    "Applejack? Where are you Applejack?" twilight repeated as she walked through the orchard.

    "Over here Twi."

    Twilight followed the voice to a small shed in a small open field. "Can I come in Applejack?" she asked curiously.

    "You sure can't. There are secret apple family recipes in here. Only people allowed are Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Myself.

    "What about Apple Bloom?"

    "Well, she aint too good with secrets, so lets just say there's a chance that she doesn't even know that this shed is out here.

    "I see. So have you made the apple cider for my party yet?" Twilight had a one track mind, and for today, that track was her party.

    "I'm just finishing it up if you would wait just a minute."

    "OK. Are you sure you made enough of it?"

    "You tell me." Applejack said as she slid the barrel of cider out of the door.

    "That should be perfect."

    "Unless a certain pink friend of ours is thirsty."

    "Speaking of Pinkie, have you seen her around? It's been a couple of days since I last saw her." Twilight seemed more concerned than when she had asked Fluttershy.

    "Sorry Twi, but I haven't seen her for a few days either. I've been working quite a bit as of late and she doesn't like work, so she doesn't come around. Go ask Rainbow Dash. Those two are always getting into trouble together." Applejack was getting annoyed just thinking about some of the pranks they have pulled on her.

    "Good thinking Applejack. Those two are always up to no good." Twilight began trotting away at a brisk pace. "I'll see you tonight."

    "See you tonight sugarcube."

    Twilight arrived at Rainbow Dash's house. "Rainbow Dash! Are you home?" Twilight hated having to yell for her every time she was at her house.

    "Of course I'm home." The cyan pegasus poked her head out of one of the windows. "And for the record, I was taking a nap that you happened to wake me up from, so this better be important.

    "Actually Rainbow, it is." Twilight was showing genuine concern at this point. "I can't seem to find Pinkie Pie anywhere and I wanted to make sure she didn't forget about my slumber party. Nopony else has seen her for a few days either."

    "Have you checked her house. If she's not out and about on the streets, then she's probably there." Rainbow made it sound so obvious.

    "That sounds like a great place to look. Thanks for the help Dash." Twilight turned around to walk away, but stopped briefly to ask her usual question. "You'll be at my party too right?"

    "Yeah. Sure. Whatever."

    Twilight was satisfied enough with that response. It was just Rainbow Dash's way of pretending that she didn't really care so that she could seem cool. So Twilight made her way for Sugarcube Corner.

    It was a slow day in the small shop. There were only two ponies there as customers. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were working the counter together.

    "Hey Twilight!" Mr. Cake shouted with his usual enthusiasm. "Come here for lunch?"

    "Actually, I'm looking for Pinkie. Have either of you seen her?" Twilight replied.

    "Sorry Twilight, but I think she just left." Mrs. Cake chimed in. "We found this daffodil and daisy sandwich on the counter that she made and probably forgot to bring with her. You can have it though if you want."

    "Thank you Mrs. Cake, but I had a big breakfast. When was the last time you actually saw Pinkie Pie?"

    "I suppose it's been a few days. Why?"

    "I've been looking around for her and nopony so far has seen her for a few days. It's just not like her to disappear like that." Twilight was now at the point of being worried. She didn't know what happened to Pinkie, but she had a feeling that it wasn't good.

    "You're right. She never just runs away like that." Now Mrs. Cake was getting worried. "Please let us know if you find her."

    "I will Mrs. Cake. You can count on me." Twilight waved goodbye as she galloped straight for the door.

    Twilight took the fastest route she could think of back to the library. Surely she would have a book that could help her find Pinkie. She remembered having a few books on the subject. Alien abductions, foalnapping, even some of her Daring Do books might have some relevant theories.

    After arriving at the library she called home, Twilight slowed her pace. She grabbed her mail from her mailbox and threw the pile of letters on her table inside. She took one deep breath and began searching for knowledge. She would need to learn everything there was to learn about disappearances if she was ever going to find Pinkie.