The Ponyville Seamstress

Ponies were going missing.  Almost every week, a loved Ponyville citizen disappeared.  Everypony was nervous about going out alone, and nopony blamed them.

Applejack lifted her hind legs up, and bucked the tree that was behind her.  A shower of shining apples fell down behind her, and she turned to see Applebloom gathering them up lazily and plopping them into the basket.

Applebloom’s head hung gloomily, and Applejack sighed.  Ever since Sweetie Belle’s disappearance, Applebloom had been extremely depressed.

Applejack came up and put her hoof on the little filly’s head.

“Now Applebloom, Sweetie Belle bein’ gone has been hard an all of us.  Think of how Rarity must feel.  But thinking about it all the time is just gunna’ make it worse.  We hafta’ put the bad thing behind us, and remember the goods.  Ah’m sure Sweetie’s okay, and all the missing ponies will come back soon.”  Applejack said, but she didn’t know she believed it herself.

“But what if she doesn’t come back, and me an’ Scootaloo get out cutie marks without ‘er?!  It won’t be the same without ‘er Applejack.  It just won’t.  You know the missing ponies don’t come back.”  Applebloom said gloomily, and resumed putting the apples into the basket.

Applejack sighed, she wished there was a way to get Applebloom to smile again.

“You know what,  ah’ll finish this, you run on back home and see if Scootaloo wants to play.”  Applejack said, and Applebloom’s face lifted a degree.

“Thank ‘ya Applejack.  I’ll see you later!”  Applebloom said, and ran back to the barn.

Applejack smiled, but she was still sad.  It’d take a long time for Applebloom to heal.

She finished putting the apples in the basket and carried it back to the barn.  Big Macintosh was standing at the barn, comforting Fluttershy, who was sobbing in his hooves.

“Oh Big Mac, this is terrible!  Why Sweetie Belle?  She was such a sweet little filly, who would take her?”  Fluttershy wailed, and Big Mac patted her head.

Sweetie Belle was like a daughter to Fluttershy, they were so close, Applejack understood her misery.

Applejack set the basket inside the barn, and went inside the house.  It wasn’t until she got into her bedroom that she realized how stupid she was.

She ran back downstairs and out the door.  “Applebloom!  Come here right now!”  Applejack yelled panicking.

What would happen if Applebloom went missing?  What would Applejack do then?  She couldn’t stand lose another family member since her parents.  Her family meant more than anything to her.

“Applebloom!  Get over her right now!”  Applejack yelled.  A few seconds later Applebloom and Scootaloo came crashing through the trees, looking panicked and wild-eyed.

“What’s goin’ on?  Did somepony else go missin’?”  Applebloom said, as Applejack sighed with relief.

“You could’ve gone missin’ yourself.  No more goin’ out alone, ya hear?”  Applejack said, and then looked at Scootaloo.

“Why don’t you spend the night here, Scootaloo?  Wouldn’t want you walkin’ back home alone when you don’t know who could be out there.  I’ll call Rainbow Dash to let ‘er know.  Now git on inside, and don’t come out unless you’re with a big pony.”  Applejack said, and followed them back to the barn.

After calling Rainbow Dash to let her know where Scootaloo was, Applejack locked all of the doors, and barged the barn doors.  Nopony was getting her family, not ever.

***

The next day, Applejack awoke to a knock at her door.  She went downstairs to answer it, and found nopony but Rainbow Dash standing there.

“Well hia there, Rainbow Dash.  I s’pose you’re here to pick up Scootaloo?”  Applejack said, and Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“Blossomforth went missing this morning.  Pinkie invited everypony to Sugarcube Corner for a meeting.  I figured I’d let you know.”  Rainbow Dash said solemnly.

Applejack sighed.  “A’course ah’ll come.  I’ll leave the little ‘uns here with Big Mac.”  Applejack said.

She walked out the door, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked together to Sugarcube Corner.

***

When they arrived, Pinkie was serving Fluttershy and Twilight some cupcakes, while Mr. and Mrs. Cake baked more.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat down, and Pinkie set the rest of the cupcakes on the table.

“Where’s Rarity?  Oh I do hope she hasn’t gone missing!”  Said Twilight, who had her nose in a book titled ‘Mysterious Disappearances’.

“Oh, I saw her just yesterday at the spa.”  Fluttershy put in, but Rainbow Dash shook her head.

  “I saw Blossomforth yesterday as well.”  Rainbow said.

  As the friends began to get worried, Rarity entered Sugarcube Corner, and ran to their table.

“So sorry I’m late girls.  I had some, dresses, to take care of.”  She said.

“Oh that’s okay Rarity.”  Fluttershy said.

  “Now girls, let’s get down to business.  We have to find out why everypony is disappearing.”  Rainbow Dash said, and everypony else nodded in agreement.

  “Twilight, do you have the list of missing ponies?”  Fluttershy said, and Twilight levitated a piece of paper in front of the group.  Rainbow Dash grabbed it out of the air, and read it aloud.

  “So far, the ponies who have gone missing are: Roseluck, Silver Spoon, Bon Bon, Blossomforth and…” Rainbow Dash heaved a sigh before saying the last name.  “…Sweetie Belle.”  Rainbow finished, and put down the list.

  “What do all these ponies have in common?”  Twilight said, and put down her book.

  The group shrugged, so Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Their coat colors are all very light.  Roseluck, Bon Bon, and Blossomforth and Sweetie Belle all have white coats.  Silver Spoon has a light gray coat.  This may not mean anything, but you can never be sure.” Twilight said mysteriously, and went back into her book.

As soon as Twilight finished speaking, everypony looked at their coats.  “Rarity!  You should be hiding!  You might go missing; your coat is bright white!”  Fluttershy gasped, and then gasped again when she looked down at her own.

“Oh darling, I think I’ll be fine.”  Rarity said with a chuckle.

“No, Fluttershy’s right Rarity.  You really oughta hide before we lose ya”.  Applejack said, and Rarity laughed again.

“You mustn't take this all so seriously, girls.  You know this is all some practical joke they’re playing.”  Rarity said, rolling her eyes.

“No, Rarity, this ain’t some practical joke.  Ponies ar goin’ missin’.  Your own sister went missin for apple’s sake.”  Applejack said angrily.

“Oh she had me for a few days, but I realized it’s just one of her silly little escapades.  I’m not worried.”  Rarity said.  “If you all are going to take this so seriously then I don’t know what I’ll do.”  Rarity sneered, and got up from the table.

Everypony watched her as she strutted away.  “Maybe we should take a break.  The pressure sure got to Rarity.”  Rainbow said, and they all got up.

“Oh, the pressure got to her alraght.”  Applejack said under her breath.  How could Rarity not see the severity of this situation?