Twilight paced the floor of the library, her mouth in a concerned frown. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike were all sitting uncomfortably on flat, lumpy cushions. The worried atmosphere was supported by the silence that graced the crowd, even Pinkie Pie was keeping her antics to a hum. Twilight looked up at the group of ponies and the dragon, her eyes washing over their features.
"I suppose you are all wondering why I asked you here." Twilight stated. It was obvious that she was trying to hide some form of worry. Silence responded her. "Well, I guess I should tell you." A nervous chuckle. "As you know, both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo have been missing for the past few days now with no signs of where they've gone..." Confused faces stared up at the purple mare. "And I called you here so that maybe together we could find them..." Still no response. "Hopefully with our combined intellect and out knowledge of our friends we can locate and rescue them from wherever they are." Twilight looked at everypony expectantly, surely they cared about their friend? The awkward hum and dismissive faces suggested otherwise. Twilight groaned, throwing her fore-hooves to her face making her fall to the floor as a result. She just laid there for a while, her hooves over her face, no sound escaping.

Pinkie Pie decided that not only were things getting boring, but also with Twilight lying on the floor doing... Whatever she's doing, things were getting more awkward by the second. Of course being Pinkie Pie just simply saying something funny or pulling a toucan out of her mane wouldn't be enough. No. Not. At. All. She looked around for something, anything adequate that she could use to end this dreadful silence. And then she saw it. In all it's glory. So clean and white it seemed to glow: Rarity's neck. Pinkie smiled a smile only mischievous foals can pull off, well, mischievous foals and Pinkie. As her bright Pink cotton-candyesque tail rose up Pinkie had to stifle a laugh, but nopony seemed to notice as they were all preocupied with trying to deal with a possibly sobbing Twilight and the awkwardness brought forth by it, which she will eliminate with the the help of Rarity. She lifted her tail up a little more and... Touchdown! As soon as she felt even a slight sensation on her neck Rarity froze, becoming stiller than her previous stationary status. Pinkie giggled quietly until she saw the tip of her tail be enveloped in a white, sparkly aura. Rarity mercilessly dragged her friend's tail hard, pulling her victim to the hard, oak floor. Pinkie just sat there, limp being dragged around the floor until the tugging stopped, and she found herself in-between two massive, birch bookcases. Each inch of which was full of all types of books and scrolls alike. Blushing slightly when she realised that everypony, excluding Twilight who was just now starting to stir, was watching her, Pinkie trotted as quietly as she could back to the group, as far away from Rarity and her smirk as possible.

Twilight slowly and unstably rose from her short episode: her eyes were glassy, the rims of said eyes were red and puffy, her lip was quivering slightly, the normally prim and proper mane was disheveled and sticking up at odd angles, but most noticeable of all Twilight's cheeks were streaked with tears. Only now did her audience seem to notice her, or at least that her proposition was serious. Fluttershy tried to hide behind her mane, Rarity was obviously trying and failing to eliminate a smirk, Applejack was looking concerned and tilted her hat down slightly, Spike was walking warily over to Twilight and Pinkie Pie's mane was looking slightly more flat than usual. Twilight batted away Spike's hand and stood up a little straighter.

"Sorry everypony... I was just, well..." Twilight stopped scratching the back of her head and looked harshly at them all. "I was just disappointed and ashamed of your behaviour. Your best friend and a dear friends/filly goes missing and when I propose that we should try and help them you just sit there on your flank and don't even bat an eye! It's not just sad that you don't care, it's disgusting! We are meant to be the elements of harmony, sorry Spike, the six friends who's friendship is powerful enough to stop even some of the worst evils out there! But then for you to not just care is both appalling and makes me question out friendship! Even when I was lying there crying you just sat there and dragged each other around via tail like it was a joke!" Twilight glared at Pinkie and Rarity, at that moment they swore that they could feel her hate and contempt. "I'm just, ashamed of you guys. I thought you would care. Obviously it doesn't matter enough for you to take time out of your 'busy schedule' to save a friend." A tear joined its fellow companions on her cheek. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. You can go now... And don't bother helping me file their deaths, I'm sure I can manage myself." The purple mare sat down, her head hung low and voice quiet, head bobbing up and down according to the strangled sobs being produced.

Spike silently ushered everypony out the door. Applejack was about half-way out when she stopped, causing the one pony behind to bump into her. She just turned her head towards Twilight, who was still crying hopelessly on the floor, and stated with as little emotion as possible.
"Twilight? Before I leave I just want y'all to know that it's not that none of us care, just... Well." Applejack looked towards the hard oak floor, steeling her expression she looked up to see Twilight actually making eye contact. "Well sugarcube, it's just that RD hasn't been gone for long enough for us to get worried. She's been missing for longer and I didn't see y'all getting all upset then. So why now?" Twilight shakily sat up, still strangling back tears. She had to try multiple times before her voice was stable enough to be understood.

"I'm not worried about Dash as much as I am Scootaloo. She came by earlier on her day of disappearance asking if I wanted to see her fly." All faces were trained onto her's, all with an expectant look. They sat silent until Rarity, who was going to be the last to leave spoke up.

"Not to be offensive darling, but, how does that matter?"

"It matters because if Scootaloo was going around telling everypony that she could fly we can only assume that Dash would immediately do something stupid that requires flight! When I saw Scootaloo's flight, it was sufficient for the needs of a filly, not a stunt-mare! Therefore if Dash overestimated Scootaloo, which is very likely, then when put to the test she might not come through, resulting in a serious injury! Then if Scootaloo is hurt of course Dash isn't going to leave her, even to get help, resulting in them not getting anywhere and just rotting away until death!"

"Yes, yes, darling. That sound terrible and all, but I really think you should give dearRainbow a chance! Just give it a couple more days and if they're not back by then we can go around and look for her. Just with only a few days passing I feel that it's a bit too sudden. You understand don't you?"

"No. No I don't understand. Sorry 'darling' but if you're not going to be of any help then just leave." Twilight stared at Rarity. The white unicorn shrunk back but didn't go anywhere. "Go. Now." Still she stayed, hiding in a corner like the true coward she is. "Leave. Get out of here." Rarity slowly started to step towards the door, keeping her eye on Twilight the whole time. "Go on then. Hurry up." At this little remark Rarity just stood still, looked into Twilight's eyes and said.

"No." Twilight erupted and made a noise so primal that even Cerberus himself felt unsettled. Twilight threw a book in Rarity's general direction. Missing it flew through a nearby window. Glass shattered everywhere, cutting deeply into rarity's pristine coat, glittering her body with tiny fragments of glass. While Twilight was still in shock of what happened that's when Rarity ran: screaming all the while, gone in an instant. When Applejack came to terms with what she was seeing she immediately froze, her body not listening to her mind screaming for her to run.

"Get away from me. " Twilight practically whispered it. "Please I don't want to hurt you. Just leave. Go. Why aren't you gone yet? I told you to go. Get away from me. Get away." With Twilight becoming ever more unsettling, Applejack decided that leaving as she suggested would be the both best and most preferable option. "Please, just go. Go! WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!" It wasn't Twilight's magic, nor was it Applejack moving that got her out the door, but instead the famous 'Royal Canterlot Voice'. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" Twilight looked her own little pit of Tartarus: books strewn everywhere, a window smashed with glass shards littering it's surroundings and a small puddle of tears that had been spread to cover a larger area by ponies walking on it. Defying all instincts and social decencies, instead of cleaning the library up to its former glory, Twilight collapsed, thinking about bawling like a foal. So bawl like a foal she did.

Spike looked at Twilight pityingly and mumbled.
"I'm sorry." Twilight didn't respond and just kept on trying to hide her tears. "You were right. What kind of friends are we?" Spike tried to laugh but it came out sounding like he was choking. "Well... I'm not very smart, especially compared to you, and I don't know much about the situation. But I heard rumours about some ponies being in Ghastly Gorge. I know it's not very much, and they're only just rumours but, a lead is a lead. So... Maybe tomorrow we can start there?" It was now Spike's turn to be responded with near-to silence. "Well I've got to go to bed. So... See you tomorrow? Oh yeah, and if we do go looking then it's going to be a long day so you'll want your sleep." The young dragon smiled at her and started climbing the stairs towards his bed.

"Spike?" He stopped and turned but before he could respond Twilight continued. "Thanks. What I said, I didn't mean all of it. You're a good friend, you know that? Now I want you to go and get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow!" Twilight looked up at Spike and smiled a genuine smile, laced with sadness, but a smile non the less. Spike smiled back then left, leaving Twilight alone in the room with her thoughts. Sighing she said. "Dash, where are you? Why did you have to leave? Maybe you can answer some of these questions tomorrow." And with that Twilight trotted up the stairs, after turning the lights off, and climbed into bed, joyfully greeting her world of slumber.

Ghastly Gorge never was known as a fun, nice place to be, in fact it is often used in sayings emphasising it's hellish appearance. It's commonly known for its random patches that the weather would take a strong toll on its overall impression, right now was definitely one of those times. The recent uncontrolled weather had created horrible havoc in most places around Ponyville but none were as badly affected as the gorge: the drastic increase in rain had made the dirt ground marshy, and sticky at its driest parts, the sudden flux in wind strength had not thrown, but hurled rocks and boulders alike across the marshy terrain, leaving an angry-baby-troll-had-a-tantrumesque appeal, the wind also managed to collect the dustier patches of dirt and filter it into the air, making it near impossible to breath, all breeze passing through now made an ominous howl as it made its voyage through the twisted labyrinth, overall Ghastly gorge was not appealing or at its best.

A young violet mare and a near matching colour baby dragon stumbled through the rocks and marsh. They stopped at every dip and cave, every rock or pebble, every puddle or rare dry patch.
"No. No. No. No. And me guess... No." Twilight frowned, trying not to show signs of boredom and win a bet that Spike had against her: if she shows any form of boredom before the whole gorge is some-what searched then Spike can eat the rest of the ice-cream tub when they get home, if not then he has to re-organise the whole library on his own without complaining, what happens if he does complain are yet to be confirmed.

"Twilight?" The mare in question responded with little more than a grunt. "If we say, don't find them, then... I guess what I'm asking is, kinda... Basically, if on the odd chance that we don't find them, which we will, I'm not saying that we won't, 'cuz that would be crazy! And we all know that I'm not crazy! I mean, maybe I am, but I don't think so... Twilight, am I crazy?"

"No Spike, of course not. Whatever made you think that?" The young drake could only manage to open before Twilight but in again. "I mean, we're only sifting about through rocks and dirt looking for two missing ponies who are probably dead right now, with no sense of direction and real lead, only a small rumour that is proving to be false and at any moment out lungs could collapse from to much air pollution!" At this Spike instinctively clasped his claws to his neck defensively.

The pair searched on for near to an hour with no success, both getting increasingly more irritated with one another.

"... Honestly Spike you actually believed them when they told you there were ponies in the Gorge? No. Actually, why did it even come up? Weren't you meant to be discussing possible cutie-mark-gaining activities or something?"

"First of all yes, I believed them. Why would they lie to me anyway? I think you're forgetting that Apple Bloom, my main source, is the sister of the one and only element of honesty! And secondly we started talking about cutie marks, but then couldn't start any actual activities because Scootaloo was late, which lead to discussing her disappearance which is when Apple Bloom told me about the rumour. Anyway, I don't see you coming up with any ideas!" When Spike looked at Twilight's face he immediately regretted that last point: her eyes were red-rimmed and glassy, her bottom lip quivered delicately but also rapidly, she had unusual creases on her face from trying to hold back tears, her shoulders were slightly slumped, she carried her head lower than normal and on occasion she would stumble or trip over herself as her legs had random shaking attacks. "Twilight, I-I didn't mean-"

"No. You're right. I... I'm being unfair and... You-No. We. We can call of the bet. You win Spike. I didn't think it was possible but I guess the Gorge beat me... I'm just going to stay behind for a little, but you can go on ahead, I'll catch up I promise." Spike almost automatically started walking away, glad to be gone from this place. Almost. Instead, the feeble smile that Twilight wore held him back.

"Please. Let me finish. Twilight. I didn't mean what I said. I just got a little annoyed is all. You know how that is don't you? Besides, you're holding up waaaaay better than me! Look. We can go if you want to, but I'm willing to stay here a little longer." Twilight smiled, genuinely, and shook her head, when she came back up the smile nearly reached her ears.

"You know what? I think, let's go. I'm getting tired and this place is starting to creep me out." Twilight's eye's skimmed the rough rocks of Ghastly Gorge. "Besides, it's nearly dinner time and you have a full tub of ice cream to eat!"

"It's not a full tub! Only half!" Spike tried to cover up his blush with his arms crossed but only resulted in falling over.Twilight giggled softly and used her magic to drag Spike via tail onto her back. Spike then responded by draping his arms around her neck in both instinct to stay on and comfort, gently laying his head on her neck and zoned out. "Oh yeah! And, Twilight? You know the ice cream thing? You can have it. You deserve it more than me. Besides, last time I did that I learned that future Spike is me!" Twilight smiled and opened her mouth to respond but then shut it after hearing the soft rumble of Spike's snore.

"Oh Sweet Celestia. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. This is bad. This is really bad. This is really really really bad!" This was how Spike woke up: lying on the ground, dirt and sand in his eyes, arms and legs uncomfortably stretched out, back up and with Twilight pacing freaking out, shouting obscenities that would offend a sailor, not that Spike believed in such stereotypes.

"Twilight calm down!"

"No Spike! Not only will I not calm down, but also I can't! Spike? Are you even listening to me? Spike. Spike! SPIKE!" At once the young drake snapped to attention, even though his sight soon drifted to the mass of dirt brown with the odd speck of cyan and a small patch of orange at the centre near the bottom.

"Yeah, yeah. You simply 'can't' calm down. I get it... Hey, what's that thing doing there?" Spike gestured to the mass, Twilight didn't even need to look at what he was pointing to.

"What do you think I was 'freaking out' about? No. Better question. What do you think it is?" Spike bit his lip in concentration, a habit that he had picked up early on from Twilight, who was too biting her lip.

"I..." The dragon walked up to the mass for a closer inspection, sometimes flicking off a piece of dirt or feeling its texture, however he made his mistake hen he smelt it. "Argh! That's horrible!" Without missing a beat Twilight grabbed Spike and dragged him as far away as possible from the pile of stench. Almost as if reacting to the commotion the mass seemed to emit a low, pained groan. All colour drained from Twilight's face.

"Spike...? What was that?" Twilight seemed to say these words as if she was testing them and she wasn't sure if they were poisonous or not.

"I don't know! How am I meant to immediately know these things?" It was the pile's turn to respond, releasing a louder, sadder groan than the previous. Twilight stalked up to the groaning object: examining ever corner and obviously contemplating what to do. To signify her decision Twilight's facial expressions hardened, she stepped back, gathered her breath, and shot a weak beam of magic at it, resulting in turning it over. Simultaneously both Twilight and Spike noticed something: it was a pony, it was female, she had cyan fur, she had rainbow mane and tail, she was Rainbow Dash.

Author's Note

Sorry for taking so absolutely long, I promise that updates will be a lot more often, also another story is on the way. Thank you for being so patient.