A Blank Canvas, Heroism, & Apples

"Goood Morning Ponyville!" This is your favorite evening newscaster, Hard Hitting, bringing you today's news! We'll be right ba- THIS IS AN EMERGANCY NEWCAST!! STAY INDOORS!! KEEP YOUR FOALS WITTH YOU!! I REPEAT, STAY INDOORS!!" As soon as Hard Hitting finished the last word of the newscast, a horribly loud bell rang. The Emergency Bell. The sounds of ponies shouting and screaming and galloping hooves were all throughout Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. It's very rare that there was an emergency broadcast, especially in quiet, peaceful Ponyville. Doors and gates and windows all slammed in unison. Only some of the bravest ponies peaked their heads from their former cozy and bright now dark and seemingly vacant, homes. As a tall, white, faceless pony-like monster wearing a black suit wandering their cobblestone streets. Quiet, almost silent gasps were heard as the faceless creature headed toward the beloved and popular Carrousel Boutique.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

The next day, Applejack's hooves pounded against the cobblestone in a rhythemic fashion. She had to hurry or she'd end up missing Rarity's lunch party that was planned earlier this week. The normally bustling and voice-filled streets of Ponyville, were now nearly silent and almost vacant. The few ponies that occupied the streets were only full grown stallions and mares, but no foals or fillies in sight. AJ pondered on the mysterious absences. "Where is everypony?" She quietly thought to herself. But she knew not to get in other ponies business,so she didn't ask the lingering ponies. Still, the country mare felt something was deeply, surely, positively wrong. She automatically felt the painful depression surging through her body. She had felt this feeling since she was just a filly, when her parents died, and from then on. She felt this way when something was wrong or when grief or pain hit other ponies. Applejack cringed and lowered her head. Thoughts raced through her head. Three single formed in beautiful emerald eyes and glided gently down her orange cheeks.

About fifteen minutes later, AJ raised her head, dried her tears, and continued galloping to Carrousel Boutique.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

As soon as Applejack entered the boutique, she felt the grief, salty tears, and pain sweep other her. The pain, the feeling. Her five best friends were scattered around the lobby of the fashion shop. Fluttershy sat in one corner, curled up in a tiny ball, quietly crying. Rainbow Dash was in another corner, rocking back and forth with wide eyes that supported bags under them. She was muttering soft words that Applejack couldn't quite hear. But she caught the words "No, no, no" and "Scotaloo". Pinkie Pie was ,surprisingly, sitting quietly on the plush leather couch. Twilight Sparkle was going through stack after stack of books, reading quickly with wide eyes. Like Rainbow, Twilight was also muttering sharp words under her breath. Rarity was sitting on the couch beside Pinkie. She was sobbing loudly as Pinkie had one hoof around her and rubbed her back with the other, in a comforting way. The fashionista's blue eyes were bloodshot, red, and puffy from all the crying. AJ was so confused, but she still tried to comprehend the situation.

"Rar's, girls, wha' the hay happened?" Applejack said, rather calmly so she wouldn't worry the others.

"He, he t-t-took her," Rarity said in between sobs, gulps, and hiccups. Of of a sudden, Rarity jumped up from the couch and grabbed AJ by the neck with both hooves and shook her violently.

"HE TOOK HER!! HE TOOK HER FROM ME!" Rarity screamed at Applejack, before anypony could respond or act to the situation...