It Will On the Elders

Applejack trotted to town. Apple Bloom said she would be back by now. That thought raced through her head as she took each step down the dirt path. She told her little sister this morning she is to be back by evening, it is now dusk.

She looked up and what she saw made her heart skip a beat. Rainbow Dash was falling straight down like a torpedo right above Applejack. They both let out screams of surprise. Rainbow Dash landed right on her. She said to Applejack, "thanks for the soft landing." She got up and picked up a cowboy hat.

Applejack got up and took the hat harshly, "what'd Ah tell ya 'bout practicin' above the farm?"

"You said not to practice above the farm, I'm practicing away from the farm," she responded, while smirking at her own cleverness.

Applejack facehoofed, "gah! Ah don't got time fer yer smartass remarks, Apple Bloom might be in trouble."

"Who else?"

"This unicorn filly named Dinky. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo mighta went with her-"

"Scootaloo?!! Let's go!" She flew off to Ponyville.

Applejack chuckled, "wow, she can be suckered easily."

Rarity didn't have anything to do. She finished all the fashion lines she needed to that were due next week. "Maybe I'll go visit Sweetie Belle." She walked to the boutique door. When she opened it, she was surprised to meet a certain farm pony, "good evening Appleja-"

"Is Sweetie Belle with you?" Rarity could see she was worried about something.

"No, she's at my parents' house, who I'm pretty sure are out of town right now. What's wrong dear?"

"We have ta see if she's home then, she might know where Apple Bloom is." She started walking

"Apple Bloom is missing?" Rarity followed after.

"Not confirmed, but Ah have ta make sure."

They walked to Rarity's old home. Applejack fell behind every so often, but caught up. Rainbow Dash flew over them and landed right in front of them, "Scootaloo isn't home, and neither is Ditzy Doo, you both know her." Applejack and Rarity nervously looked at each other. "What?"

Applejack decided to tell her, "hun," their eyes met, "Ditzy's dead."

Rainbow's jaw dropped. Tears immediately flooded her eyes, "no no no! You're wrong!"

"Why would Ah lie to you. Ah hate makin' ya feel like this, but it's better ya find out now."

Rainbow fell on her haunches. Applejack and Rarity went to comfort her, but she resented them. "Where's Dinky?"

"That's another problem, she's with Apple Bloom."

"Why didn't you stop her from leaving?"

"She said she'd be out for a bit, Ah didn't think she'd disappear!"

"You of all ponies..."

Rarity stepped in between them, "why don't we check up on Sweetie Belle?" The other two agreed to this like it was a new idea.

They arrived at Rarity's parents' home. Applejack tried to open the door, but the knob didn't turn, "do ya by chance know where a spare key is Rarity?"

Rarity walked up to the door and shoved Applejack aside, "we don't need a key, this is an all-unicorn home." As she said that, she was using her magic to unlock the door, "locks are different magic frequencies, a simple key wouldn't work." They heard a click, then opened the door.

The residence was way too quiet. Rarity suggested, "maybe she's asleep."

Rainbow Dash replied, "asleep? A Cutie Mark Crusader doesn't go to sleep at this time, maybe she's hiding because she thinks we're burglars. Why don't you two convince her to come out, she really trusts the both of you."

They both nodded. Rarity started, "Sweetie Belle, it's me! You can come out now!"

Applejack rolled her eyes at that, "Sweetie, it's Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash! We won't hurt ya! Nopony is forcin' us to say this!" She didn't show any signs of presence, "Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are missin'! Maybe ya know somethin' about it?!"

While they tried to coax her out of wherever she's hiding, Rainbow found a note, she silently read over it before signaling her friends of it. When she finally finished, "uh guys, Sweetie Belle isn't here." They both went to her, "read."

Dear Parents,

If you are reading this, it means my friends and I are lost somewhere in Equestria, please help. We don't know where we are or what to do.

                                                                                                                                                Please help us,

                                                                                                                                                   Sweetie Belle

They both read over it again before Applejack shouted, "'somewhere in Equestria?' What the hell are we supposed to do with that?!!

"I saw them two days ago," Rarity stated, "I doubt they have gotten too far."

"Unless they travelled on Scootaloo's scooter," Rainbow threw in, "she goes really fast on that thing, even with extra weight."

Applejack interrupted them, "we can't stand here and chat, we gotta tell the mayor!" She took off after saying that. Rainbow Dash flew out after. Rarity followed them.

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow arrived at town hall. They opened the door. A desk pony greeted them, "what's your business?"

Applejack simply said, "we need to see the mayor."

"Well obviously, but why do you wish to see her?"

Rainbow Dash explained, "we need to file a missing foals report."

The desk pony opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the mayor, "send them in." She pointed in the direction the mayor's office was in.

They walked in, "is there something I can you help you with, ladies?" The mayor put down her paperwork.

Rarity started, "there are four fillies we would like to report as missing."

Mayor Mare picked her pencil up, "can I get their names?"

"Sweetie Belle."

Applejack butt in, "Apple Bloom."

Rainbow Dash managed to get her voice in, "Scootaloo and Dinky Doo."

When the mayor finished writing, she whistled. An assistant came in like magic, "I need you to get these to the press right away." She looked back at the worried mares, "it's getting dark out, we'll meet here tomorrow morning, these fillies happen to be well liked, I'm sure there'll be a roundup to help search for them. Dismiss!"

It took all the power in Applejack to not oppose Mayor Mare's decision, "yes, ma'am." The three mares walked out. Once they were a good distance from town hall, Applejack threw her hat down, "tomorrow?! We're tryin' to find 'em now! She ain't bein' a big help!"

Rarity hesitantly said, "now I hate to say this, but she's right darling. It's dark out. They probably found a place to sleep in for the night."

"All the more reason to look for them!"

Rainbow stepped up, "I don't think it'll help searching for them while we're experiencing fatigue."

Applejack picked her hat up, "Ah can't believe this, you two would rather sit at home with yer hooves off the ground while our kin are still out there then be with them!" She marched home.

Rainbow faced Rarity, "so, mind if I crash at your place?"

"What for?"

"With you, I know I'll get up on time for our meeting, even if you wake me three hours in advance," she answered while smirking

"That's fine, I was going back anyway."

"Alright, I'll just follow you then."

Rainbow Dash sat in the boutique, waiting for Rarity to call her up. When she heard her shout her name, she got up and went upstairs.

She walked into Rarity's room, she was already in bed, "so, I guess I'm bunking with you tonight, huh?"

"Yeah. Sleeping in Sweetie Belle's room would be inappropriate given our current situation."

Rainbow nodded her head as she carefully climbed into bed, she knew making a slight mess would upset her. "Still awake?" Rarity gave a nod. "You ever notice how Sweetie Belle likes Scootaloo, like I mean she really likes her."

"I was surprised when she revealed to the family how she feels about fillies and colts."

"Yeah... good night Rarity."

"I really like this version of you better, good night."

Rainbow Dash felt about Rarity like how Sweetie Belle felt about Scootaloo; madly in love, she knew Rarity didn't feel, the same way though. She closed her eyes, hoping everything would turn out okay by tomorrow.