The SS

Since the disappearance of not only Rainbow Dash but Princess Twilight Sparkle, Ponyville had been in melancholy. The only real comfort they had after the ebbing of the two was Pinkie Pie, who co-ran the Sugarcube Corner with Mr. and Mrs. Cake.

But even the joyous pink pony herself was feeling a bit down. Ponyville felt barren now and not only was it quiet, but horrifying. The Princess of Friendship and Equestria’s fastest flier had gone missing in a night.

Celestia had sent out a message to the public to keep them feel safe but truth to say, even the ruler of the land was feeling nervous. In a way she knew this would happen, but she didn’t know Rainbow Dash would go missing too.

It had already been two weeks and now Rarity and Applejack were in hospital with no visitors allowed from the public. Whatever was happening there, they were trying to keep it a secret. Of course, Pinkie Pie was trying not to worry. She didn’t want to seem like a stalker of whatever was happening in the twos lives.

Apparently eyewitness reported Rarity’s house exploding, but the hospital as well as Celestia herself insisted that the two were in perfect health. It was... confusing to the pony, but she knew that Celestia wouldn’t lie. She was sure her friends were okay.

And then, she finally got out of bed. She’d been sitting in her room for the last few hours thinking about her friends. The only friend of hers that was left to talk to was Fluttershy, She was a great friend and Pinkie knew that. but she could barely hang out with her because of her duty to take care of her animals.

But when they did get to hang out together they had a lot of fun. Pinkie Pie was sure that when Rarity, Applejack, Twilight and Dashie came back they’d all have fun again. If they do come back… The party mare instantly shook her head mentally at her sudden thought. No! Pinkie Pie, don’t be so glum. They’ll be back soon!

“Pinkie Pie, are you awake yet?” The voice of Mrs. Cake rang through her bedroom and her ears perked up, going back to her usual self.

“Mhmm!” She instantly came down the stairs and smiled widely at the two ponies. “I’m going to go out to town today!” The two of them stared at the mare for a bit before letting her go. Even after her best efforts she was still slightly off her usual self... Oh well, she could at least go out to town.

The time at town was sadly uneventful. it was only 3PM by the time Pinkie Pie was done, after finishing her day in front of the mysterious Everfree Forest.

She stopped and turned back towards the forest. She felt an emotion she rarely felt... dread. But for some reason, also longing. She felt her hoof go forward, and then her other hoof. Before she knew it, she had walked into the Everfree Forest. Really, she had no idea what she was doing or where she was going. She just knew she had too.

“U-Uhm, hello? Is anyone there?” The pink pony’s ears perked up when she heard a frail voice coming from a nearby bush. She walked over to it slowly and checked inside, only to see a small, yellow foal whimpering.

“Oh my gosh! Are you okay?” Pinkie Pie Shockingly asked as she picked up the little pony.

“Y-Yeah, I am. My mother told me to stay here.” The freckled pony sniffed and clinged to Pinkie’s coat. “But she hasn’t c-come back yet.” She seemed to perk up nearly instantly. “But I know where mama lives when she's not with me.”

“I can take you there if you want! My name’s Pinkie Pie, what’s yours?” Pinkie had never seen this foal before or her somepony who looked like her, so she was excited to meet her.

The foal wiped her remaining tears away, “My name is Honey Speedster.” The filly climbed onto Pinkie Pie’s back as she began to walk where the filly directed her. “My mama, Star Shimmers told me to stay here a long time ago but…” She started tearing up again as Pinkie tried to soothe her.

“It’s okay. I’ll get you back to your mother!” The party pony smiled although the feeling of dread from the forest hadn’t left her.

Honey began to lead Pinkie Pie past all the houses near Sweet Apple Acres. Until finally Pinkie reached a old-looking cottage away from town

Pinkie knocked on the door. “Hello? Is anypony in there?” A unicorn with a pale blue coat and purple hair opened the door. Her eyes opened wide and she hugged Honey with a wide smile on her face.

“Oh, thank you Pinkie Pie!” The dark mare chirped in a voice that reminded Pinkie of Queen Chrysalis.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around Ponyville before. How do you know my name?” Pinkie asked kindly despite the fact that she could see the house behind the two ponies begin to glitch and shimmer.

“Oh, we Spirits know everyone's names!” Honey’s eyes shimmered as she and her mother laughed.

Pinkie Pie laughed too. And then like everypony else, she passed out.

***

Pinkie yawned and woke up in her bed. It was perfectly comfortable, she felt like she was in heaven. For all she could know what she had just done was all a dream. When she jumped out of her bed, the floor almost felt like pillows. Every scent throughout the house was lovely too.

Then a quiet knock at the door interrupted her paradise and she rushed down to see who was there. As soon as she opened the door, a small eep was heard as Fluttershy fell onto the floor.

“Oh, I’m sorry Fluttershy! I didn’t mean to scare you!” Pinkie said apologetically but still in a cheery voice.

“O-oh, it’s fine Pinkie Pie… I just wanted to know if you wanted to… hang out?” She asked meekly.

“Of course!” Pinkie gave her a small hug. “Where do you wanna go?”

“U-Uhm, w-wanna go to the Ponyville Tower?”

“Sure! Let me grab my stuff!” Pinkie smiled before returning in barely a second with a picnic basket.

Pinkie and Fluttershy carried the basket up to a giant tower with a gold bell at the top of it. Hanging underneath it was a giant clock, which had been off time ever since the day Iron Will appeared.

“Thanks for hanging out with me today, Pinkie…” Fluttershy sighed. “It’s been awfully quiet lately.” She took another bite out of the lettuce sandwich Pinkie had somehow made under a second.

“It’s okay Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie smiled wrapping her hoof around the pegasus. “Our friends will be back in no time!” She took another bite and Fluttershy frowned.

“Are you sure about that?”

Pinkie turned towards Fluttershy confused. “What do you mean?” She asked, her mouth still full of food.

“I-I mean….it’s been awhile since we saw Dash and Twilight….Do you think they’re coming back?”

Pinkie gasped a little and hugged the pegasus. “Of course they’re coming back! We just have to wait.”

Despite the kind pony’s words, Fluttershy still felt a little worried but suppressed the feeling and smiled. “Y-Yeah.” She took the bite of the last sandwich.

“Thanks for coming out here with me today, Fluttershy.” Pinkie Pie smiled kindly at the pony and she returned the gesture.

“It was no issue, Angel is taking care of the animals.” Her eyes widened. “O-Oh dear! I forgot to feed Angel! Thanks for talking Pinkie Pie, sorry!” And with that Fluttershy raced off faster than Pinkie had ever seen.

Pinkie bounced happily back to Sugarcube Corner, through the door and into her room. The Cakes greeted her and she explained what happened, making the two of them smile. She laid back onto her bed and sighed as she saw the sun starting to set.

And then it hit her.

The beautiful scents of the bakery faded away as the sun seemed blinding to her now fragile eyes. her bed sheets felt like cacti needles prickling her and the happiness was gone.

The usual pink party pony felt like a void. Her energy depleted and her smile gone. Hell, she didn’t even know if she could lift her own hoof anymore. Nothing seemed to matter.

She hadn’t felt like this since the rock farm.

Her eyes became glassy and she wept. She wept and wept until her bedsheets were a darker shade of blue and pink. Pinkie’s life now felt like it had a gaping void in it, something that parties and friendship couldn’t heal.

It was an obsession.

She had no idea where the urge had come from, but it was there and strong. It was practically crawling on her back as she sobbed. Then she stopped, The urge was all she cared about and all she needed.

She headed to Fluttershy’s house.