Episode 5: Tribulations

"Twilight, what are you doing?" Rarity asked.

"Oh Rarity, hey." Twilight said as she moved to block the computer screen, "I didn't hear you come in."

"Your sister-in-law let me in, but you haven't answered my question darling." Rarity replied.

Twilight sighed then she uncovered the computer screen.

"I hacked into the city traffic cameras I was looking for film of the abduction so that we would have physical proof to back up Sunsets story. However all the traffic cameras in the city happened to be down for software maintenance at that time. So now I am using the cameras to try to locate two identical black SUVs." Twilight answered.

"Would you like a second pair of eyes darling? I have nothing else to do." Rarity said.

"Yes, I'd love the company." Twilight said.

Across town Rainbow Dash was trying desperately to get some sleep, but sleep eluded her. She thought she had heard the doorbell ring. It was probably one of the girls coming to check on her. Her mom walked into her room.

"Rainbow, honey, there is someone here to see you." her mother Windy Whistles said.

"Unless its Fluttershy I don't want to see anyone." Rainbow mumbled into her pillow just loud enough for her mother to hear.

"Hey Rainbows." a familiar voice said.

I know that voice, oh no! No no!

"Zephyr, What brings you here?" Rainbow said trying not to panic.

"I was starting to go stir crazy just sitting at home by the phone waiting for Fluttershy to call you know." Zephyr said. "You know growing up I adored you because you did something I never could. You were able to bring my big sister out of her shell."

"Fluttershy was, no, IS my best friend. I wish I knew where to look for her. I know she has to be scared." Rainbow said as she looked at a picture of her an Fluttershy from summer camp.

"Remember when we were kids and went summer camp and Fluttershy got lost." Zephyr said.

"I remember you crying a lot until we found Fluttershy behind the mess hall feeding a baby squirrel." Rainbow laughed, punching Zephyr in the arm.

"Thanks Zephyr, I needed this."

"If I know my sister, I know that if she was here she wouldn't want you crying into your pillow.

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After about an hour Twilight had gone to get them each a cup of coffee, when she returned she found Rarity staring intently at the computer screen.

"Twilight, darling, come look at this!" Rarity exclaimed.

"What is it--Oh my goodness!" Twilight said when she saw what Rarity had seen.

"What are those girls up to?" Rarity asked.

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They had waited for one hour after dusk before leaving Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie had wanted to call the others but both Applejack and Sunset had said no. Rainbow was too messed up emotionally, Twilight and Rarity lived on the other side of town. The warehouse had no markings on the exterior and except for a guard shack at the gate there didn't appear to be much activity. The only things the girls found strange about the place was a lack of windows on the building itself and its massive size.

"What do they have in there," Applejack whispered, "the Starship Enterprise?"

" Your guess is as good as mine," Sunset said, "We need to get closer."

"Closer, why in Apple's sake do we want to do that?" Appkejack demanded.

"If she can get close enough to touch a guard she could find out if they have Fluttershy." Pinkie replied.

"Ok, should I be worried that what Pinkie said actually made a lick of sense?" Applejack sighed. Pinkie just nodded, Sunset looked lost in thought.

"I don't like this idea, but looks like this is the only way we'll pull this off." Sunset said and then she unbuttoned the top three buttons on her top, "How do I look?"

"Like a Saturday night special." Applejack said.

"Thanks, I think." Sunset replied as she started to get up from their hiding spot.

"Wait!" hissed Pinkie Pie, "something is missing." then she reached into her hair and pulled out a lollipop and handed it to Sunset.

"This is so embarrassing, promise me that we will never speak of this again. Make that a Pinkie Promise." Sunset grumbled as she walked toward the guard house.

Author's Note

I had fun writing this episode. Particularly the parts about Rainbow and Zephyr and Twilight and Rarity.