The Shoshoniensis Boutique

That night, the zebras of Shoshoniensis took in the four remaining element bearers, along with Spike and the ponies and zebras they'd rescued from the ruins. Then, the following day, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash searched through the charred remains of the boutique, looking for the fire ruby they thought had been left in there. But, when they couldn't find it, they assumed it'd been burned completely.

All, that is, except Spike, who remembered he'd left it in the jungle, near the campfire where he'd found Rarity's remains. But, wanting to put the incident behind him, he'd decided not to mention it to his adoptive mother or the other element bearers.

As the days passed, the group returned to Ponyville; and Twilight made a detailed report of the incident to Princesses Celestia and Luna. In turn, the daytime princess put an investigation team together to send to New Zebraland. The only thing that kept the plan from proceeding was that Spike, who she'd chosen to lead the team, refused to go. Instead, he gave his own report, taking responsibility for the death of the representative of generosity.

From the skull of the white unicorn, which Twilight had brought back, Princess Celestia retrieved the right to bear and represent the element of generosity, and conferred it on her little sister, who was, at the same time, happy and sad to receive such a gift.

In the mean time, the right to bear and represent the element of laughter was given to Cheese Sandwich, who had been drawn to Canterlot, thinking he was there to throw a “party to end all parties.” Then, when he heard about Pinkie Pie's death, he, like Sweetie Belle with generosity, was equal parts happy and sad to receive the right to bear and represent the element of laughter.

Not long after the new element bearers were instated, the remains of the white unicorn were buried, with full honors.

Because of their service to the element bearers and other citizens of Equestria, the zebras of New Zebraland, especially those of Shoshoniensis and Simpicidens, became fast friends with the ponies of Equestria; and frequently traded supplies and equines between them. And, out of respect for the law of New Zebraland, as well as to remember the loss of the original representatives of laughter and generosity, Princess Celestia joined the leader of New Zebraland in banning all tourism or investigation of the ruins where one element bearer had been killed, and another had all but been the same.

One year, to the day, after the boutique had been opened, the element bearers gathered at the remains of the boutique, which the jungle had started to take back; and Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash told the story about how the opening of that boutique had lead to the deaths of Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

In the mean time, Spike wandered from the group, around the ruins, to the pathway, which surprisingly remained unreclaimed by the jungle, and to the place of the campfire, or at least where he thought he'd remembered it being. But, to his surprise, he found nothing there. No fire pit, no log, no remains of his favorite unicorn, and no fire ruby. At first he'd thought he might not have gone far enough, or maybe had gone past the spot. But, the location had been branded into his memory; and he knew where he was had to be where that heart-shaped gem, not to mention Rarity's unburied remains, should be.

Had all of them been stolen? Had the creatures of the jungle buried the evidence ahead of him? Had he, in his delirium over his loss, buried all the evidence and then forgotten? He couldn't say for sure, and the fact of the matter was he didn't care. As far as he could tell, there was nothing to connect him to that spot, nothing to return to. He turned and headed back to the remains of the boutique, never to return to that spot again.