With Rarity's passing still fresh in everypony's mind, life in Ponyville felt quite empty. They would all gradually drift in new directions... away from the loss. Though the ivory mare's ultimate act of generosity was poor consolation to her friends, life in Ponyville had at least become predictable enough to distract most everypony with their daily lives. Those who were not distracted, however... reacted.

Pinkie Pie's reaction was by far the biggest... and Mr. and Mrs. Cake knew her well enough to at least see that coming. With everything new on the horizon Pinkie had a bittersweet decision to make... and at times mulled it over with a furrowed brow. Yet, despite the deeper meaning of what it meant to completely replace Rarity's shop with her own, Pinkie was ecstatic. She had already made plans for just a few short weeks in the future and spoke about them in great detail... usually much faster than anypony could ever hope to keep up with. Whether she was talking to the Cakes, out with her friends, or just plain with Gummy, it didn't matter... Pinkie's voice held the same joy as a filly who had just discovered her own Cutie Mark.

Pinkie's mood... however good as it was, wasn't to last. Sure as she was happy, she would be sad. In what often seemed like a flash, Pinkie's sunny disposition turned tired and moody. During this time she kept her head low, face obscured by a limp mane:

"Please don't bother me," she'd grumble, whenever the Cakes or her friends came to talk to her and she wasn't feeling very happy.

While Pinkie's downs were known to be bad, they were also known to be brief... and the Cakes already knew that she'd have more than just a couple "Cranky Pie" episodes in the coming weeks given her friend's death. At worst, Pinkie would simply stare from her window, down the street and across the way... to where Rarity's shop stood quietly. All day long she'd be upstairs, alone... where she would sit in the dark and cry to herself, but shed no tears. The Cakes were understanding at first, to the point that they'd given her an entire week off to grieve right after the reading... but when even Gummy got ignored, they became more than just a little concerned.

Two whole days passed... and a couple of gator droppings were discovered by Mr. Cake the hard way. Knowing Pinkie's ability to swiftly clean up even the most disastrous of messes (messes she usually made herself), Mrs. Cake was ready to have a stern talk with her about responsibility. The older mare had been watching Mr. Cake feed Pinkie's pet twice over the past days... and now he was even ready to walk him so he wouldn't leave even more droppings on their floor.

That's enough! She thought, walking by her husband and putting up a hoof.

Though he still got the leash, Mr. Cake gulped. Mrs. Cake's infinite patience for their little pink boarder had finally run out.

She was just a few steps away from their stairs when Pinkie came to her:

"Hello Mrs. Cake!"

Pinkie bounded down the stairs, eyes bright and mane fluffy. The older mare got out of the way and watched as the pink mare picked up Gummy, snuggled him tightly, and said:

"Hmm, you look like you might wanna go for a nice, long walk! Hey! While we're at it, why don't we go to see what Twilight's up to? If Spike lets me this time, I'll even make you a book fort with last month's magazines. Fort Gummy, here we come!"

Mrs. Cake smiled, getting an immediate change of heart... she couldn't be cross after seeing that kind of love coming from Pinkie.

"You two have fun," she said, calmly. "And Pinkie? ... no more Gummy presents by the stairs, okay dear?"

At first Pinkie looked embarrassed, glancing down at her tiny, toothless alligator... but she ultimately looked up and saluted Mrs. Cake, like a member of the Royal Canterlot Guard. The pink mare then bounded towards the door, with Gummy on her back and left... just as Mr. Cake showed up with the leash:

"So, where is the little scaly scamp?"

"With Pinkie," replied Mrs. Cake, with a smile. "She's back to herself."

Mrs. Cake knew it would happen again... but hopefully not for as long, and not nearly as bad. Both Cakes knew at least Pinkie's mood would get better with time. She was normal at least for now. and probably going to be normal for the rest of the day... well, normal for Pinkie Pie, that is.

Out with her friends, Pinkie remained cheery and spent the afternoon having fun in Twilight's library. Everypony was there and had something exciting to share, distracting Pinkie's mind a tiny bit. She needed that time as much as she needed the break, and she was she couldn't see Rarity's shop from the first floor of the Library, so she was fine with that. Yet despite her ups and downs, part of Pinkie always remained focused... and that was the problem:

Pinkie's mind still rapidly flipped through ideas for her branch of the bakery... a place where she could have her own menu, her own choice of decor and furnishings, and her own schedule. "Pinkie's Corner" is what she'd call it. Simple, and to the point... much like Rarity would have wanted. Being just a stone's throw away from the Cakes' shop, they could easily lend a hoof if it became too much for her. Not that she was worried about that... not one bit.

After she came home, late from Twilight's Library, and retired for the night... Pinkie looked out at the Carousel Boutique, as she had many times before, and sighed. The sleepy pink mare couldn't wait... for this all to be over with.

On top of the Cakes, she also had friends to talk to... but knew they wouldn't be much help to her with this problem. The worst of her moodiness they saw that day was just a lowered head in the corner for a few minutes... because it only happened once, and she bounced away right after, they just thought she was being Pinkie Pie. She was focused on them mostly, anyway... and was especially happy to see Apple Jack so relaxed after all that had happened.

Apple Jack slowly sauntered back into farmwork work without a care in the world. She was now bucking apples alongside her brother... who had also become mellow again knowing that there was no chance of his family losing their livelihood any time soon. Life was simple once more for the Apples, and even with two friends gone... both ponies welcomed the rest.

Apple Bloom went back to trying to find her special talent, but with no other blank flanks around as into the idea of finding out what they were good at as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo... she found herself feeling a tiny bit lonely. She turned to her old pal Twist first thing, but on top of her Cutie Mark... Twist had other new things about her, interests and ideas, that put Apple Bloom to sleep. It had been over a year, afterall, and hearing words that should have been coming out of Twilight's mouth, coming out of her 9 year old friend's... disturbed the little pony. Despite Twist's great personality and the wonderful taste of her great cooking... another special talent she'd discovered ON TOP of her mint-flavored deserts (why that wasn't her Cutie Mark, AB couldn't fathom)... Apple Bloom just knew her old friend wasn't the same. Or maybe she wasn't anymore. With her head down, she focused on Scootaloo... but knew what was probably going to happen to her, thanks to her own sister, and didn't know what to think. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were sure to keep her company, though less than they had been known to... even they felt sorry for the little blank flank without any friends.

For once in Apple Bloom's life it didn't feel as though things were just going to magically fall into place anymore. It seemed as though she had to make them happen by herself now. When asked by Apple Bloom why she felt this way all of the sudden, AJ simply smiled and replied:

"It's just a part of growin' up, Sugarcube. It's a lot like your Crusadin', just on a bigger scale now!"

Less than satisfied with her big sister's answer, Apple Bloom drifted to the library... If anypony was smart enough to help make this funny feeling go away, Twilight Sparkle would be! The purple Unicorn instead patted the tired filly's head and said:

"I know it's confusing and it hurts, Apple Bloom, but AJ's right... you're just becoming a big filly."

This made Apple Bloom tear-up a bit. All Twilight could do in response was smile, hug, and remind the filly that her grown-up friends would always be there for her... and that even adult ponies feel this pain sometimes, too. That was at least... something, wasn't it? Even Twilight knew it wasn't much.

Whatever was needed to make Apple Bloom feel the way she used to again... it wouldn't be found there.

Twilight in the meantime kept herself busy organizing the Library with her assistant. Spike, wearing the heart-shaped ruby around his neck, remained ever helpful to Twilight... tireless, vigilant and always there when she needed him. The two got so much done in just a few short days, and had good reason to enjoy their tea together at the end of the day with their remaining friends. Twilight wasn't entirely sure, but Spike seemed a tad more sluggish than usual, like he wasn't sleeping well... which was odd, because he was always out like a light when it was time for bed, clutching that gem. Still, periodically she would catch him spacing out:

"Spike, Spike!" She'd call, startling him out of a daze. Perhaps it was tiredness, perhaps it was Rarity... Spike wasn't always there. "Wake up, Spike!"

Twilight couldn't think about it. Life had to go on, and when Spike wanted to talk... she would be there for him.

Looking at her worn-out assistant late at night while writing a letter to the Princess, Twilight envied Fluttershy... animals were usually a lot easier to comfort than smart, sentient baby dragons.

Even though it wasn't stated explicitly in the Will, Fluttershy took Opalescence... and Angel was none too pleased about that. There was an occasional scrap between the two. Opal was simple asserting her dominance, something Rarity had no problem understanding... but Angel was always far more clever. He knew it was better to knock a vase of water onto the sleeping cat than to take her head on. Before she woke up, he was always gone, and if he had the head start, he would always win. He remained the ever-proud King of the Cottage, always ahead of the queen and her claws.

Fluttershy had dozens of animals to care for and as a result... Opal grew less pristine as the days went on. The cat was displeased about this, and always wondered when Rarity was coming to take her home. She couldn't understand, this was going to be her life now... but at least she would always remain Opal.

High above them all Rainbow Dash finally returned to work. At half her normal speed and a quarter the bravado, she still worked to the extreme. The mare's shoulder was quite weak and technically still broken, but it would mend in time, like most everything else.

Dash should have been happy at least... she'd done a good thing and helped her friends out so much. Even though she hardly had enough for herself, she still thought of the one filly who she couldn't help.

Rainbow visited Scootaloo daily, acting as though everything was great and the world outside was something to look forward to seeing again... out there was green grass to set her hooves on, Apple Bloom, the school with all her friends, the Club House... all would be hers again in a very short amount of time, not changed at all. Scootaloo's eyes lit up each time they'd get to talking and Rainbow didn't see herself as doing anything wrong. With no pony there to stop her, she kept up these encouraging words and promises... seeing her little protégé smile was worth the world to her... even if Dash got carried away from time to time, at least she gave her something to look forward to.

When it came to Scootaloo, RD's mindset was one of determination. She didn't know what to do, but she wanted to do something. Dash had no money, no ponies willing to take in Scoots, and no hopes of getting a place in time of her own to have the filly in herself... not that she even knew she could even do that. Rainbow Dash had nothing and was ready to work with that... even if it meant going nowhere, she'd at least try.

"It sounds to me, Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, one bright afternoon while discussing this all with her. "That Scootaloo's probably going to be going to an orphanage, and we have to prepare her for that. We're her family...and though it may sound cold, it's our responsibility to tell her that she's leaving."

"No," Rainbow sharply replied, looking up to the skies. "Not until we know for sure that we've got no choice."

"Okay..." replied the purple Unicorn. "Just so you know, we're doing our best out there and still looking... but it's not promising."

Rainbow also did her best, up above as well as down below. Even in work Dash couldn't find comfort.

Much too weak to buck clouds or fly fast enough to obliterate them in air, and far too fragile to jump atop a little black rain cloud in perpetration to squeeze the rain out... she was stuck giving instructions for half a day to clueless newcomer Pegasai who once picked on her years before, back in school, because of the colors of her mane and her (at the time) still developing flying skills. Even though they'd seen otherwise before time and time again, they thought she hadn't changed one bit in 15 years, they were that clueless... truth was she had, but they hadn't:

"Those who can't do, teach, Rainbow Crash!" One of the Pegasai shouted during her instructions, which she had repeated twice already but no pony got it.

At the end of the day Rainbow was more than happy to come down to Equestria and pay all her friends a visit. Everything else was a headache... well, not Scootaloo.

There was to be talk without a certain farm pony present. Quietly Twilight spread this around the group... with a whisper here and a whisper there:

"You mustn't tell AJ."

Pinkie Pie even made everypony else Pinkie Promise not to tell... and they did, even Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash.

Apple Jack was sucessfully kept in the dark... she didn't know what was going on, let alone that it involved Rainbow Dash needing a long-term place to live. The farm pony was just happy to see RD showing up now and again, just to ask her how things were going.

The group first considered meeting at the Library, but there was always the chance of AJ showing up unexpectedly. Then they considered Fluttershy's cottage, but they scrapped that idea pretty quickly as it was a place AJ might stop by with Winona seeking advice. Pinkie had a thought while brainstorming along with the rest... perhaps her room might be best. Pinkie's room was so high up that Apple Jack would have to be a Pegasus to actually see inside, and as long as no pony said that's where they were going to be... it was not likely AJ would even come looking there.

Twilight agreed, and so did everypony else. It was settled. Pinkie was happy now... and distracted, as she was going to be throwing a mini party!

No pony, except for Rainbow Dash and Twilight, had a clue what the meeting was even about...

Author's Notes:

Part of me goes "blah, blah, blah" when I reread this particular segment, as it rehashes a lot of older ideas and themes which have already been made pretty clear while introducing only a few new ones, and it ends on a point which the story was already headed in, but it's nessessary. It sets up a few points.

Hopefully nobody's gunna see where this is headed before it gets there ;)

:: edited :: paragraph spacing, pacing, a little dialogue... better, me thinks ^^ Was too detached before.

Edited YET AGAIN, heh