Applebloom had arrived at her friends home. She always classed Zecora as a friend, ever since she had met the zebra, she had given off nothing but friendly vibrations, even when Applebloom's sister and friends had destroyed her home and work, she was angry for no longer than two minutes, and when Applebloom stole the hearts desire, she didnt seem upset at all.

She entered Zecora's hut "Zecora, I'm here to help like ev'ry week"

"Ahhhh Applebloom as enthusiastic as ever, such eagerness to help in a pony is quite a treasure"

"So what are we doin' today"

"An important task that can't be excused, we must gather some of the ingredients I have used"

"Well let's get to it then"

Applebloom was a growing mare by now, she was no longer a filly any more, she was more of a teen mare. She, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had long earned there cutie marks. Appleblooms was some form of halved apple, with golden seeds, and a purple outline. Zecora refered to it as the alchemical apple or something. She had accidentally dropped an apple she was eating into one of Zecora's brews, and it turned out that it had some power to cure Poison Oak poisoning. Made sense, at the time Zecora was brewing the Poison Joke remedy, the addition of Apple made it a Poison Oak remedy. Since this, Applebloom went to help Zecora every week.

Being a support worker-well more of an assistant, support worker made it sound like Zecora was growing old and incapable (Zecora never did give her age out. Applebloom knew one pony that would probably know, but she was long gone)-Applebloom carried a quill, ink and parchment in a saddlebag in case she needed to document anything. She made a list that Zecora dictated of ingredients that needed to be replenished. Was a short list, only three items.

***

Amethyst
Hearts Desire
Opal Petal

***

Amethyst and hearts desire were easily obtainable. In fact, neither were uncommon in Ponyville. Opal Petal however was a bit more tricky to find

"Zecora, where can we get opal petal, Ah have never seen any around ere"

"No, it is a rare flower you see, it only grows in one part of the everfree"

The Everfree Forest still shook Applebloom slightly, but she knew Zecora would never let Applebloom into obvious danger. Besides, she had also started work bucking trees at Sweet Apple Acres. Sure, she was no match for her elder, more experienced siblings, Applejack and Big Mackintosh, but it should suffice at possibly dazing any beasties. A good buck in the face could do wonders.

So they made there way back to there destination. The Opal Petal growth spot. Little did they know they were in for a lot more than a rare flower.

***

Rainbow Dash looked out of the window of her cloud home. She was pondering on what to do did she burden the rest with the worry? Did she not tell the rest, and risk them worrying, did she sit and hope Pinkie Pie meant she would be returning.

No, now was not 'Sit around and hope' time, now was 'get your flank into gear and do something' time.

She was still wondering whether to tell her friends or not when a knock on the door signaled some pony's presence. She didn't want to answer, time was wasting away as it was. With each passing second, The Pink mare she loved could be doing something stupid. The door knocked a second time, telling her that she really should answer it and just say she's too busy at the moment.

She made her way to the door and opened it too see two ponies, her shy yellow pegasus friends, along with her purple uni...alicorn friend "hey shy, hey egghead"

Both ponies looked somewhere between extremely happy and extremely upset. Neither spoke, but Twilight handed a letter over for Rainbow Dash to read

***

My most faithful student
Twilight Sparkle

The element of Laughter has been confirmed alive by my sister, Princess Luna. However, on visiting her dream twice, we fear that Pinkie Pie has plans of suicide. She must be found as soon as possible. I understand this will be no easy task, but as a group, I'm sure you will accomplish it. Also, we would be most grateful if you could keep us updated on the matter

Princess Celestia

***

Rainbow Dash thought about whether to come clean, whether to admit she was involved in one of the dreams, and definitely whether or not to admit that she got a bit loud with the pink mare. She decided she really would be best off coming clean "Twilight, I was in the first dream, and i got a bit...I started shouting at her ok? But I only did it because i don't understand why the rest of us had to suffer because of one pony"

Were those tears in her eyes? was that the metaphorical lumping her throat? Nahhh surely not Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash never cries. Wait is this now a group hug. Okay now she is crying. The three participants of the group hug broke up.

"We understand where your coming from Rainbow Dash" said Twilight

"Yeah, there's no need to cry, it's not your fault" offered Fluttershy. The irony of the moment a calm Fluttershy was calming an upset Rainbow Dash felt completely foreign to all three of the ponies on the porch of the cloud home. Wait, I forgot to invite them in again

"I'm sorry, do come in" she said, whilst mentally cursing herself at her rudeness once again

"I'm afraid there's no time, we must inform Rarity and Applejack"

"Applejack?"

"Yes haven't you forgiven her? She told me you had"

Fluttershy just sat on her haunches in silence

"I have, but I don't know about Pinkie Pie"

"Look Rainbow Dash, I realize letting Applejack come along with us might upset Pinkie Pie when we find her, but she has a right to know. And as a team, we can do anything. If we have lost one, there is no sense dropping another, especially when there is hope of finding the lost one"

Rainbow Dash recognized the solid logic behind what her purple friend had said. Fluttershy still sat in silence. "Ok Twilight I'm with you. Let's go and get the others" with that, the three ponies left Rainbow Dash's cloud home.

***

All ponies were gathered at town center when they saw two ponies. The younger of the two looked like she had just seen death, the older wasn't a pony on closer inspection. It was a zebra, Zecora, carrying a large bundle wrapped in brown silk upon her back, both looked past there best. Applejack noticed the younger of the two was the youngest of the Apple family that lived at Sweet Apple Acres, her younger sister Applebloom.

The two walked right past them, towards the direction of Ponyville General Hospital. The five ponies weren't sure if the two didn't notice them, but they had too important a task at hoof, none looked visibly injured, so a nod between the five settled that they wouldn't bother Zecora and Applebloom, they had probably done some over tasking work, and maybe they weren't heading to the hospital, just in the direction. Zecora definitely did look as if she had been working hard with the large bundle upon her back. The five went to set about there journey once more, but were once again stopped by a young mare shouting after her sister

"Applejack" she cried, running over

"What's wrong bloom?" asked the older sister

Applebloom said nothing, she was unable to. She was hysterical, still as if she had still just seen the sight that crossed her eyes several moments ago

***

Applebloom and her elder walked past Zecora's hut, before walking past it to approach the growth of the rare flower known as opal petal, Applebloom didn't exactly know what to look for, only going on a brief description given to her by her zebra friend yellow centre, opal petals she kept repeating in her head.

Suddenly, she noticed something strange. Hanging from one of the nearby trees was a faded pink mass. It was almost faded to grey. She moved closer towards it. It was getting stranger and stranger yet. It wasn't until she was close, too close, that the reality hit her. She went completely stiff. Faded, but still pink coat, likewise with the mane, this wasn't a weird plant, this was a pony. Then the harsher reality hit her, the cutie mark upon this ponies flank depicted Three balloons, one yellow, two blue. It was the pony that had disappeared three years ago. Finally one more harsh blow of reality, she was dead.

Applebloom was rigid staring at the lifeless form that was once Pinkie Pie. Before Zecora made her way over in silence. Zecora was clearly as stressed about as Applebloom, but she used some form of improvised tool to cut the rope before laying her against the floor and listening for a heart beat

*pump*

There it was, very quiet but there. Again, about ten seconds later

*pump*

Zecora wasted no time wrapping the almost lifeless Pinkie Pie in her cloak before hoisting the bundle onto her back. Applebloom didn't quite know how to feel not only did she see her first (almost) death, but it was a pony that she, ane everypony else held so dear in their hearts. She followed Zecora out of the forest

***

"Bloom" shouted Applejack, snapping the younger sister out of the memory "What's wrong"

She was still sobbing uncomfortably, still struggling to speak, but a few words were heard beneath the delirious sobs "Pinkie Pie" and "Zecora"

Author's Notes:

Why not, here's some more for you aol