The next day started with glorious sunshine beaming through the window, directly into Applejacks eyes. Black bags marked the lack of sleep she had gotten, and the covers of her bed were tangled near the bottom where she had tossed and turned. Although the sunlight was warm, the day was still bitterly cold and Applejack got up as quickly as her tired brain would allow. Making her way downstairs into the kitchen, her nostrils filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked apple pancakes-an idea her stomach noisily agreed to. Inside the kitchen she found Granny Smith and Big Mac already starting their food, and Big Mac cast a concerned eye over Applejack as she walked in.

'Ya know, lil' sis, maybe ya should take the day off today. There's not alot to do this time of year anyways'.

'Are ya crazy?' She responded, 'There’s loads to do! Like...' A doubtful eye told her she was really just desperate to distract herself from her own thoughts, something apparent to her big brother.

'Why don't ya go see your friends today, Ah'm sure they missed ya yesterday evenin'.' Applejack relented, and after eating her breakfast started making her way into Ponyville.

Meanwhile, at Sugercube Corner, Rainbow Dash was snoozing on the sofa she had collapsed into late last night, unaffected by the sun's warnings about the lateness of the morning. Pinkie Pie was passed out on the floor among piles of plastic cups, deflated balloons, and confetti, and was happily mumbling in her sleep. Suddenly, a loud knocking at the door knocked both ponies out of their stupor.

'Urg, it's too early...' complained Rainbow from her makeshift bed, rolling onto the floor and moaning into the carpet. Pinkie, meanwhile, went from fast asleep to bolt upright in mere seconds, and was answering the door before an impatient hoof knocked again 'Oh, hey Applejack! We were still asleep after that AWESOME party that you missed last night. Come in, and mind the mess!' With this Pinkie hopped off into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, while Rainbow made an attempt to get upright, and was nearly successful the third time.

'Oh, hey Applejack. You feeling okay? You look a little tired...’

'Ah'm just fine sugarcube, don't you worry about me none. Ah'm actually here to check if anyone's free today, ah'd love to go do something today since it's my day off'.

Upon hearing this Pinkie bounded into the room and began happily spouting out any ideas that came to her mind. 'Ooooh! We could go play pranks, or go to the park, or throw a PARTY!’

'Um, actually Pinkie, I think we better clean this mess first...before the Cakes get home.' Upon hearing this Pinkie immediately stopped bouncing, and her eyes sprang open wide. 'I completely forgot! The Cakes are due home this afternoon and i promised them it'd be spotless! Ohmygoshohmygosh!' In her panic, Pinkie began picking up random bits of rubbish and throwing them into a pile, hoping that one big mountain would look better than rubbish discarded everywhere.

'Sorry Applejack, I better stay and help Pinkie before she has a nervous breakdown...' With this Rainbow Dash sighed and turned around to survey the mess around her, and in doing so avoided the oddly disappointed face of her friend. 'Oh, it's alright sugarcube, Ah'm sure there'll be another day soon...’ With this she left the house, not bothering to question the small explosions she heard after the closed the door.

After the door shut Rainbow Dash stole a glance back at it, as if somehow hoping it'd open again a second later. The fact that it didn't made her feel somehow even lonelier, despite the fact she had a pink blur rushing around her, filling the Party Cannon with cleaning supplies and firing it at the walls in vain hope. The similar sinking feeling from yesterday evening stole over her again, and she got to work cleaning with a heavy heart.

Applejack walked around Ponyville feeling a little lost. With two of her friends busy, and Rarity having yet to return from Canterlot, she began to feel a little down again. She spotted the library, and began walking towards it, satisfying the idea in her head she could ask Twilight if there were any books that would help her sleep.

Twilight awoke slightly confused. What at first appeared to be her pillow was not as soft as she assumed, and smelled a bit too papery. Jerking awake, she found she had fallen asleep over a book, the pages wide open where she had been in the middle of reading. Not an unfamiliar situation by any means, but Twilight once again cursed herself for sleeping on public property. Walking downstairs to the kitchen to make herself coffee, a sharp knock at the door caught her attention. Spike was still in bed, so Twilight used magic and opened it from the kitchen, 'Oh, hey Applejack! What brings you here so early?’

'Well, um, it's a tad depressing. Mind if i come in?’

'Of course, I just put coffee on, make yourself at home; we'll talk in a minute'.

Coffee placed and sitting down, Twilight faced her friend and noted how tired she looked. 'What's the problem, Applejack?’ Applejack thought for a moment how she could explain everything. 'Well, lately i just feel a tad...lonely. Like somethin's missing, ya know?'

A moment of silence passed between the two, punctuated by a slow thoughtful slip of drink. Finally, Twilight spoke 'where did this start?’ Applejack was once again forced to actually think about the problem instead of avoiding it. 'Well, I suppose it started at Pinkie's party a few weeks back....'