Eight hours later--or was it ten, she had lost track of time--Twila opened the Apple farmhouse door, trudged to the living room, and collapsed onto the couch. She briefly wondered where Spike was before remembering his earlier call. A cold nose on her neck made her aware of company. Other than the family dog, Winona, she was alone. While they had left together, the girls had split up and agreed to meet back here.

Twila had found nothing of the youngest Apple, Alice.

Her thoughts wouldn’t focus, she was so exhausted. She barely managed to lift an arm to scratch the border collie’s neck. The house was dark and quiet.

Guess I’m the first one back, then, she idly thought.

“Maybe we should’ve taken you, Winona,” she said quietly. “Probably could’ve sniffed Alice out, huh?” Her words sounded slightly slurred. In response, Winona simply tilted her head before licking Twila’s face.

“Gah!” she cried, sitting up and rubbing the drool off her face.

The sound of the front door snapped her to attention. Jack and Dash came into the living room looking worn and defeated. Winona let out a happy bark and tried to tackle Jack, as she had ever since she was a puppy.

The farmer held her hand out, wordlessly stopping the dog’s leaps.

Twila stared for a moment, then blurted, “Any luck?” She mentally smacked herself right after--the two wouldn’t look so downtrodden had they found the missing girl.

“N-nah...” Jack morosely said, sucking in a breath.

The door opened once more, bringing in Chylene and Diane. Both seemed to be in the same situation as everyone else.

“Nothing either?” Dash asked.

“N-no,” Chylene whispered.

“Nope...it’s like she vanished or something!” Pinkie scratched her chin, then suddenly her eyes brightened up and she raised her index finger. “Maybe she figured out how to turn invisible!”

“Pinkie. Not right now,” Jack dismissed, irritation seeping into her voice.

“Fuck.” Isabelle ran a hand over her sweating brow.

Looking at Chy, Twila asked, “Is Rarity not with you?”

She shook her head. “Um...n-no. After our spa appointment, she told me to come back here. I d-don’t know what she’s doing.”

“A spa appointment?!” Jack snarled, turning to face the woman. She threw her hands out to the side. “Alice could be anywhere and y’all went ta get yer Goddamn nails done?!”

Chy flinched and sputtered, “I t-tried to t-tell her not to b-but...she h-had planned this for a m-month and I didn’t want to l-let her down--”

She slammed her fist into the wall, breaking through the plaster. “What ‘bout lettin’ me down?!” Jack roared, “What ‘bout Alice?!”

Chylene flinched away from Jack, beginning to tear up. “I’m s-orry, J-Jack, I’ll make it up to you, I-I promise!”

“Chill the fuck out, man,” Dash warned, crossing her arms over her breasts. “Girl’s already skipped town. Had to of. We searched high and low for her.”

“All the more reason we can’t jus’ sit ‘round with a thumb up our asses!” Jack turned, staring daggers at the rainbow-haired woman.

“Hey, isn’t that flashing light important?” called Pinkie, her voice sounding far too pleased for the mood of the room. She was pointing at the old phone on the table.

“There’s a message,” said Twila, rising. She was closest, so she pushed a few buttons and got it playing.

It was Rarity’s voice. “Hello, all. Just letting you know, Spike found me after Chylene and I went our separate ways. We’re together. I’m sure you’re upset, Jack--but I’ve been waiting on that appointment for over a month! It helps me think and keep a level head--something I’m sure you need right now.

“Anyways, neither Spike nor I found a trace of Alice. I’m going over to Sarah’s place--Sweetie is there. I’ll make sure they don’t know anything and don’t try a stunt like this themselves. See you later tonight, darlings. Ta!” The recording stopped with a loud click.

“Oh! That makes so much sense!” Pinkie said, giggling. “It’d be real bad if we had three silly fillies to go after. Rarity’s so smart.”

Jack rubbed at her head, tension evident throughout her body. “What the hell do we do?”

Twila weaved her fingers together in concentration. What would you do, Big Brother? I’ve made my choice but...

Well, wasn’t that the point? Isn’t that how a good leader acts? she asked herself.

She nodded and said, “You’ve got a choice, Jack. The same choice I had to make: The mission. Or your sister.”

The farmer looked to the girls in turn. “I-I... Shit.”

“I know, Jack,” Twila said, her words coming out weakly but still solid with truth. “I know. And though we can’t all abandon tomorrow’s mission--I’m going through with it, despite wanting with all of my being to go after my brother-- not a one of us will hold it against you if you decide to go.”

Jack frowned. After a beat, she nodded.

Pinkie looked between the two women. “Uh...uh...” She got a panicked look on her face. “I can’t chooooose! You’re both my friends and I wanna help you both but that’s impossible ‘cause I’m just one Pinkie, but I love you both--and Alice too--and I want to help you both and... Ooooh! Why is this so hard!?”

The farmer stared at the woman, unsure what to say either way.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! I’d rather find Alice than hang out with that slimy old Blueblood, blegh!” She stuck out her tongue in disgust. “So I guess I’m with you, Jack!”

“P-Pinkie...this means more ta me than you’ll ever know.”

Chylene had retreated to the couch and Winona, seemingly oblivious to what was going on. But a careful observer would see her turn to face Jack, worry and her own form of determination in her face. She caught Jack’s eye and gave a barely noticeable nod.

Jack offered the smallest of smiles. She could always count on the quiet woman when the shit really hit the fan. She had a chance. They could still find the girl. With Diane, Chylene and...

She turned to look at her partner, desperation quietly etched on her face. Dash seemed to bristle, then deflate.

“Shit, Jack.” Isabelle wiped the sweat from her face. “Alice means the world to me--has been ever since I came back with you. You guys are the closest thing I’ve ever had to family.” The tall woman was about to crack a relieved smile, when Dash continued. “But we can’t lose this opportunity. The list that Blueblood cocksucker has? It’s a once in a lifetime chance, Jack!”

The farmer’s irises slowly faded to near pinpricks. “What?” she asked, shocked numb.

Dash’s face scrunched up. She swallowed hard, trying her best to keep her composure through the pain she felt in her gut. “Don’t look at me like that, man. Don’t make me pick between you guys and the damn country.”

Jack shook her head. Her hands quivered, her eyes burned. A part of her heart felt like it’d been snapped off. “You...Goddamn...bitch!” the blonde cried, lunging for the athlete.

Pinkie jumped for Jack, Twila right behind her. Jack was a lot of woman, especially when enraged, but the two barely managed to hold her back, Pinkie gripping an arm and Twila the farmer’s waist. But it didn’t last long. Jack, tired and afraid for her sister’s safety, was angrier than she had ever known. With another loud roar, she pulled even harder, breaking free of her friends’ restraints. She stepped forward and reared her fist back.

“Fuckin’ hit me then!” Isabelle shouted, loud enough to nearly deafen the blond. She stepped forward and stared defiantly at the farmer. “I know you wanna, so do it! Take the Goddamn swing!”

Jack clenched her fist tighter, pulled it back a hair farther.

“Do it!” Dash screamed, looking diminutive and weak compared to the furious, seething blonde.

Twila stood agape, dumbfounded on what to say. Pinkie looked like she would cry, and Chylene had already started, hands wrapped around Winona’s neck as the dog growled, a reaction to the tense atmosphere flooding the room. They could all feel that something was about to break. Though none could’ve guessed what that would be.

Jack stayed her hand, letting it limply drop to her side. She felt hot tears tears run down her face--she let them silently fall. “W-Why, Dash?”

The athlete wasn’t faring much better. Snot ran down her nose and over her lips. She wiped it with the sleeve of her shirt. “You know why, hayseed,” she barely managed to choke out. “You guys are the only family I have. You, Alice, an’ Mac are the best thing that’s ever happend to me. But I--”

“Y-Ya sure know how ta f-fuckin’ show it,” Jack weakly blubbered, covering her eyes with a hand.

There was a moment of silence. Seeing movement from the doorway, Twila swallowed, saying slowly, “Hi, Mac.”

The giant looked at the scene in front of him and cringed. It hurt seeing his sister like that. He could feel his own eyes tear up just looking at how broken Jack and Dash seemed right then. There was only one thing to do. “I’ll find her,” he simply announced. “Don’t y’all worry.”

“Mac...” Isabelle trailed off.

“Izzy. Take care of my sister,” he said, turning to head down the hall. “I’m gonna go pack.”

“Pack? Mac, for all we know, Alice is actually on her way to the Ghost Rim! Do you know what that means?” asked Twila, disbelieving.

“It means I’ll need some money fer a train ride,” he disinterestedly replied, doing his best to remain aloof.

“But you-- It’s dan--” Twila sputtered. Running after him, she caught a bit of his shirt, stopping him. She looked up at him pleadingly. “...My brother is down there, Mac. If...if you make it that far... Could you...?” She couldn’t finish the request.

“I’m hopin’ nobody’s that damn foolish, lettin’ a girl like Alice near a place like that. But if she is there...” He gazed down at the librarian. Macintosh put a strong, calloused hand on her shoulder and slowly nodded once in agreement. “God willin’, I’ll find him fer ya.”

She smiled, tears welling in her eyes. Raising up on tiptoes, she tried to kiss him on the cheek, but managed more of his lower jaw. “You’re too tall for your own good.”

“Heard that since I was ‘bout fourteen.” He gently smiled at the woman.

She laughed. “You haven’t met Lew. You’ll get along, I think.” She turned to the still silent Jack. Quietly, she told him, “You better talk to her some more, Mac. You know how she’s feeling as well as I do.”

At that, the farmer frowned. “I...” he sighed, scratching at his head. “I know. Jus’...I ain’t good at that. Normally I let her come ta me if she needs ta...”

“I know,” Twila said. “But right now she needs you, Mac. Her big brother.” She put extra emphasis on those last two words, nodded, then went to check on Chylene.

The farmer sighed. Again. He turned and peaked into the room. “Come here, Jack.”

Jack choked out a sob and complacently walked across the room, weakly joining the man out in the hallway. The others heard the steady sound of both of them ascending upstairs.

Isabelle wiped at her eyes and turned, looking towards the hallway. She shook her head with a somber frown. “Me and my fucking mouth.”

“It’ll be alright, Dash,” Twila consoled. “She’ll forgive you when she calms down. You know she will.” Chylene nodded her assent as well.

“I know, I know.” Dash ran a hand through her hair. “I’m gonna give her some space for a while though. Just gonna, uh...hang down in the Hub for a bit.”

“C-can I go with you?” asked Chy. “I’m not really tired yet...”

“Yeah, man,” Isabelle replied quietly. She headed out of the living room and into the kitchen, the pink-haired woman following behind.

Twila looked at Pinkie, who had taken over playing with Winona. She had a rubber bone from somewhere, and she was making the dog jump for it. Twila was so tired, which made little sense. She suspected it was from her emotional turmoil in effectively abandoning her brother to pirates--though she felt relieved to know Macintosh was going to possibly find him for her.

“I’m going on to bed, Pinkie. Don’t stay up too late, OK?”

“OK!” she said, not taking her eyes away from the dog. “Who’sa good girl, who’sa good girl--you are! Yes, Winona, you aaaare!”

Smiling at her friend’s antics, she decided to take one of the emergency cots in the Hub. The Apple siblings needed some privacy upstairs, she decided. She hoped Pinkie really didn’t stay up too late--and, with that thought, she wondered when Rarity and Spike would be getting back. They all needed as much sleep as they could get.

Tomorrow was going to be a big day for all of them.