This just makes my heart smile. I’m glad they’re still alive ;3

@Anon-a-Miss
From earlier in the comic, we know that Rainbow Dash and AJ went off the grid as soon as the national service conscriptions to bring in the new order manage the crisis went out. That would have included dropping contact with (remaining) friends since communications and interactions might leave a trace, and a high-profile individual like Dash would likely have been searched for.

They probably snuck back to the farm once the heat died down, but never looked for where Pinkie had moved to - to avoid drawing attention, out of fear of what they might find, or both.

Pinkie’s dialogue with Zapp Apple implies that she hasn’t seen these two for a long time. I wonder what happened to them that they no longer stayed in contact with each other. Especially since they’re stilling living in Ponyville.

Maybe Pinkie’s daughter was the reason. Can’t imagine her liking lesbians any more tan trans people.

@Respectful Changeling
I have a bad feeling this might already be all that’s left of the mane 6. Fluttershy would struggle to survive in what the world has become, Rarity would either become part of the system or be destroyed by the system, and Twilight probably got “disappeared” a long time ago given her position in the government when the lights went out and the simple fact that she would have never stopped trying to find Celestia and whoever orchestrated what happened would not have wanted that. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie are the only ones I could see still managing to hold on in this world.

Getting the gang back together!

Why do I have the feeling this is all leading up to whoever’s left of the Mane 6 saving our intrepid gaggle of crazies?