At last. Applejack had finished her chores and could spend the rest of the day as she pleased.
With both of their sisters in between as messengers, Rarity had sent for her. Apparently, she was already done with Applejack's order. That was rather peculiar, as she hadn't even come for any measuring or adjusting yet.
She wasn't going to turn down not having to stand around for hours and wait for Rarity to finish her work, though. That was pure wishing, she reminded herself. No dress could get done without fitting it to the final model.
No matter what she was going to find there, first Applejack'd have to get to Carousel Boutique, so she sped up her walking a bit. There were so many things she'd rather do, including her fiancèe.
"Hello? Ah, it's you. Come in, come in! You'll just love this, I'm sure." Rarity was already galloping away from the door by the time Applejack could set a hoof in her boutique. Its inside looked even tidier than usual.
"Howdy, Ah... Aw, shucks." The unicorn was clearly out of earshot, so Applejack shut the door behind herself and walked over to the one behind which Rarity had vanished. The sight that was behind it more than awed her.
"Ta-da!"
Applejack was amazed. The outfit before her was monochromatic, ranging in color from white to less white, yet it seemed so bright and colorful. It was so mesmerising that she completely forgot everything else in the chamber, including Rarity, who, unnoticed by Applejack, continously listed special design features she had worked into the dress.
If she was in it, Applejack imagined, it would catch the flow of bright color from her mane, direct it along a path of white, then let it flow out into her tail.
"Isn't it FABOLOUS? Let's get you in it, shall we?"
"Uh? Now already?" Applejack's brain was still busy processing all of the different parts of the masterwork standing before her.
"Most certainly. I've had Twilight help me with it, but we need to make sure it fits YOU. And your hair, oh, I've got so many designs for it, we must look for one that fits you perfectly."
It didn't take long before Applejack was standing on Rarity's podium, completely bound by both fabric and etiquette. The adjustments had been quick, however, Rarity seemed to have thousands of different hairstyles for her and the will to try every single one.
Right then, Applejack's mane was simply flowing down (as much as the veil would allow) with a white lily in it to add another reference to the white of her dress.
This could take hours even from that point, she realised. A groan of annoyance escaped Applejack.
"Yes, this totally does not fit. What was I thinking?" Rarity said, throwing the sky blue brooch (symbolising the connection to Rainbow Dash) behind her. That tore Applejack's mind back into the real world.
Now, she didn't only have to endure the endless procedures, but she didn't have the comfort of losing herself in her thoughts and thus making time pass faster any more now.
Rarity spotted her displeased look. "Almost everypony has to suffer through this, darling. Be glad you have to. I sure am for you."
"Why can' all o' this be that much easier? Ah mean, when uncle Red went through his, he borrowed a suit jacket the day before, and it was done. Why can't Ah have it that easy?"
"Rainbow claimed the suit first, remember? Eeh he he... Besides, you look magnificient. They'll throw flowers just for your outfit."
"Didya keep Twilight fer that long, too? Poor thing, an' it didn't even pay off, did it?"
"It took no more than an hour, and she volunteered, for your information. We had plenty of time to talk. Poor thing would fit her, I'm afraid."
"How d'ya mean that?"
"Remember when everything was fine and dandy in her life? Now, you already know the kind of situation she got herself in with school and such. But she's got more problems than that."
"If yer gonna blurt out her secrets like that, spill the beans already. What's she missin'?"
"What, you ask? Who would be more fitting. Looks like she adopted some things from the pair of you."
"Wha'? Twi'? No way, she's way too disciplined and work focused and..."
"And that's why those thoughts didn't occur to her until now. What an epiphany, eh?"
"Disregardin' that fancy speakin', tha' sure is somethin' she got herself into."
"Really, I think she's just in hea..."
"A heapin' lot of trouble, exactly. She's got a great timing for that, don't she. Ah hope she don't go crazy while she's all busy doin' school works an' stuff. Why, maybe she finds somepony there in Canterlot. Ta either lose contact with or be rejected, then become an emotional wreck either way..."
At last. Adjusting her dress and planning a personal style for it had taken Applejack way too long, but now she was free again. Against all odds, there was even still some way between the horizon and Celestia's sun.
"Now jus' where is that pegasus missy..." Applejack whispered to herself. Even after scanning both sky and ground closely, she had no idea where Rainbow Dash might be. Tha's why RD's got that gem, Ah suppose. Maybe Twilight knows where she is, even. She can just activate it if she don't...
She didn't even have to go all the way to the library. Just as Applejack went around the corner and got into line of sight with it, she saw Rainbow Dash come out. Something told her she didn't want to see Twilight any more, so Applejack waited for Rainbow to come towards her.
"Howdy pardner! Whatcha been doin' with Twilight?"
The pegasus literally jumped five meters into the air with some help of her wings. "Wha... Who..." Rainbow hastily looked around to see the source of the noise that had startled her.
As amusing as that sight was, Applejack decided to step out of the group she had subconsciously gone into hiding in and reveal herself. "Ya ain't afraid a' me, are ya?"
Dash folded her wings and dropped to the ground from where she'd been, absorbing the drop force with surprising grace. "No no, of course not. You just... sheesh, where did you learn to blend like that?"
"A little birdie told me." Applejack joked with a wide smile on her face. Everything from the course of the day that had drawn her mood down had been wiped away upon seeing Rainbow again.
"Speaking of whom, Twilight's now in on the plan." It was still a badly kept secret among everypony who asked, so Dash chose more discreet words.
"Arright. Oh, dangit..."
"What?"
"Nothin', Ah jus' remembered Twilight will not be here fer so long."
"A mare's gotta do what a mare's gotta do. She's just going out there to rock some exams in Canterlot and then come back immediately. I bet she'll be back before you miss her."
"But what if Ah do? Can we really manage two months without Twilight? What if there's some kinda emergency like the ones tha' come up weekly, as it seems sometimes?"
"Then you've still got me. Together, we can overcome everything, and if something other than everything troubles us, we've still got the other three, remember? And I think that Twilight would be allowed to leave briefly if it's to save Equestria... Again."
"Ah..."
"Hush. We've been over this before, haven't we? Don't let your fears overcome you. Look into my eyes. Everything's fine, as long as we stick together and trust each other." Dash pulled Applejack's face right in front of hers.
Applejack could not stand those ruby eyes for long. Not when she also had in mind whom they belonged to. The darkness in them swallowed her mind. Their faces were mere inches apart. "Ugh..." She breathed.
"That's more how I like it. I think. You are fine, ri-" Rainbow couldn't finish her sentence. Applejack had thrown their faces together, as if she'd suddenly fallen asleep.
She gave in and enjoyed the kiss until Applejack would break it. That took longer than she expected, though. Ponies around them started to cheer.
Doesn't she need to breathe sometime? Rainbow silently asked herself. It wasn't like she really wanted to end this moment. In fact, she wanted it to last for as long as possible, even if it meant that she and Applejack would suffocate right there and then.
Rainbow Dash zipped across the skies like... nothing, in fact. There was nothing capable of a speed worthy of being compared to her. Perhaps a lightning bolt. Lightning Dash, that's what they should have named her. Or Rainbow Bolt? No, Rainbow Blitz, as they called it somewhere in the eastern parts of Equestria.
No, that sounded stupid too. Like some silly colt chaser stallion. Rainbow Dash suddenly was an awesome name for an awesome pony again.
Said pony was ripped out of her trance as a somewhat deep mare's voice called out to her. "Hey Rainbow Dash! Wait up!"
"Huh?" Mid-flight, she stopped and whirled around to see who was there. "Oh, hiya Derpy!"
"I got a letter for you! At least I think it is for you." The cross eyed mailmare inspected the letter in her hooves again. "Yup. 'To: Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy, Ponyville'"
"All of us? Why, I'm headed for a get together right now. Everypony can look at it there."
Derpy gave Dash the piece of paper and happily flew off to her next location to deliver mail to.
Rainbow checked the object she had just received for anything out of order. It appeared to simply be... a letter. How boring, she thought. The somewhat long and odd receiver adress was the only thing that caught her eye. So maybe that was the key.
Looking closer, she could deduct that whoever wrote that adress had to have access to magic or somepony with it. Or have an assistant with seperable claws. No, it was too clean for that. It must have come from an unicorn.
A bell rung for Rainbow Dash. Literally. She looked around and saw the big clock tower indicating a time when she had already wanted to be where she was going. She was not going to be late, but later than she wanted.
The pegasus stored the letter in her mane, which, with the added stabilisation of her gem pin, was a surprisingly safe place, and flew off to meet her friends.
There she was. It had taken much, much talking from her friends, including a vow not to let anypony touch her wings or have a camera within a hundred meters around her, but Dash still hesitated to step into the spa.
Come on, the others are waiting for you in there. Get in! With much effort, she forced herself to walk forward. Once she got going, it was easier to keep it up than to do anything else. Sooner than she'd have liked, Rainbow stepped through the doors into the lobby, where four ponies were just waiting for her.
"Ah, Rainbow, darling. At last you've come."
"I'm not that late, am I?"
"Naw, yer just on time. We're jus' startin'. Might be 'cause we start with you."
"Alright, I get it, I'm later than I wanted. Can we move on now?"
"Aw. I had such a good one. Next time, Dashie. Lotus? We're ready now." Pinkie Pie called over to the service pony behind the counter, who nodded and began taking preparations for the five mares.
"Isn't it nice to do things together as a group once in a while?"
"Sure is. Me and AJ don't have to always do things together just because we're en... Um, allow me to rephrase."
"Ah think we get the point. So, what kept ya that long, sugar?"
"Ran into Derpy. Gave me an interesting letter." Dash said as she pulled it out of her multicolored mane and threw it onto a table between them in the pool area for everypony to see.
"... 'and Fluttershy, Ponyville.'" Pinkie finished reading the receiver adress aloud. "That's odd."
"Must be from a unicorn. I mean, other ponies couldn't even fit all of that on the front. No return adress, though." Rainbow reported her findings.
"Do you really need a return adress? Think, dear. Is there an unicorn that would mail all five of us and all five of us at once?"
"Took lil' Twilight long enough. D'ya think we shoulda written her?"
"Nah. I mean, what should we say? 'Dear Twilight. Sorry to disturb you while you're busy trying not to fail those final exams, but we have to tell you that nothing at all has happened back in Ponyville. Love, your friends.'" Rainbow Dash dismissed Applejack's concern.
That made Pinkie giggle. "It really has been kinda quiet. So boring!"
Rarity cleared her throat. "Well, enough of this, what does she have to say? Go on, open it!"
Dear whomever this letter may reach first,
Twilight here. I'm writing this for all of you, so try to make the others see it as well. Pass it around if you can't read it simultaneously.
Hey there everypony.
I'm writing to let you know that I'm having a great time here. While I'd prefer it if this mistake had never happened (I miss you so much!), I'm not having any problems with keeping up with the rest of the class, even though I joined them this late.
For instance, did you know there once was a secret order dedicated to maintaining peace and free will by performing something I don't really understand, I think the word's 'Assassination', on certain ponies of importance?
"Anypony know what that is?" Pinkie looked up from the text she was reading aloud for everypony. Four ponies shook their heads, although one seemed a bit off tact with her response.
Fluttershy picked up reading.
So yeah, class is going well. I'll be back with you in just a month and never leave again.
Ponies here are nice. I'm not sure if they'd like me the same without magical hair color change, cover name and whatnot, but I try not to think about that. There's somepony here you really should meet.
"She can't possibly?" Rarity tore the letter from under Fluttershy's eyes and began to intensively read it. "Aw. False alarm."
"Wouldya care ta tell us what ya got all fussed about?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really... I'll just keep reading..."
Rarity, I know you are going to misunderstand this, so I'm going to say it right now, it's not what you think. She's kind of like me, working hard to achieve her goals, always nose deep in a book, you know me. For some reason I can't find on my own and don't want to ask, she's even dyed her hair with the same spell as I did.
Wow, I am rambling. I'm not boring you with how I'm describing that somepony I met here, I hope. Anyways. Her name's Midnight. Fellow unicorn, of course. That's why she's on the School for Gifted Unicorns, I suppose.
I get along with the others, but it's good to have a best friend to keep you company and who always listens. Like Applejack and Rainbow Dash. That is, before the... Party.
Both of the mentioned ponies blushed from the mention of that event.
Applejack planted a quick kiss on Rainbow's redness. That helped her own blush, but the pegasus' only intensified.
Midnight really is a good friend. As I said, you should meet her. Her only flaw is that sometimes she underestimates the noise she makes while I look like I'm working. Yes, Midnight, I CAN hear you. You can stop reading along now. Why am I even writing instead of directly confronting you?
... Whatever. She's gone now. Or really improved her sneaking all of a sudden. I think it's about time to wrap this up. I miss all of you.
As far as I am informed, the weekly crises have taken a break now. At least, there can't have been anything significant enough so I would get news of it.
If I missed anything, don't hesitate to inform me. Mail adressed to 'Twilight Sparkle, Royal guest quarters, Canterlot' should find me.
Stay safe until I come back.
Twilight