//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: A Rainbow Forms 
// by TheRainbowDashShow 
//------------------------------//

Applejack watched carefully as Rainbow Dash flew towards the farmhouse. She waited for the opportune moment to slip away from the orchards without being seen. She continued observing the Pegasus, when she heard the faint knocking on her door she seized the chance, and made a break for the nearby forest.

Running as fast as she could, she took a quick glance back to see if she had been spotted or not. Fortunately, Rainbow's attention still seemed to be focused on the door by the time she reached the tree line that accompanied the nearby road.
Applejack pushed herself in between the trees, and searched for the trail she had made during one of her many trips through the forest. She located it and trotted over to it with ease. She was quite familiar with the rough terrain that would typically cause any pony trouble to tread through.

Once on the wider part of the dirt trail, she allowed herself a quick stretch and then began to run. It felt nice to be using her legs for something other than kicking she could feel a rewarding light burning sensation in her muscles as she ran.
Applejack pushed herself to run faster quickly using up all her leftover energy that remained from her day of hard physical labor. She slowed herself down to a calming trot, and continued following the pathway, which eventually lead her into a small clear field of grass.

Without being phased in the slightest, Applejack took a sharp turn and continued to walk forward. Soon she was joined with another pathway, which lead her deeper into the forest. She took large breaths, inhaling the sweet smell of tree sap that filled the air. She loved the smell; it made her feel alive and energetic, yet peaceful. She smiled as the last clearing of trees appeared, indicating she had arrived at her destination.

Water plummeted off of a rocky ledge, crashing into the cool liquid below, the ripples from the cascading water continuously disrupting the serene calm of the pool that the falls conjoined with. The sounds of the cold water splashing down, small droplets, catching in the gentle breeze that crept between the trees cooling the air as well as helping the nearby trees grow tall, blocking out the sun with their luminescent leaves, allowing only a thin beam of green light to reach down, all coming together to form what she considered her own personal paradise.

Applejack lied herself down in a tuft of trampled grass where she usually lay, and let herself become submersed in the peaceful bliss provided by her surroundings. This was where she had come whenever she needed to think, or get away from any pony. It was her special place, one she was sure only she knew about, and she fully intended on keeping it her own private spot.

The pale green light that filled her small haven began to fade as the golden sun began to lower from the surface once again. Applejack however, was unwilling to return home and she decided she would stay here for the night instead. She headed over to the small pile of rocks she had placed during a previous visit. Reaching her muzzle inside the small cavern of the stones she removed a blanket she had stored inside for such an occasion.

Applejack returned to her spot in the grass, and lied back down, removing her hat, and placing it down carefully next to her. She swung her head, flipping her hair close to her mouth allowing her to catch the red bow tie that held it together. She scraped the tie off her tail, and untied the other allowing her blonde mane to separate and sway in the soft winds. Pulling the blanket over her body with her teeth, she closed her eyes.

Just as Applejack felt she was going to fall asleep, the sensation some pony was watching her crept across her the idea paralyzing her with a sudden fear. No pony else knew about this spot and the thought of her paradise no longer being secret upset her. Of course that notion was soon drowned out by the idea that maybe a homicidal pony had followed her through the forest and was about to decapitate her.

Applejack took in a sharp breath and peeked out of one eye looking around in front of her, seeing no pony. She closed her eye, rolled herself to the other side as casually as she could, pretending to be asleep, and peeked again and still saw no pony. She let out a quiet sigh of relief and laughed at herself for having been so paranoid.

However, the feeling of eyes monitoring her still lingered. She kept repeating to herself that she was completely alone, and no one knew where she was, let alone know where this place was. The sensation refused to leave, making her unable to relax and feel at ease. Finding herself no longer tired and frightened because of her imagination that was getting the best of her, she decided maybe she would return to the farm after all.

After returning the blanket to its previous location, she headed back towards the trail. The sun well hidden behind the moon made the forest pitch black but the adrenaline and dozens of times she had been through the woods before, it hardly presented as an issue to Applejack. The first clearing lit with silver light from the sky showed itself for a moment and then disappeared as she headed down her next now invisible trail without any hesitation.

The forest parted revealing the main road connected to Ponyville and the farm. The farmhouse was dark; the rest of her family must have already gone to sleep. The fear of a potential imminent danger drifting away made Applejack aware of just how tired she really was. She placed a bit more speed into her steps so she could sooner satisfy desire to crawl into her bed, as well as combat the feeling that she might just fall asleep in the middle of the road if she didn't hurry.

Applejack nudged the door open, and silently climbed the stairs that lead up to her bedroom. She reached the top of the stairs and approached her door, opening that as quietly as she could, catching glimpse of the mattress that beckoned her. She tip-hoofed towards the bed and collapsed onto it, rolling beneath the unmade sheets covering herself, falling asleep almost the same instant she finished. A smile crossed her face as pleasant dreams filled her head while she slept.