When they made it to the hidden camp behind the waterfall, Granny, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom were shocked to see Rainbow Dash enter their encampment. Applejack pronounced, "Look who decided to join us."
Apple Bloom was the first to exclaim, "Rainbow Dash!" and went to her asking, "Is Scootaloo here?!"
Rainbow and Applejack exchange a wince as Rainbow gently replied, "Well, no… but I promise you'll see her soon."
"Really?!" excitement ran through the young Apple.
Applejack cleared her throat and uttered, "Dash, a word with you?" she moved her friend to the side as she harshly whispered, "What were you thinkin'?! Making a promise like that to a young girl!"
Rainbow retorted back, "Hey, what I said was true. I do intend to get Scoots and Apple Bloom back together."
"But you're not Scootaloo's guardian! You just took her on as an apprentice before adopting her as a sister! You know her parents will object to her being here!"
"And that's where the Rainbow charm comes in…" she smirked.
Applejack groaned.
Rainbow then said cheerfully as she looked around, "So this is where you been hiding out, uh? Gotta say, it's perfect."
Applejack slightly smiled, "Exactly what I said when I first came here with Granny. Without her telling us about this place we wouldn't have been prepared for the sheriff when he came to our door demanding we pay our taxes."
Granny pointed out, "That's right. I knew it would have been only a matter of time before they would repossess our lands. So Applejack and Big Mac spent some time carrying supplies here so we wouldn't be completely without comfort." she pointed to a couple of barrels and crates on the side.
Applejack nodded, "Uh-huh, you know those scraps of clothing that I had to get rid of for Rarity?"
"Yeah?"
"You're looking at em'." she pointed to the different fabrics on her pants.
Then Rainbow saw Apple Bloom wearing patches of the same cloths on her dress and Big Mac had some on his tunic.
Applejack explained, "Granny sewed them in our wear."
Granny mentioned, "Well when you don't have material to make new clothes you gotta make do with what you have."
Her older granddaughter agreed, "You're right on that, Granny." then she motioned Rainbow around the camp showing her the hut they built and the campfire with a pot hanging above it. Then she saw a clean sheet tied to two trees.
She inquired, "Do you collect rain water with that?"
Applejack proudly stated, "Yup."
Dash marveled at the entire camp, "Wow, you got your basics covered pretty good."
"It's the only way you can truly survive out here."
"Does this mean I get to have my own hut?"
Her friend chuckled, "We'll get started right away."
In a matter of time, they built another hut and Rainbow Dash got used to her surroundings. When the sun was close to setting, Applejack told her.
"You'll stay here for the night. Then tomorrow, we'll go see the girls."
Dash beamed at her.
The next morning at the tavern, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy sat at a table in a corner away from ears and eyes. It was a tradition they started when Twilight and Spike were still with them. They would always gather for breakfast as a way to spend some time together when things got too busy for them later in the day. Of course when Twilight and Spike moved away it was just them, Rainbow, and Applejack. But then when Applejack became an outlaw and disappeared into the Everfree Forest, their little group became much smaller.
Rarity inquired as she looked around, "Where could she be? She's been late before, but never this late!"
Fluttershy mentioned, "I'm sure she has a good reason."
Pinkie said rapidly, "Maybe something happen yesterday that caused her to make a life-changing decision!"
Rarity scoffed, "Really, Miss Pie, what kind-of life-changing decision would make Rainbow Dash not be here on time with her friends?"
Just then said friend arrived but she wasn't alone, there was a cloaked figure close behind her as she approached them.
Pinkie exclaimed, "There you are! We were getting worried!"
Rarity mentioned, "I assume you have a very good reason as to why you're late?"
Rainbow smiled, "You have no idea…" she did a once over of the room before telling the figure, "All clear."
The figure took her hood off making the girls gasped and with Pinkie nearly screaming out in joy, "APPLE-" but Rainbow quickly slapped her hand over her mouth.
Rarity uttered in astonishment, "Can… can it really be…?" tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
Fluttershy smiled so wide that her eyes also brimmed with tears.
Applejack nodded while making a shushing motion and sat between Rarity and Fluttershy while keeping her head down.
"It's great seeing you again, girls. I've missed ya."
Pinkie spoke in the softest voice she could muster, "We've missed you too!"
Rarity whispered, "Yes, dear… and it's been so lonely without you and well we… we thought you and your family had perished in that forest…"
Applejack's eyes widen at this confession as she saw the guilty looks on the other girls' faces.
She inquired, "What in the world made you think that?"
The trio looked at Rainbow Dash who began to blush brightly as she gave a forceful titter, "I… more or less told them that you were a goner because even though you are tough, I thought the forest would have…" she made a slicing motion.
Applejack gave an annoyed look but she could also see from her friends' point of view given that they were told all their lives that the Everfree Forest was a dark and dangerous place. Heck, she was even scared of going in there until her granny showed her the secret haven. Had it been either of them instead, she would assume the worst as well.
She sighed, "It's okay, I think I would have done the same. But as you can see, I'm alive and well."
They nodded happily until Rarity pointed out, "Now, the question is… how?"
In no time Applejack told her story of living in the woods with her family thanks to a safe part in the forest and had been living off of the land since. Then Rainbow Dash told her part of the story of how she came across Applejack with the girls being appalled by the guard's behavior but was relieved to learn that Applejack came to the rescue before it was too late. Then both Applejack and Rainbow mentioned their bet and how Rainbow won in the end, making her a fellow outlaw and how the two of them would be helping out the village from now on.
Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie were in utter amazement before Pinkie broke the silence and declared in a near loud tone, "That is so great!"
Rarity wasn't so sure about that, "Is it? Girls, I admire your courage but it's far too risky to do something like that… We came this close to losing you, Applejack, now must we lose you and Rainbow Dash together?"
Fluttershy sadly nodded in agreement, "We already lost Twilight and Spike, must we lose you both as well?"
Applejack and Rainbow exchanged a knowing look before AJ said in a serious tone while she took Fluttershy and Rarity's hands, "Look… I know it's a dangerous move to do, but I can't hide in the forest anymore while you're all suffering at the hands of that greedy prince. It's time that someone does somethin' about it."
Rainbow gave a determined look, "That's right, in the names of our great queen and princess. We're going to make this a better place for all who live here!"
Pinkie had big eyes of pure joy before she proclaimed, "I'm sold! Sign me up!"
The group gaped at her but their shock soon turned on Fluttershy who softly said, "I… I would like to join too…"
Rarity gasped, "Fluttershy?! You want to go along with this?"
Rainbow gawked as she said, "Yeah, Fluttershy, I never figured you would be willing to head into danger like that!"
She fiddled with her hands nervously, "Well, um… you make an excellent point about everyone suffering under that big bully… I want to do what I can to help."
Applejack questioned in concern, "Are you sure? Because I won't force you into this, in fact I rather you stay out of harm's way but if you feel really strongly about it…"
Fluttershy took a deep breath before firmly replying, "My mind is made up."
Then Rarity unexpectedly declared, "If Fluttershy is in, then so am I."
Applejack couldn't believe what she was hearing, all of her best friends wanted to join in the cause to help their town. Pride swelled up inside of her, for as long as she had her friends by her side, she could do no wrong.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash brought the girls back to the camp where they took in the sight.
Fluttershy beamed as she commented, "It is lovely out here… the fresh air, the cool breeze," she held out a finger as a small blue bird landed on it, "The birds that land on your finger…" she cooed at it.
Rainbow crossed her arms with a smirk, "I think that only happens to you."
The others giggled. But the laughter was short-lived when Applejack removed her cloak and Rarity let out a shriek.
"Applejack! What in the world are you wearing?!"
The farm girl rolled her eyes, "When you're living in the woods, you don't exactly have the opportunity of shopping for new fabrics to make clothes."
Rarity motioned, "This simply will not do! I'm going to make you a new outfit, one that is fetching and practical! In fact…" she eyed every one of the girls, "I need to make new outfits for all of us! After all, now that we're a group of outlaws trying to do good, we'll need the proper attire!"
Rainbow started to object, "That's really…" but the more she thought about it she realized that the seamstress was right and exclaimed, "Brilliant!"
Pinkie and Fluttershy agreed.
Applejack was hesitant at first but she had to admit that the clothes she was wearing right now was a little rough and itchy and she knew firsthand that Rarity was a master with a needle and thread and that any dress made by her was soft and comfortable.
She inquired, "What exactly will these outfits be like?"
Rarity replied, "Now don't you worry your pretty head over it, I promise that they will be perfect for this type of location."
Pinkie waved her hand, "Ooh-ooh! We should change our names so we can hide our real identities!"
Rainbow asked, "Like what?"
Pinkie gestured, "For example, I'll be Alan O'Pie!" she pointed to Fluttershy, "You can be: Flutter Tuck," points at Rarity, "You'll be the Rare Scarlet," then turns to Rainbow, "You'll be Little Dash!" and looked at Applejack, "And finally… Robin Jack!"
The girls exchanged strange looks after their friend gave them such strange names.
Fluttershy started to voice, "Um… I'm not sure if those names will work so well…"
Rainbow suggested, "I think we need a group name that can go well with our greatness!"
Pinkie bounced, "What about: The Merry Mares?!"
Again they exchanged a strange look with Rarity mentioning, "But we're not mares, Pinkie, dear."
"No, but we're strong as horses and quick on our feet, so it fits doesn't it?"
They glanced at each other coming to the conclusion that she was right.
Applejack proclaimed, "Alright then, looks like from now on we're the Merry Mares." she held out her hand. Dash put her hand on top of hers followed by Pinkie and Fluttershy and then finally Rarity. Once they let go, Applejack declared, "Now we have work to do."