Rainbow Dash inhaled the fresh air as she flew over the forest. She couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. There was a crystal blue river flowing until it reached a towering dam ceasing the flow and a green orchard ahead dotted with ripe, red apples. It was so eye catching Rainbow Dash didn't notice she got lost. She landed in the orchard and looked around.
Dash saw a big, juicy apple in one of the tall trees. It looked so tasty. Truth be told, she never ate an apple before or any thing else. She didn't know why but for some reason she did not require food or drink, just hate. She was about to pluck the fruit from the tree but just then she heard a voice.
"And just what are you doin' in the middle of mah orchard?" a southern accent growled from behind. Dash's eyes went wide and she froze for a second.
Dash turned around to see who it was. The mare had orange fur and three green apples for a cutie mark. Her blonde mane was tied up with a green ribbon into a plait. She also had a cowboy hat and a few freckles. Dash panicked.
"Oh, I am so sorry I didn't know this was your orchard. You see I kinda got lost," Dash stuttered. Wow, she has been here about five minutes and a pony already hated her.
Nice going, Rainbow Dash.
"Sorry, Ah thought you were stealin' mah apples," the mare apologized. "And ah'm Applejack. Mah friends call me A.J." Applejack stoke out her hoof and Dash stared at it for a bit and reluctantly did the same. Applejack held her hoof and shook it.
'Weird' Dash thought put her hoof down. It must be a pony custom.
"Shad-eh Rainbow! Rainbow Dash," Dash spluttered, hoping the cowgirl hadn't noticed her little slip up.
Again, nice going, Rainbow Dash. The mare laughed at her stuttering.
"You don't sound too sure 'bout dat," A.J. giggled and then Dash joined in. Dash was relieved that Applejack was so friendly. Hopefully they could be friends. "So you said your lost?" A.J. interrupted, shaking Dash out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, so where exactly am I?" Dash quizzed, feeling stupid for asking 'where am I?'.
"You're in Ponyville and this is Sweet Apple Acres," A.J. answered, pointing to the trees around her. Applejack started to walk away and looked back to signal Dash to come. Dash took the hint and followed Applejack.
"So, this is your farm?" Dash assumed because of what Applejack had said earlier. But it was such a large amount of land and apple trees for just one pony Dash wanted to be sure.
"Well, yes and no. Me and mah big brother, Big Macintosh, took over the farm from Granny Smith. So Ah own half of the orchard," A.J. corrected. Rainbow nodded in understanding.
The two were talking among themselves and A.J. was telling Dash about Ponyville and the apple orchard until they saw a carriage with a unicorn and a dragon inside being pulled by two royal guards. Applejack and Dash were both confused by the situation. "That's probably some tourist stayin' with family ta see Princess Celestia later," Applejack piped up but Rainbow Dash was still bewildered.
"Wait, Celestia is coming to Ponyville? Why?" Dash pondered. Rainbow had a vague idea who Celestia was. Applejack looked at her weirdly.
"Because it's the Summer Sun festival today and Celestia is comin' here this year. So that's not the reason you came here?" A.J. wondered, curiously glancing at Dash.
"I was just trying to get away from home," Dash sighed. She hesitated when she fumed the word 'home'. "Is there any hotel I could stay? Just for tonight," Rainbow hoped. Although she would like to stay in Ponyville, Dash wanted to go to Cloudsdale again.
"Heh, sorry, no hotels in Ponyville, but you stay at mah place. We've a spare room," A.J offered. Rainbow Dash liked that idea but was concerned.
"Really? I wouldn't want to cause any problems," Rainbow added and Applejack chuckled at the mare.
"You'll be fine. Mah family won't mind company. And you're mah friend. Well, Ah better get back ta buckin' apples. If you're hungry town's just up dat path," Applejack walked away and Rainbow trotted up the path. Dash couldn't believe A.J. said there were friends. She was so delighted she wasn't in the stupid castle.
She walked past what appeared to be a town hall. Inside a unicorn was struggling to hang decorations. A banner was caught on a nail and she was trying to get it off with her magic without ripping the banner.
"Here, I'll help you," Rainbow called. She carefully and slowly took the banner off the nail. Thankfully, the banner wasn't ripped.
"Oh, thank you, darling," the unicorn in a posh accent. She was white with her mane in a fancy updo. Her mane was purple and it faded into a sunset orange. Her cutie mark was three orange diamonds and her eyes were the same color.
"It's no problem. If you want I could help you hang up the other banners," Rainbow offered, picking up a banner from the overflowing box.
"Yes, I would appreciate that," the mare accepted. "By the way, I'm Rarity."
"I'm Rainbow Dash," the pegasus stated. Rainbow hung up the banners and other decorations as she chatted to Rarity. Rarity was telling her about the Summer Sun traditions in Ponyville and how Princess Celestia was coming too. The two were finished half an hour later.
"Thank you. I wouldn't have finished this early without your help," Rarity praised, adding the finishing touches. "Is there anything I could do to repay you?"
"No, you don't have to repay me," Dash denied. Then Rarity walked up to her and used her magic to levitate Rainbow's hair to make it look fancy.
"Maybe I could do your mane. Not offensive darling, but your mane is terrible," Rarity suggested. Dash laughed. Her mane was very messy and dirty.
"Yeah, I don't mind, as long as it isn't fancy or anything like that," Rainbow pointed out, trying to act tough and tomboyish secretly she was excited.
* * *
Later after a bit of pain and torture, Rarity was styling Rainbow's hair. This was the ninth time the unicorn had to start over because it was too girly for Dash. Rarity was humming to herself as she styled Rainbow's mane.
"And it's done," Rarity announced. She levitated a mirror over to Rainbow Dash. Her fringe bounced up as it did before but now it look more tomboyish and a bit messy. The rest of her rugged rainbow hair was tied up in a high ponytail with a black hair tie covered in green spikes.
"Whoa, it's perfect. Thanks," Rainbow beamed, she reached for her saddle bags, which were on the floor, to get her bits she stole from her father a few years ago (but first she lifted the curse put on the bits and gemstones).
Then Rarity put her hoof on Dash's saddle bags. "Oh, you don't need to pay me. You helped me, so this is my treat," Rarity insisted.
"Really?" Rainbow assured.
"Of course darling, anything for a new friend," Rarity smiled and Dash burst with joy inside. That was the second time somepony called her their friend.
"Thanks. I'll see you later!" Rainbow called as she walked out of the boutique. She flew into the air inhaled and exhaled. Dash yelled even though nopony heard her, "I love Ponyville!"
* * *
A few minutes later, Rainbow descended to the ground in front of a strange house. The first story looked completely normal but the roof looked like colorfully decorated ginger bread and a the second story was small and circular and with the pink, frosting roof it looked like a cupcake.
Just the appearance of the house made Dash hungry. She saw ponies go in and out with pastries and goods and assumed it was a bakery. Rainbow joyfully trotted into the pastry like house and saw a pink mare running back and forth in a pink blur.
When she finally stopped rushing and started frosting a cake behind the counter, Dash noticed she was pink with a dark pink mane with three strips of pale yellow tied up in two pigtails that fell onto her shoulders. Her eyes were bright blue, matching the two balloons of her cutie mark while the other was pale yellow.
Rainbow approached the counter where the busy mare took no notice. Dash tapped the counter "Eh, excuse me." The mare glanced up. "Sorry to interrupt bu-" Rainbow was interrupted by the pink mare gasping. The pink pony zoomed passed the counter and circled Dash, making her very nervous.
Oh no, does this pony know who I am!? But nopony knows who I am and I look different! Wait a minute, my cutie mark! Maybe she recognized my cutie mark! I am so lame!
The mare circled Rainbow and then lightly pulled one of her large wings until it was unfolded. "Oooh, nice wings!" she complemented and Dash blushed. The pony zipped back to the counter and pulled out a cupcake then darted away with the cake.
Rainbow glanced at where the mare was, confused.
She's weird. I like her.
Dash left a few bits on the counter and exited the building. She continued to browse around the Ponyville, which was very busy in preparations for Princess Celestia's arrival and the Summer Sun celebration. As the sun began to set, a thought popped into Rainbow's head and she skidded to a halt.
Today was the the Summer Sun celebration, the thousandth Summer Sun, a thousand years after Nightmare Moon's defeat. What was it her book said? 'On the long day, of the thousandth year, the stars will aid her escape'. Dash needed a library. Now.