//------------------------------//
// ACT FIVE: Near Misses 
// Story: Apple Dash 
// by Stormbringer 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow sat on the train, it was driving her bonkers.  Usually when she’d ride the train she’d be with one or all of her friends.  Otherwise she’d fly herself.  But this was a long trip and she wouldn’t be in any shape to look for AJ, or have the time to collect her thoughts.  Rainbow liked to be on the first bench in the front of the first car after the engine.  Somehow, it gave her the feeling that she’d get there before anypony else. 
Trouble was, the shared lavatory was in the front part of the next car back and the snack car was another car back from that.

AJ made it into town in time to see the train from Dodge Junction pull into the station.  By the time she’d purchased her ticket to Ponyville, the conductor was calling: 
“All Aboard!”

Applejack climbed on the snack car and walked through to the coach in front of the snack car, not before getting a cup of coffee.  

Unfortunately, the coffee ‘went right through her’ and she had to go to the restroom not even an hour into the trip.  Luckily, the lavatory was at the front of the car so she went forward.

Rainbow realized that she didn’t have any food with her.  And in spite of breakfast with Cherry, she was still a little peckish, so she decided to go to the snack car to get a pastry and coffee.  She got up to go back to the snack car.  
As she got to the door into the next car, somepony had the lavatory door open blocking her entry.  After it closed, Rainbow went into and through the car to the snack car and was soon at a table in the snack car eating a couple of donuts and drinking some coffee.

By now, AJ had returned to her seat on the last bench of the car she was in.  She leaned back against the corner of the wall and window, hat slouched over her eyes and was soon asleep, she really didn’t get much sleep since she left Ponyville.

Rainbow was returning from the snack car.  The door to the car opened inward and bumped up against the bench AJ was sleeping on and blocked any good view of the occupant.  Truthfully, Rainbow’s attention was forward and not on who might be in the car.

There were no more crossing paths for the rest of the trip.  Anytime Rainbow had to use the restroom, AJ was still asleep and Rainbow was focused on the lavatory and not who was in the car.

The trip was wearisome for two mares in particular, united in their mission to find the other yet separated by one car.   

After a fitful night of sleep for both mares, plagued  by dreams of what could go wrong when confronting the object of their affection, the train pulled into Ponyville Station.  AJ exited the car, turned left and walked to the steps leading off the platform where she was soon galloping to Rainbow’s cloud house.  
Rainbow exited the train and turned right and took off toward Sweet Apple Acres.


In Ponyville, on the way to Rainbow’s place, AJ ran into her friend Muffins.

“Muffins!” said Applejack, realizing she was going to need the Pegasus’ abilities.  “Can you please come with me, I need your help.”
“Sure thing Applejack,” replied the blue-gray mare.

They galloped to where Rainbow’s cloud house was hovering.  Muffins flew up and looked into several open windows, calling out Rainbow’s name.  Finally, she flew back down to AJ.

“I’m sorry Applejack,” said Muffins, “nopony is home.  There’s a note on the door saying that she had to leave town and didn’t know when she’d be back.”
“Thanks Muffins,” said Applejack.
Muffins could tell Applejack was very disappointed with the answer.  To AJ’s surprise the blue-gray Pegasus hugged Applejack and told her she hoped she found Rainbow soon.  Then she flew off.
AJ decided that she should go to Friendship Castle to see if Twilight had any idea where Rainbow had gone.


Rainbow came streaking down to Sweet Apple Acres, she saw Apple Bloom outside so she headed straight to the filly.
“Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Rainbow, before actually landing, “has AJ come back?”
Apple Bloom looked upset at the question.
“No Rainbow,” said the filly, “she ain’t come back yet.”
“Horse-Apples!” said Rainbow, then realizing she shouldn’t be swearing in front of Apple Bloom. “sorry about that Apple Bloom, I’m frustrated, I had a long trip and now very disappointed.”
Rainbow turned away so the filly didn’t see the tears in her eyes.  But she heard Apple Bloom sniffling, turning back the filly had a foreleg across her face trying to hide she was crying.  
Rainbow thought buck being cool!
Rainbow hugged the filly, they both slumped back to their haunches and cried on the other’s shoulders.
“Rainbow!” said AB, “I miss my sis!”
“I do too,” said Rainbow. “I’m so thick headed I may’ve ruined it for all of us.”
They continued to cry for a bit, then after getting control of themselves Rainbow told AB to tell Granny that she was going to see Twilight with herself.
Soon, Apple Bloom was holding tightly to Rainbow’s back and they were flying to Friendship Castle.


Applejack walked slowly to Friendship Castle.  She was afraid, confused and sick at what she’d caused.  Her only hope was that Twilight would know exactly where and when Rainbow had left and if there was any hope that she could catch up.

AJ walked slowly up the steps to the door of the castle.  Her heart was hurting.  The door opened and she walked the familiar halls to the Throne Room.  It was empty so she had a seat, she wanted to get herself together before she looked for Twilight. 
Unfortunately, she start crying again.  She lay her head against the cool stone of the map table and wept uncontrollably.  She did this to not be noticed, but a certain baby dragon was walking by and heard the crying.  He was going to open the door to see who it was, but decided to get Twilight or Starlight, so he ran off to find them.