The plow tore through the dirt, sending the topsoil off to one side and exposing the rich dark earth underneath. The plow's driver was a young girl named Applejack. An attractive and well-built young belle, she had golden yellow hair tied off at the end, with a collection of freckles on the edges of her cheeks. Her muscled arms, bare under the Kanto sun, had picked up a slight tan over the years. Her top was protected by the orange tank top which ended just below her ribcage. A pair of grey overalls protected her legs and front from the manure, mulch and mud which was found on her family's farm. Said farm was located in the village known as Pallet Town. A quiet hamlet in the Southwest of the Kanto Region. It wasn't much to look at, but to Applejack, it was home.
As the plow reached the end of the field, Applejack called the beast of burden to a halt. Said beast was a massive creature, built low to the ground, with rock hard armor covering it's hide. Its head was crowned with a thick frill, and a short blunt horn protruded from its beaked snout.
"That'll be all Rhyhorn." She gave the fearsome creature a pat on the back and unhitched the plow, it nuzzled against her leg in return. "You almost finished Apple Bloom?" She called behind her.
“Just about, Sis!” Apple Bloom, like her big sister, wore a pair of overalls to protect her legs from the freshly churned earth. Over her top she wore a yellow button down short sleeved shirt. Being the youngest of the Apple family, her skin hadn’t gained a tan yet, but she was still stronger than the average girl her age. Currently, she was planting barley seeds in the new furrows. By the time she reached the end of the row, her bag was empty.
Applejack ruffled her sister’s scarlet hair up a bit. “Nice work sis. Now, let’s all head on back home. Granny’s making pot roast fer dinner.” The two sisters and Pokemon began the short walk back to the homestead.
The building itself was a classic red barn design, except instead of stables and a hayloft inside; there was a cozy living room, kitchen, and a high number of bedrooms. The rest of the Apple family were gathered outside the home, setting up a table with several of their neighbors.
“What’s all this?” Applejack asked.
“Well,” She was approached by the elderly matron of the Apple family, Granny Smith. “Since today is your birthday, and tomorrow you will be leaving on your Pokemon journey. I figured to make your last night in Pallet Town a memorable one.”
When a person comes of age, ten years old, they leave home on a journey. On this journey, they visit new cities, meet new people, and most importantly, learn to deal with Pokemon. Many trainers end up capturing Pokemon to use as partners in battle, or simply become their friends. Applejack, however, didn’t care about catching a bunch of Pokemon, or studying under a Gym Leader, or even competing in the Pokemon League. She just wanted to go out into the wild and broaden her horizons.
Before long the festivities began: food was served and eaten, stories were told and retold, Pokemon scampered about, Apple Bloom played with her classmates, and Applejack was given advice from many neighbors.
“I wish you luck Miss Applejack.” Said Filthy Rich, one of the wealthier denizens of the town. “If you find yourself near Saffron City, drop in their Gym and tell them you’re a friend of mine.”
“I’ll do that Mista’ Rich.” She said.
“Do you know what kinds of Pokemon you will be catching?” asked his daughter, Diamond Tiara.
“Not fer certain, but I’ll probably end up catching something that will help us out here on the farm, like Big Mac did.” Big Mac being her older brother, who was the owner of the Rhyhorn who had been helping her plow the field earlier.
“Ha ha! That’s what I like about you Apples, always so practical.” After that he and his daughter left to go grab some dinner. Applejack, already holding a full plate, left to find herself an empty table so she could eat in peace. Instead she found one with an occupant she wanted to talk to. A girl about her age with long purple hair who worked as a seamstress at her parent’s store.
“Some party, eh Rare’s?” At first glance, Applejack and Rarity were as different as day and night. One was tanned and hardened, the other was pale and delicate. One wore work clothes covered in dirt, the other a white dress that looked like it was just made that morning.
“Absolutely, sorry if I end up stealing some of the attention away from you.” If one took the time to get to know the girls though, one would find the other’s influence on each other. Rarity had taught her how to clean her clothes and how to dress in a more fashionable (and secretly attractive) manner. While Applejack had convinced her to get dirty enough times that she could tolerate it.
They also bore a number of similarities. Both were hard working individuals, in their own ways. And they both loved their respective families. So, a better analogy would be that they were like dawn and dusk; different, but also undeniably similar.
“It’s fine, I’m glad for the rest.” She took a bite out of her roast. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, why did ya do it?”
“Did what?”
“Stayed behind. You turned ten two months ago. Everyone else in our class has already left, heck Cheerilee’s already back! So why did you wait for me?”
Rarity paused in cutting up her watermelon slice. She looked the young farmer in the eyes. “Do you remember that day we all went to the beach. You, Coloratura and Carrot Top were building sand castles, the boys went swimming and I went looking for seashells?”
“I remember you got lost looking for seashells.”
“And you found me, all alone and with a scraped knee. The smart thing to do was to go and get the teacher.” She looked the young farmer in the eyes. “Instead you tried to carry me back to the group by yourself.”
Applejack scratched the back of her head, “The tide was coming in and those Krabby looked really hungry.”
The purple haired girl smiled, “You couldn’t leave me behind then, and I’m not going to leave you behind now.” She took a bite of her now deseeded watermelon. “Besides, it will be more fun to travel together.”
Applejack smiled, “That it will be Sugarcube, that it will be.”