//------------------------------//
// Rainbows 
// Story: Growing Up: Applejack's Journey 
// by TropicalOasis 
//------------------------------//

      The two friends took their seats at the restaurant, sitting outdoors in the glorious noon sunshine. The fillies were enjoying a lighthearted conversation, talking and laughing. Fluttershy even seemed to be coming out of her shell a bit, no longer hiding behind her mane, and a twinkle was inhabiting her eyes.
     A white-coated waiter approached them, their bill in his hooves. "May I take that away, Madame?" he asked. Applejack looked down at her plate, which was inhabited by a barely nibbled sandwich and a half-eaten portion of hay fries.
     "Well shucks. Looks like ah was too caught up in talkin' to put somethin' in ma belly. Oh well." she handed her plate to the waiter, who bowed slightly and whisked both her and Fluttershy's plates away. A few moments later, he returned with her check. She put the bits on the table, thanked the waiter, and the two companions left the restaurant. 
    "Well, that's the bakery," Applejack announced, pointing a hoof at the colorful building to their left. "The Cakes run it."
     Fluttershy nodded. Applejack continued,"This is our lendin' library, where y'all can check out books n' such." 
     "I do like a good book," Fluttershy whispered softly. "Especially about animals." 
     "Well, tha's mighty fine. Y'all can get a library card anytime. Miss Cherilee, the librarian, would be pleased as punch to help y'all. She's a'tryin' to get her teachin' certificate."
     The yellow filly smiled. "I'm sure she would be a wonderful teacher. She sounds quite nice."
     "Indeed she is, Sugarcube." the two fillies continued their steady stroll, passing landmarks along the way, which Applejack pointed out.
     The orange filly's ears picked up a slight whistling sound. Was it just her, or did it sound like it was coming closer...? 
     "LOOK OOOUUUT!" called a fearful voice behind them. Applejack grabbed Fluttershy and jumped out of the way, just in time to see a cyan and rainbow blur shoot past her eyes. The blur, en route to the ground, plowed large furrows in the earth next to them. 
     The blur stood up, slightly dazed. She was a pegasus filly, like Fluttershy, with a cyan-colored coat and a choppy rainbow mane. On her flank was a cloud, with a curved rainbow lightning bolt coming from it. Her disoriented rose-colored eyes spun for a moment, then returned to their normal state. 
     "Oh, Rainbow Dash... You scared me..." mumbled the yellow filly, who's heart was racing. 
     "Hiya Fluttershy. How's Ponyville?" Rainbow Dash, the cyan filly, asked.
     "G-good. How's Cloudsdale and flight school?" 
     "Same old, same old." The cyan filly turned her attention to Applejack. "Sorry about that. I was practicing."
      Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Fer what?"
     "Y'know, the Wonderbolts. Gotta be the best of the best." She flexed her wings. "And I will be, when I'm grown up and they let me join."
     "I bet ya' will be. The name's Applejack." She stuck out a hoof.
     She gave it a vigorous shake. "Rainbow Dash. So you know Fluttershy? We were in flight school together, until she came here."
    "Yeah, we had lunch and ah was showin' her 'round. Yer welcome ta join us."
    "Sorry, I gotta keep practicing. We can hang some other time. Seeya!" she shot off, once more a prismatic blur of colors.
     "Well, that was... Exciting," mumbled Fluttershy, still slightly dazed from her scare. She brushed her mane away from her face, and the two continued walking. 
     The sun started to lower. Applejack glanced up at the sky. "Geez, ah can't believe the time. I gotta skedaddle on back to the stand now. I'll come find ye tomorrow, then? There's still a lotta Ponyville for ya to see."
    Fluttershy gave a nod. "I'll see you in school too." She gave Applejack a quick, grateful hug. "Thank you so much." 
    "Any time, Sugarcube. See y'all tomorrow!" A merry grin glowed on her features.
    "I have to go tend to my animals. See you then." Fluttershy gave a timid smile, waved, and trotted towards the woods. Applejack began to walk slowly back towards the stand, smiling unconsciously.

     The sun, now resting towards the edge of the horizon, signaled the end of market day. She began to pack up what remained of the stand, and Big Mac returned with full saddlebags. The two began to load the cart, with the remaining goods and the box full of bits. The load was considerably lighter, making things easier for Big Macintosh and signaling a good day's sales to Applejack. The siblings began to walk along the path, back towards their home. 
    "Ah made some new friends today. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. They're pegasi," Applejack said. "Ah showed Fluttershy around town, and we ate lunch and stuff."
    Big Mac nodded and adjusted his stalk of wheat. He was glad Applejack was making friends with the town fillies and colts. He was always too shy.
     The two ponies walked side by side, in a peaceful silence, each preoccupied with their own thoughts. Time seemed to speed up, and they were soon at their door. Big Macintosh pulled the cart around and began unloading, and applejack raced in.
     "Granny, Granny, ya won' believe what happened-"
    "Shhh." Granny Smith sat in a rocking chair, slowly rocking back and forth.  "Yer sisters asleep. Come tell me about your day, sweetheart."
     Applejack sat next to her grandmother. "Ah met a filly named Fluttershy, and another filly named Rainbow Dash. They're mah new friends. Ah showed Fluttershy around town and stuff. Oh, and I ran the stand real well." She puffed out her chest with pride.
     "That's great, hon. I'm real proud of you." She gave Applejack a hug, and continued. "Its time for little fillies to go to sleep, though. You've had a long day. There's some dinner for you and your brother in the kitchen." 
     Applejack walked into the kitchen. Sitting on a plate was a slice of apple pie. Her stomach rumbled, remembering her barely eaten lunch. She dug in, wiped her mouth, and placed her dish in the sink. She ran back into the living room. 
     "G'night, Granny. Love ya!" she gave her grandmother a big hug.
     "G'night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams." 
     Applejack tiptoed up the stairs, remembering her sleeping sister only a room away. She stepped into her room, hung her Stetson on a hook by the door. Only then did she realize how exhausted she was. Yawning, she flopped down on her bed and closed her eyes. She fell into an instant peaceful sleep.
     An hour later, Granny Smith came up the stairs and peeked into Applejack's room. The deeply sleeping filly lay curled up, her blankets strewn every which way. She tiptoed in and fixed the covers around the filly, tucking her in. She Gave her grandfilly a kiss on the forehead, smiled, then left her to sleep the best sleep of her life.