//------------------------------//
// Budding Friendship 
// Story: Twilight Skies 
// by Alexander Hawthorne 
//------------------------------//

Lunchtime at Sweet Apple Acres was, apparently, a big deal. There were so many people, so much noise; so much food! Never in my life had I ever seen a table set for so many. And almost every dish had apples incorporated in some way. There was Pork chops and Applesauce, Apple pies, Apple fritters, Apple butter, Apple turnovers; you name it, they had it. When we arrived, everyone there wanted to meet me, which was rather intimidating. The Apple family, as I quickly learned, was extensive, and widespread. Despite my best intentions, many of their names eluded me. It was surprisingly enjoyable, although often uncomfortable. Being around people isn’t my strong suit. Socially, I’m alright, but I don’t really know what to say sometimes.

Anyhow, It was truly a good time overall. I left feeling content for the first time in years. The people who lived in this quaint town were by all means openhearted and kind. Nothing like the men and women I’d met before. And the Apple household was only the beginning. Applejack decided that I would meet with all her best friends before the day was out. I had this sinking feeling that I would have to change; that the residents of this quaint villa would expect me to become as cheerful and as exuberant as them. Believe me when I say it, I would love to leave behind the demons of my past, but I don’t think it will be as simple as all that.

Nonetheless, I was half pulled, half wilfully shuffled along towards the more active town proper. The buildings were an eye dizzying array of any and every colour, fantastic architecture and fanciful aesthetic appeal blended together. Some looked like clouds in the breeze, others like any other home you would see on a street. Still others stood out; a huge building decorated with enormous candies, the main structure made of what appeared to be gingerbread, and in the center of it all lay a giant… treehouse. It was as though someone had hollowed out an enormous oak or redwood and fashioned it into their personal living quarters. These last two pulled to me apart from any other building in town, and I decided that somehow I would visit them as soon as possible.

It would seem that fate had other plans in store for me however, as Applejack carted me towards one of the huge, puffy looking cloud like structures. 
“Ah have a friend here who’d likely be mighty pleased to meet ya!” she intoned, breathless after her exuberant march into town. “Rainbow, you get yer lazy behind out here this instant, ah have someone you ought‘ a meet.”  Her shouting woke the previously dormant occupant, who proceeded to make no small racket herself before appearing at the top window.

“Oh, hiya, Applejack! What’re you doing up so early? It’s hardly decent to- hey, who’s the kid?” 
Moments later, she reappeared at the door, a small smile on her face. Again, she was of an age with Applejack and myself, dressed in a blue tracksuit she’d cut off mid-thigh. Her skin was paler than mine, and she cut a figure best described as athletic. Tall and lean, she was clearly some kind of runner, or involved in sports at least. Her most prominent feature however, was her hair. Coloured in every shade found in a rainbow, it became apparent why she was called such. Once again, she stuck out an arm, but hers was more challenging, almost like she didn’t expect me to shake it, but offered it almost cynically.

I took her hand, and shook her arm firmly, but without serious force. She grinned again, and said confidently,
“My name’s Dash. Well it’s Rainbow Dash to be precise. You must be new in town! Geez, AJ, I haven’t seen you so excited since Soaren was in town.” Here she smirked a bit, her mouth just curling at the ends.

“And Ah haven’t seen you so out of sorts since Big Macintosh asked you to the spring formal last year. Why the way you blushed I’d have thought your name was Cherry Blossom or some such!” Applejack retorted smoothly. It felt like I was missing something, so I quickly responded.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you. I just got in today actually and AJ and her family helped me settle in.”

“Wow AJ, that’s real considerate of ya! I’m sure you and Mac were just dying for something to do.” Rainbow commented, a sly note entering her voice. Applejack shot her a dirty look, but quickly regained her composure. Smiling as politely as I’d ever seen, she began walking away. 

“Hey, it was nice to meet you, but I guess we’re headed off to meet the rest of her friends.” I spoke quickly, and when she nodded I took off in pursuit of the now absentee Applejack. When I caught up, I could just catch snippets of Applejack muttering something under her breath. It didn’t make much sense, just something about Rainbow Dash and baked goods. I figured it would be better not to ask.
We went throughout the rest of the sleepy town, and I was introduced to Pinkie Pie, a wild card with the curliest, wildest hair I’d ever seen in the brightest shades of pink imaginable. She spoke a thousand words a minute and her attitude was all about partying and having fun. Then there was Rarity, a fashion designer with a taste for high culture and pomp. She seemed nice enough, but kept staring at my sweater with a critical look, as though I’d committed a crime. We left before she had a conniption. On the outskirts of the village was a small, homely cottage. At first, I thought that whoever lived there must have been out for the day, but it turns out she was home. When she came out to say hello, I could hardly hear her speaking and for what must have been ten minutes I found myself just kind of nodding and smiling as politely as possible whenever it seemed appropriate. We said our goodbyes, and as we were leaving, Applejack said,
“That’s Fluttershy by the way. Wonderful friend, but ya’ll just gotta get to know her first, which isn’t all that easy seein’s she’s real quiet.” I nodded softly. 
After walking silently for a few more minutes, we came to the centre of town, and stopped in front of the building I’d seen earlier that was shaped like a tree. Upon further inspection, I realized it actually was a tree, hollowed out yet still living. As we waited outside for the last of Applejack’s friends to step out, a strange sense of Déjà vu came over me. It was as though time slowed to a grinding halt, and my breath came in short, quiet gasps. After what seemed a lifetime, the feeling passed, and the door opened.