//------------------------------// // FaR Chapter One // Story: Following a Rainbow // by malikvamp //------------------------------// FaR Chapter One- Dashing Away The evening breeze blew through the Apple family orchards; dancing through the leaves and into the old barn that stood firm in the night. Passing through an open window on the top floor the cold wind fluttered through the small room, and across the cheek of an orange earth-pony, stirring her from a light sleep. Light radiated from the many stars in the night sky, dimly lighting the room Applejack called hers. AJ's eyes fluttered open, and for several minutes she simply lay there, enjoying the cool night air. After several deep breaths she began to move, stretching her hooves this way and that to prepare for the day at hoof. "Gosh, dar'nit!" She spoke as her first hoof made contact with the firm wooden floor. "Why can ah never fall back t' sleep in the mornin'." Tiredly she made her way onto all four hooves, and slowly trotted across the room to a large mirror. Applejack's favorite Stetson hat rested on the desk beside it. The golden-maned pony moved sluggishly, still trying to shrug off sleeps grasp on her. With emerald eyes, only half open, AJ stared into the mirror before her. An old brush in hoof, she focused on brushing the knots out of her mane. "Well, Ah s'pose Ah might as well make the most of it. Ah'll complete today's chores early, and spend some time with my friends." Thinking for a moment, AJ recalled that the last time she had spent time with the other bearers of the elements of harmony had been almost two weeks ago. Work on the orchard had been getting busy lately. As she adorned herself with the large Stetson that had, in a way, become part of who she was. Applejack stepped closer to the window of her second story room. The cool night breeze continued to flow in through the open space and over her body. She allowed the breeze to engulf her, feeling relaxed as it slipped between the pony's mane. Staring out over the orchard, the trees swaying softly, small glowing bugs playing in the long grass. Each of the trees before her was precious to Applejack. Each one had a name, a history with her. One tree, however, stood out among the rest. It stood proud in the distance, embedded into a large hill. While the other trees in the orchard were planted side by side this tree was separated from the rest. It was Applejack's favorite tree, and she knew that one day she would sit under it with the love of her life. 'Rainbow Dash...' Applejack stumbled backwards, stunned by the sudden thought. Rainbow Dash? Of anypony who AJ could have thought of at that moment, why Rainbow Dash! No, she and Rainbow were just friends, right? If anything they were rivals of sort. And yet... Something about the other filly... A sudden bright light from the window drew the golden-maned filly away from the thought, and she quickly rushed back to the window, her emerald eyes darting towards the sky. There! A streak across the sky was forming. A beautiful rainbow stretched through the night, fading only a moment after it appeared. Creating the rainbow was a Pegasus, gliding freely through the stars. 'Rainbow?' Applejack's mind was racing. 'But she never gets up so early! What could she be doing here?' Before the thoughts could even organize themselves in AJ's mind the rainbow drew near, pulling to a halt only meters from the bedroom windowsill. There she was, a beautiful Cyan Pegasus with deep, red eyes. Her body was thin, but muscled, honed from years of training. Her powerful wings cut through the air, back and forth, holding the Pegasus in the air. For a moment their eyes met, but immediately Rainbow Dash tore her eyes away towards the ground. Sweat beaded on her beautiful rainbow mane, her lungs raising and falling in heavy breaths. "Applejack." Rainbow spoke nervously. "Rainbow, what are ya doin here?" A slight blush was beginning to cross Applejack's cheeks, hidden in the night's darkness. "It's a might early for trainin', don't ya think?" Suddenly Applejack noticed that something was off about her friend. Twin saddlebags were worn by the cyan Pegasus; as If preparing for a long journey; and her movements were erratic. She did not display her usual flamboyant personality, boasting about her amazing talents. Instead she was strangely quiet, awkwardly avoiding eye contact. There was a moment of silence whilst neither of the friends spoke. Rainbows mind was racing, her face showing that she was trying to choose her words carefully. Taking a deep breath in she finally spoke. "Applejack, listen I-" Rainbow's eyes lifted to meet her friends, and immediately the Pegasus's face reddened. She began to stutter, obviously making an effort to keep eye contact. "I th-think that I- Uh, w-well, maybe, I-" "Rainbow, hold your horses darlin'!" Applejack cut her off. "Just calm down, hun, and tell me what's eatin' ya?" "I love you!" Silence. And suddenly Rainbow Dash was gone, leaving a rainbow trail in her wake.