//------------------------------// // FaR Chapter Two // Story: Following a Rainbow // by malikvamp //------------------------------// FaR Chapter Two- Reunited The mid-day sun beat down powerfully against Sweet Apple Acres. The smell of luscious apples filled the air, wafting across the orchard and making its way down to Ponyville. Applejack trudged back and forth through the orchard; a heavy cart brimmed with thick red delicious apples weighing down on her back. Already the earth pony was nearing the end of today's work, surprisingly early. As she slowly made her way towards the Apple family barn, AJ's mind swam with strange thoughts of what had happened earlier that morning. All day long she had managed to distract herself, focusing solely on her work, but now that work was over and her mind had only one place to go. 'Rainbow Dash.' What had happened earlier that morning Applejack still wasn't quite sure. Maybe it had all been a dream, a phantom image created by the pony's sleep deprived imagination? Maybe it was a practical joke pulled by Rainbow, although it would be quite a strange prank indeed. Maybe, though, and this idea Applejack found the most easy to believe, the earth pony had 'simply heard Rainbow Dash wrong.' "Ah mean, really, there's a ton of things that Rainbow coulda said!" Applejack spoke to herself as she walked, although somewhere in the back of her heart she hoped that she'd heard her friend correctly. "She coulda said somethin' like 'I like stew,' or um... 'Good morning to you'" "Well good morning to you too!" The sudden, high-pitched voice startled Applejack, causing her to loose balance and trip. Before she even saw where the noise came from AJ could tell the speaker by the voice, which beamed with excitement. Pinkamina Diane Pie, A.K.A. Pinkie Pie. Slowly Applejack pushed herself back to her hooves, looking around left and right in an attempt to spot the sneaky pink pony. Nothing. All around her Applejack saw only trees, grass, and the occasional cloud in the sky. 'Wait, clouds?' Applejack pondered to herself, momentarily forgetting about her well hidden friend. 'But, the clouds above the orchard are Rainbow's responsibility.' "Giving up already?" Again the orange pony, caught off guard, fell. Quickly this time she rose to her hooves, once again searching frantically for even a small speckle of pink. "Come on now, ya Vermont, where are ya hidin'.?" "Behind you, silly!" Applejack spun her head around and saw nothing but a cart full of apples. "Pinkie?" Suddenly the apples erupted into the air, firing away from the cart that held them, revealing a very pink pony, and a loud "BOO!" Once again Applejack found herself startled, laying across the ground. AJ wasn't mad. To be honest, the orange filly was impressed. "How in tarnation did you get under all them apples?" Apple jack spoke with a hint of bewilderment in her voice, even though she attempted to hide the feeling. "That doesn't matter right now!" Pinkie jumped out of the cart and made her way around Applejack, allowing the golden-haired friend to straighten her neck whilst they spoke. "This is much, much more important Applejack! It's, like, possibly one of the most important things to happen this year! For a moment AJ pondered things that she could do to escape Pinkie Pie's soon to come barrage of words, but quickly decided that there was no hope of escape. Once Pinkie started talking there was no shutting her up, especially when it came to things that Pinkie found important. Judging by the way the pink pony jumped up and down in spot, and that her mane was even more vivid than usual, Applejack guessed that this was, indeed, important. "Fine then Pinkie, get on with it." Applejack was starting to get excited herself. It was hard not to be happy when Pinkie Pie was around. "What is it y'all gotta tell me so badly?" "Well..." Pinkie paused for dramatic effect. "As you may know we have a mutual friend who is faster than any other pony in Ponyville, and who happens to love pulling pranks!" 'Rainbow Dash?' "You could even say that she's the most loyal pony around!" 'Yup, Rainbow Dash!' Applejack's cheeks reddened slightly at the thought of the Pegasus. "Yeah, what about er'?" "Well, don't tell her this, but we're going to throw her a party! Now I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong, it is not her birthday or nothin! So why would I throw a party just for her if it's not her birthday? Well, if you ever stopped by Pony in the last week you might have known!" Pinkie drew a big breath in, about to continue when AJ cut her off with a quick, "Wait! What do you mean I would 'a known? What happened, did she get accepted into the Wonder Bolts or somethin'?" There was a pause for a moment where neither of the friends spoke, uncannily quite for having Pinkie Pie around. The atmosphere seemed to change suddenly, the happy vibe diminishing around the Pink pony. Just as Pinkie finally spoke, she did so avoiding eye contact with AJ. "No, not quite. Ya see, Rainbow Dash hasn't exactly been her usual rainbow dashing self lately!" Applejack's heart sank. "She's been really distant, really down lookin' lately, but if we ever asked her what was going on she'd just divert the question, or ask if anypony had seen you lately." "Me?" Now Applejack really was puzzled. Why her? Why had Rainbow been asking about her? "Did she ever say why she was looking for me?" "Well, no, but we've all been looking for you!" Pinkie stated quickly, a tear forming in her left eye. Pinkie stepped closer, and slowly wrapped her hooves around Applejack. AJ didn't know how to respond. Why were they looking for her? "You haven't contacted us in almost two months! We've missed you, Applejack." Two months. Had it really been that long? A sudden feeling passed through Applejack. Standing there in the embrace of Pinkie Pie she realized just how much she missed the others. Day after day she had been so busy with the orchard that she had hardly even noticed. All the sudden AJ longed to be astounded by Twilight's magic, and taken back by the beauty of Rarity's dresses, and personality. She wanted to hear Fluttershy's quiet, yet strong voice lighten up a room, and laugh out loud as Pinkie did something ridiculous. More than anything else, though, she wanted to run through the trees with Rainbow Dash by her side. "Pinkie?" Applejack felt several tears drop into her mane, and stifled breathing from the pony in their embrace. "Ah have the rest of the day off. If ya want Ah could spend it with you, and the others?" The grip suddenly tightened, forcing the air out of Applejack's lungs, but just as quickly loosened again. Pinkie continued crying, even harder now. "Aw, c'mon, darlin'," Applejack rubbed pinkie's back, and soon the pink pony released her embrace. She took several steps away, then sat, tears still swelling in her pink eyes. AJ spoke again. "Now what are you still cryin for? "Oh Applejack. Haven't you ever heard that tears are simply a way of speaking words that can't be spoken?" Pinkie smiled a smile wider and happier than any smile Applejack had ever seen. "And there are no words, none, that could ever describe the feeling of finding a long lost best friend." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pinkie was right. The moment Applejack walked into Twilight's library home and saw her friends waiting for her she could not hold back her tears. She had spent two months away from them, and nothing had changed. When Applejack walked in Twilight was sitting in a pile of books, several different volumes floating open in the air before her. Rarity was halfway through sewing a new dress, using a mannequin at the back of the room for fitting. Fluttershy had herself huddled in the corner, feeding and caring for the various animals that lived in the walls of the library tree. Applejack had never seen Twilight drop a book so carelessly, or Rarity stop sewing halfway through a stitch, or Fluttershy allow anything distract her from the caring of animals for that matter. Before Twilight's book had even hit the floor all three of the ponies were closing the distance to Applejack, and so she thoughtlessly moved forward to meet them. Never had Applejack been so happy then in that moment, in a tight embrace between four of her best friends. The room was filled with happiness, and a love that only best friends could have. "We've missed you so much, Applejack!" Twilight sparkle spoke as the group hug began to let loose. "I'm so overjoyed to see you, I just- I don't know what to say!" "Applejack, Darling, you look amazing!" Rarity spoke now; her accent could never be forgotten. "All that time working the orchard has done well for you! You've grown so beautiful!" That was when Applejack first started noticing that things had changed, they'd all grown up. Each of her friends had a new maturity about them, and had all grown into mature mares. It's amazing how fast they all grew up. "Applejack, thank you for coming back!" Fluttershy spoke quietly, but with a new found strength that Applejack had never heard before. "I've missed you so very much!" Slowly things began to settle, and before long all five of the ponies sat in a circle on the wooden floor of the library. Books lined every wall, as they always had, but Twilight's collection had certainly grown! A clean scent of honey filled the air, though AJ wasn't quite sure why. Applejack couldn't help but notice the lack of a certain cyan Pegasus, but didn't mention anything about it. "So," Applejack started as they all finally got settled. "Tell me what's been happening, Ah've obviously missed quite a lot!" "You certainly have!" Twilight chimed in, using her magic to pull a scroll from her room upstairs. It floated down in front of the purple coated unicorn and un-rolled itself. A very proud look crossed Twilight's face, and she emanated happiness. "This here scroll marks the completion of my training. I'm going back to Canterlot, to become the princess's personal assistant!" "That's amazin', Twilight! This is, truly, ah dream come true!" Applejack felt her heart warm at the accomplishment of her friend. When Applejack first met Twilight Sparkle the unicorn was, well, lonely. She hid behind her studies, and her duties to the princess, but it was clear that more than anything she needed friends. In a way it was because of Twilight that Applejack had met most of her now closest friends! That is, all except for Rainbow Dash. AJ had met the rainbowed wonder years earlier. On a crisp Autumn morning like no other. "What about you, Rarity?" "I've finally done it, Applejack dear! I've landed the eyes of a famous designer in Canterlot!" Rarity spoke with a sparkle in her eye, and AJ knew that nothing could make the mare happier. "I'll be departing with Twilight soon, and then I shoot for the stars! One day I'll be the top designer in all of Equestria!" Applejack believed every world of it. If anypony was going to make it to the top, it would be Rarity. "You're leavin' too, huh?" "Indeed I am! Even Fluttershy will be leaving Ponyville soon!" "Really?" Applejack turned her attention to her friend with a pink mane, beautifully flowing as usual. "Now, this is a surprise! Ah thought you'd be livin' in that cottage o' yours forever, takin' care of your animals and the like!" Fluttershy replied quicker than Applejack would have expected, and although still quiet she spoke with an air of confidence. "Yes, it's true! I'll be heading into the Ever-free forest soon; I've decided that although it may be scary in the forest, the animals within need my love and care more than anything else right now! I hope to make a new home, next to Zecora's, and together we plan on fixing up the forest, and brining a whole new light to the place! Applejack was truly taken back. Hearing her timid, socially-awkward friend speak with such enthusiasm and strength was almost... Relieving? Yes, relieving. Fluttershy had grown in some ways more than the others. She had finally truly found herself. "Well, that's as amazing as a zap apple harvest!" Suddenly Pinkie jumped from her seat, drawing all eyes to her. "My turn! My turn! I bet you'll neeeeeever guess what I've been up to!" In all honesty, Applejack did know, but she didn't say it. "Oh, what in Tarantinon could that be? Ah just have nooo idea!" "I'm going to keep throwing parties of course!" Pinkie was different from the other ponies. While everypony else had spent the last two months growing into who they were meant to be, Pinkie always had been exactly what she wanted! Pinkie never changed, and she was perfect the way she was. "Well then, Ah'm sure they'll be the best darn tootenest parties in all of Equestria!" Applejack meant exactly what she said. Pinkie Pie had a way of bringing smiles and laughter to a room like nopony else. "However, I've a question for y'all that's been eatin' at me all afternoon!" "Certainly, darling!" Rarity smiled as she rose from her spot on the floor, shifting to become more comfortable. "What ever would you like to know?" Applejack's cheek flushed lightly at the prospect of her question. "Well, Ah was just wonerin', Y'know, what Rainbow Dash has been up to lately!" More than any of her other friends, Applejack missed the rainbow Pegasus the most. Long before Applejack even knew the names of any pony else in the room, she had been friends with Rainbow for years. It all started on a crisp autumn morning, so many years ago now... It was the day that a rainbow fell from the sky, crashing into a hard working orange earth-pony.