FaR Chapter Six- Rainbow Returns
The room smelt strangely of that of a rainstorm. It was like the musky scent of a rainbow after a hard day's work, but Applejack knew that it must have been her imagination.
Braeburn's farm house was much like Applejack's own home. The home was not as large as Applejack's, seeing as it was only Braeburn who resided there, and because of this Applejack and Pinkie Pie had to share the single guest room. The room was large, and carried with it an empty sort of feeling.
Back at AJ's farmhouse the orange earth pony would leave the window open each night, allowing for a peaceful breeze to flow throughout the room. Here, in Appleoosa however, the nights were harsh and cold and Applejack had no choice to leave the window open. Life in Appleoosa was beginning to get to Applejack, after three days of searching the duo had found no trace of Rainbow Dash, nor the buffalo tribe.
The buffalo were a wondering tribe, never in the same place for long, and after three long days of searching all that Applejack had found were a few desert wolfs, uncountable cacti, and a heavy heart.
Applejack lay in her makeshift bed on the floor of the room, tonight being Pinkie's turn on the mane bed. The constant slamming of harsh winds against the room's outer wall was a reminder that, if Applejack could have ever forgotten, night in the desert was unforgiving. She lay, sleepless, her eyes wandering back and forth over the featureless ceiling.
'Ah wonder where Rainbow Dash is right now. Is she out there, in the desert night, freezing to death? Maybe she's in Appleoosa, sleeping warmly at an inn; perhaps traveling under protection of the great buffalo tribe?'
It was hopeless. No matter how hard she tried, Applejack could not drown out the sound of the wind, nor that of her thoughts .Just as she began to wonder what time it was, a new scent assaulted her nose. Apple pie?
Slowly the orange coated pony rose from her spot on the floor, turning her attention towards the door. There was no doubt about it; somewhere on the floor below was the sweet smell of apple pie. Inch by inch she crept closer to the slim opening in the door, a small stream of light pouring in from the hallway beyond. With a quiet screech the door opened, more light assaulting AJ's sore eyes.
Turning to ensure that Pinkie Pie still slept happily, dreaming about whatever the random things Pinkie dreamt of, Applejack sulked out of the room.
The hallway beyond was small, and still felt brand new. Compared to the old, creaky farm house of Sweet Apple Acres Braeburn's barn was in amazing condition. As Applejack slowly crept down the hallway towards the illuminated staircase the floorboards below her did not bend and creak as she had grown accustomed to. Instead she heard only the soft clops of her hooves on the wood, and as she neared the light the smell of fresh apple pie grew stronger.
'Who would be up at such an ungodly hour, preparing apple pie?' Applejack thought to herself, but already knew the answer. After all, the only other ponies in the farmhouse were Pinkie and Braeburn, and Pinkie was still asleep. 'Braeburn sure is up early, but Ah s'pose that livin' on his own must keep the stallion mighty busy with chores, an' all.'
Finally Applejack reached the bottom of the staircase, her eyes slowly having adjusted to the light. A single door led to the mane room of the farm house, as well as the kitchen.
"Braeburn, is that you?" Applejack spoke quietly as she approached the door, not wanting to startle her cousin.
"Ah, G'mornin' cous!" Braeburn's voice was cheerful, and alert. Taking it as an invitation, Applejack entered the kitchen. This room also resembled Applejack's own home, almost as if the two houses had been built from the same blueprints. Compared to her own kitchen, however, Braeburn's was slightly larger.
In the centre of the room were three long, white, rectangular tables lined up beside each other; atop each table was a tower of apple pies. The smell wafted from the sweet desserts, filling the room with their aroma. They smelled crisper then AJ's own pies.
"Uhm, cous, what's with all the pies?" Applejack was taken back by the towers of food, slowly she made her way around the tables until she could see Breaburn. "Y'all feeding' an army, or somethin'?"
Braeburn turned a large smile towards Applejack, laughing as he did so. On the counter before him several more pie crusts were being made. "Actually, yes! Somethin' like that! The buffalo will be arriving tomorrow to claim their pies, and preform their traditional run through the apple orchard!"
Applejack didn't know what to say. 'The buffalo... They're coming here.'
"I've got my hooves tied tryin' ta make all these pies, so Ah decided to start early this morning! at this rate, though, Ah'll finish with great time to spare!" Braeburn turned back to his work, sweat forming on his brow. The stallion looked worn out, tired, but worked diligently none the less.
"Would you like some help, finishin' up all the pies?"
"That's mighty kind o' ya, cous, but Ah'll be all right. Why don't you take a seat with your pal Pinkie, and tell me if these pies are tastin' proper?" Braeburn motioned a hoof to a nearby set of table and chairs, but his comment caught Applejack off guard.
"Pinkie? But she's upstairs sleeping." Applejack turned towards the door, and to her surprise saw pinkie sitting at the table already; a napkins tied around the pink filly's neck. "What in the- Pinkie when did you come down here!"
Pinkie turned to her friend, and spoke with a quick wink. "What are you talking about you silly filly, I've been down here all night!" Applejack froze in place. "Remember, you wanted to tuck in early, but I was all 'Oh golly I'm so hyper!' and you were all 'Pinkie, Ah'm gunna call it a night.' and then I was all 'Okie Dokie Lokie' and you went up to bedsy wedsy!"
She was right. Applejack could remember it clearly. But... If Pinkie Pie had stayed down here then who...
'Who was the mare sleeping in the bed next to mine!'
"Ah'll be right back!" Before the words even slipped from Applejack's mouth she was thought the doorway, darting swiftly up the staircase. Her hooves banged loudly as she ran through the hall, speed was of the essence. Bursting through the bedroom door, she froze at the sight before her.
The window had been thrown open, swift desert winds cutting through the room. Both of the beds had been up turned by the force, and blankets were dotted around the room. And there, sitting in the window, was a Pegasus. Silhouetted with the purple desert sands behind her, the Pegasus's raised wings were outstretched. Applejack didn't have to see the creature's rainbow mane, and cyan blue coat to know who it was.
"Rainbow!" The wind picked up, thrashing up under Rainbow Dash's wings and carrying her into the night. "No, Wait!"
Applejack ran to the window, harsh winds making a mess of the pony's golden-blonde mane. The sky was empty. Not a Pegasus to be seen. In one last attempt Applejack screamed her friends name into the night. A minute passed, maybe two. It felt like hours before another sound erupted from the entrance to the bedroom.
Pinkie busted through the door, quickly followed by Braeburn. Applejack turned to meet their gaze, her eyes bloodshot and checks tear-stained. Before she knew what was happening Applejack had been pulled away from the window, and into Pinkie's warm embrace. Behind them Braeburn fought against the night to close the window.
With the window closed and the room settled, Applejack gave up. She sulked into Pinkie's embrace, not making any effort to hold herself up. The scent of rain clouds was real. It was Rainbow Dash, sitting right beside Applejack the whole time. She had been there, and once again Applejack had let her friend get away. Applejack cried, and so did Pinkie Pie, and so they cried together.
Applejack had been escorted downstairs, never once leaving Pinkie's grasp, and never once stopping crying. They sat side by side at a small circular table, opposite them was Braeburn.
"Applejack, Ah think it's about time you told me what's going on. Who was that?" Braeburn's voice was soft demanding. Applejack couldn't speak. She sat, head against the table, hooves wrapped around her head. One of Pinkie's hooves rested around AJ's shoulders, holding Applejack close.
"That filly in the window." Pinkie was the one to answer Braeburn's question, in place of Applejack. "Her name is Rainbow Dash. You may remember her from the last time we were here. She was the Pegasus who was trying to help the buffalo."
Braeburn nodded, showing his understanding. The look in his eyes conveyed that he was still quite confused.
And so, Pinkie continued. "Rainbow Dash is the reason that Applejack is here. Almost a week ago now Rainbow Dash ran away from Ponyville, then Applejack and I came after her." Pinkie stalled for a moment, forming words in her mind. "Rainbow Dash and Applejack have been friends for as long as I can remember, and in a way... apple jack without Rainbow Dash isn't Applejack at all."
'What? What does Pinkie mean by that?'
"You see, Braeburn, Applejack is who she is because of Rainbow Dash." Pinkie continued speaking, her grip on Applejack tightening. "Rainbow Dash has become the reason Applejack pushes herself to be better, and in turn the same goes for Rainbow Dash. Their friendship has formed who they are, how they act and think."
Finally Pinkie stopped, giving Braeburn a moment to think. "Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds, Pinkamina? How can a single Pegasus alter who Applejack has become, who she will become? Ah understand that friends are important and all, but life changing?"
Pinkie smiled lightly at Braeburn's comment, shaking her head side to side. "Braeburn, friendship can do magical things to a pony, but you are right. However, Applejack doesn't just like Rainbow Dash, she 'loves' her!"
Pinkie Pie put so much emphasis on the word love that Applejack lurched up in her seat; the earth pony's face was several different shades of red, and her mind began racing uncontrollably.
'LOVE!' Sure, Applejack had thought it many times herself, but how did Pinkie know! And now Braeburn knew, too? Apple jack attempted to speak, but it only came out as word smeared together in mass confusion.
"Whoa there, cous, calm down!" Braeburn held his hooves up to calm his cousin. "Reactin' like that it's hard for me not to believe what Pikamina is saying!"
"But- I- And Rainbow, And- Gah!"
Braeburn did not laugh, or make fun of Applejack as she expected. Instead he gave her a warm smile. "Applejack, listen! Love... Love is like nothing else in all of Equestria!" Braeburn spoke with purpose and from the expression on his face AJ could tell that he spoke from personal experience.
"Love is like a spark in some pony's soul, and once that spark ignites it can never go out! I know this sounds strange, but Ah love my orchard. Ah'd go out of mah way to ensure that it's safe, and to nurture it every day! Ah know it's not quite like loving another pony, but the morals must be the same."
Applejack slowly calmed down, listening to her cousin speak. Suddenly Pinkie broke in, giving her own opinion.
"Love," Pinkie smiled with calmness uncommon in the party pony. "Love is that feeling that you get when you wake up, and the first thing you want to do is see some pony! To hold them, and more importantly to challenge them! To want to see them grow."
Applejack sat up, finding a new hope in her friend's words. Pinkie continued. "If you love her, Applejack..."
"Then you have to never, ever let her get away again." It was Braeburn who finished Pinkie's sentence.
"But Braeburn, Rainbow is a filly, and I'm a filly!" Applejack always worried over this simple fact.
"So?" Braeburn truly didn't understand where Applejack's worry came from. "I'm in love with a tree orchard!"
Applejack couldn't help but laugh at this, laughing loudly. Immediately she felt better, and she quickly thanked her friends. Laughing really did make the best of the worst situations.
"Well, Ah say we've had enough of this mope mumbo jumbo!" Braeburm smiled happily, placing a pie on the table between the three. The moment the pie hit the table it was gone, leaving only the tin container.
"What in the-"
"Good gosh that was tasty! Braeburn, that pie was outstandingly outstanding!"
Both Applejack and Braeburn stared at Pinkie Pie in awe. She had engulfed the whole pie in the the blink of an eye, leaving not a crumb behind. Applejack began laughing agai, this time her arms wrapping around her belly as she laughed out loud!
"Pinkie, you are so random!" Applejack patted her pink friend on the back.
"Well, Ah'll tell ya what! If y'all promise to help me bake more pies after you can have all the pies ya want!"
And with that Pinkie dove into the towers of pie.
"Now then, Applejack..." Braeburn stared across the table at her. "Tomorrow, when the buffalo arrive, we will ask them if they know anything about your friend."
"Thank you, Braeburn."
"No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm with ya till the end. We will find Rainbow Dash."
Outside the farmhouse the winds continued to rage, the purple sea of sand never ending. Somewhere in the desert Rainbow was alone.
And she was crying.