Rainbow flew up the flight of stairs (because why else would they be called that?) and skidded to a stop at the door. She knocked quickly and waited. Then she knocked again. She waited. Then she knocked again. This was important!
The door opened. The stallion looked down his nose at her, which was rather impressive as she was currently hovering in the air. His eyes were narrowed, but they narrowed even further when he saw her. “I heard you the first time,” he said coldly.
“Yeah, sorry about that, but it's kindof important.”
“You are miss Rainbow Dash, correct?”
Rainbow dropped to the ground. “Yeah, how'd you know?”
“I've… heard of you.”
“Only good things, though, right?” Rainbow said hopefully.
The stallion sniffed. “Hardly.” He then shut the door on Rainbow's face.
Rainbow stood dumbstruck for a moment, and then began pounding on the door again. “Hey, you've gotta talk to me!”
“I 'gotta' do no such thing,” came the snarky reply. “Now go away, or I shall call for the guard.”
Rainbow growled and stuck her face up against the door. “Yeah, well, they'll have to take you away, too, because my hoof will be so far up your-”
Mosely Orange paused as the sound of scuffles and no less than four other female voices came, scolding and hissing at Rainbow.
A few moments later, another knock came, and a voice with a gentle accent spoke. “What Rainbow meant to say was, we've come hoping you could tell us something if Applejack's whereabouts. We're worried about her.”
“'We'?” Mosely asked flatly.
“All of us,” the voice emphasized.
Curiosity overcame suspicion, and he opened the door. Five ponies stood there now, and Rainbow had been pushed to the back, looking suitably apologetic.
The white unicorn who had spoken continued. “We're worried she may do something drastic,” she admitted. “You haven't seen her recently, have you?”
He pursed his lips and glanced at Rainbow before responding. “Yes, Applejack came here; but I don't feel I-”
“She went to the docks,” Mrs. Orange said, appearing behind her husband.
Mosely looked back. “Darling,” he started, chiding.
“Mare's intuition,” she said primly. “I can see that most of these ponies have Applejack's happiness at heart.”
Rainbow held up her hooves. “I didn't know they were from her, ok?” she defended herself.
“I was referring to her,” she said flatly, pointing a hoof towards Pinkie Pie. Pinkie was currently making faces into the spoon collection hanging on the wall and giggling uncontrollably at her distorted reflections.
Mosely blinked. “How did she get inside our house?” he asked.
* * *
The docks were noisy and busy. It wasn't long before they were able to determine that she had not found work there, which left a much less comfortable option.
“You think she bought a ticket to someplace?” Rainbow asked. “Where would she go?”
“I don't know,” Twilight admitted. “But we won't let that stop us. We've got to talk to every ticket salespony. Pictures ready?”
Each held up their image of Applejack and nodded. Pinkie snapped to a salute.
“Then let's get looking!” Twilight said. She started with the first window. “Excuse me, have you seen this pony?”
The mare looked and nodded. “Yeah. I saw her here yesterday.”
Twilight nodded and began to walk. “Right, sorry to bother-” She skidded to a stop. “Wait. What?”
Her friends quickly gathered. Had it really been that easy?
“Saw her yesterday,” the mare repeated. “She was talking to Luna.”
“As in, Princess Luna?” Twilight asked, surprised.
The ticketpony nodded. “She's the one. You don't see her every day,” she said. “Stopped her from buying a ticket, even. She was going to go to Tar Sash.”
Rainbow squinted at the map. “But that’s like, forever away,” she protested.
The ticketpony shrugged. “It sounded like she was trying to run away from something.”
Everypony glanced over at Rainbow Dash before quickly looking away. Rainbow glared down at nothing in particular.
“So what’s the plan now?” Rarity asked as they walked away.
“Now, we go to Canterlot,” Twilight said. “We know she stayed here, but Manehattan is just too big; if we try to look for Applejack here, we’ll never find anything. Luna has to know something. The next train leaves at eight-thirty in the morning. Fluttershy, Rarity, you two go check and see if Applejack went back to the Oranges. The rest of us will find some place to sleep tonight and tomorrow we'll get there as quickly as we can.”
“I hope she's doing all right,” Rarity said, casting a glance up at the darkening sky. “I hope she's not shivering in the cold, all wet and alone…”
* * *
Applejack shivered in the dark alley. She'd been too embarrassed to have asked for money and then return, so she stubbornly remained in the alleyway leaning against the wall. She pulled the newspaper tighter, slid her hat over her eyes, and tried to get some sleep.
Perhaps she did sleep; perhaps she didn't. The wind rustled some of the papers and trash, and Applejack's ears pricked up. She waited. That hadn't been just wind. Somepony was there. They came nearer, and Applejack waited.
She leaned forward, spun, and lashed out with her hind hooves, ready to tear this pony's head off.
There was the loud clang of ponyshoe on ponyshoe as the pony caught her hooves.
Applejack's eyes bugged out of her head. They'd caught one of her kicks? How? She looked behind her, and then her eyes widened even further.
"Peace, Applejack," Luna said with a smile, gently setting Applejack's hooves down. "I mean you no harm."
"Princess! I- I didn't mean..."
"It is fine," Luna said. "Is there a reason you've chosen this alleyway as your home?"
Applejack looked down. "Just felt embarrassed," she admitted quietly. "Couldn't leave, couldn't go back, figured I'd stay and clear my head a bit."
"Well, you are most welcome to come clear your head in Canterlot," Luna said.
Applejack paused. "Really?"
"Most certainly," Luna nodded.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "And that's not interfering?"
Luna straightened up and rested a hoof on her chest. "Wouldst thou accuse me of breaking mine own rules? Never! Dear Applejack, you and the rest of the Elements are Friends of the Crown, and as such are welcome to stay at the castle at any time as you so desire." She looked around at the dirty alleyway and lifted a hoof, as if afraid to leave it on the ground for too long. "And, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that you would so desire."
Applejack smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."
The two mares walked out through the night. A clearly drunk stallion approached, and leered at them. "Hey there. Ain't you two prime specimens of-"
"Scram!" Luna proclaimed, the force pushing him backwards.
The stallion stumbled and fell right on his tail before getting up and scrambling away.
Luna turned to Applejack. "Did I say that right?" she asked. "And do ponies still say that?" she asked.
Applejack cracked a smile. "Close enough."