Two years after her and Rainbow Dash had adopted Scootaloo, and it was a day that Applejack didn't have as much work today. She had finished all her farmwork for the day and was laying down in her field with her stetson pulled down over her eyes reflecting over things just because she didn't have as much to do.
Adopting Scootaloo had always seemed like an odd event in her and Rainbow Dashs' relationship. For some reason, it felt a little selfish to her, adopting a child for the main reason of just getting rid of her love's nightmares. While it had worked, and for what reason Applejack could still not figure out exactly, sure the therapist had explained it in a way that made sense at the time, but reflecting on it it seemed odd. You see your parents killed in front of you, it gives you nightmares, solution? Adopt a kid. How it worked, Applejack had no idea, but she wasn't complaining. Rainbow Dash's nightmares had definitely stopped, and she didnt' want to take that back.
She never thought of the action as a mistake though, she loved Scootaloo as her daughter, and not once wanted to take back that moment. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash could see how happy they had made that little filly, mostly Rainbow Dash just because of the admiration Scootaloo had for her, but Applejack had no problem with that. Scootaloo didn't hate her or anything, everypony was more of a "momma's" filly/colt or...well...in this case that didn't really make sense, but the meaning still applies. Scootaloo had a connection with Rainbow Dash that she didn't have with Applejack, she saw no problem with that however.
The thing that got to her whenever she thought about it however, was that her and Rainbow still had not had any big bumps. It was just eerily uncanny, that just didn't happen in a couple, it was literally like they were made for eachover in every way, shape, and form. Not like those stupid romance novels that Rarity always went on about though, the ones that made put love up on a pedestal. Those stories made such an ideal form of "love," and it was all the same thing, it made everything seem so superficial and unreachable. But Applejack and Rainbow Dash were living proof of how perfect it could actually get, it was all real, and Applejack couldn't ask for anything more.
But when was something going to happen to make it seem less so? She knew it had to, the world isn't a perfect place, things happen that you don't like...and you have to just push through it to get to the end where things were happy. Three years with the love of her life and not a problem yet, not that Applejack was complaining, but she wasn't naive and she was always prepared in case anything happened. Thinking about it though, Applejack had to admit she was being a little bit paranoid about the whole thing.
While she was lying down in her field, Applejack heard hoofsteps coming close to her, so she pulled up her hat and looked towards the noise. It was Twilight Sparkle walking towards her with a thoughtful look on her face, "Well howdy Twilight, is somethin' the matter?" Twilight looked blinked and looked at Applejack, she appeared to not have noticed her and was just on the way to Applejack's house.
Twilight smiled and shook her head, "No nothing's wrong Applejack, I just wanted to talk to you and Rainbow Dash about something. Nothing bad happened, just need to ask you two something."
Applejack nodded and stood up, "Alrighty then, what's up?"
"Well I have to tell Rainbow Dash too. We could just go inside and I could tell both of you at the same time."
Applejack laughed, "Oh yeah, duh. Well come on lets go then."
They began the trek down to Applejack's house where they found Rainbow Dash, wouldn't you know it, napping on the couch. Applejack rolled her eyes and shook the sleeping mare, "Wake up Rainbow, Twilight is here ta talk to us." Rainbow groaned and looked at the clock.
"Come on, you can't even let me rest for twenty minutes, can you? A mare needs her beauty sleep you know."
Applejack let out a short laugh, "Well you get plenty of it already, and it don't seem ta be doin' ya any good." She winked at Rainbow Dash and got a glare in response. "Alright Twilight, what is that ya wanted now?"
Twilight sat down where she stood and cleared her throat, "Well Princess Celestia vistited me and said that she wanted me to go on a little quest-"
"I'm in!" Rainbow Dash was floating in the air with her hoof placed over her forehead in a salute, obviously not tired anymore. Applejack just sighed and shook her head, as Twilight chuckled.
"I had a feeling it was going to be that easy to get you to come along Rainbow."
Again Applejack shook her head, "Well Ah'm goin' ta need a bit more detail before Ah agree to anything."
Twilight continued, "Well I was going to tell the whole story anyway. Princess Celestia said that during all our other little 'quests' she had been watching over us, just in case it didn't look like it was going to turn out well, she was going to step in and save us. The reason she brought this 'quest' directly up to me this time is that she won't be watching over us this time, she said that it will be dangerous, she doesn't know how long it would take—it could be a week, it could be up to a month. She also didn't want to tell me exactly what it was about, all I know is where to go, that it will be dangerous, it could take a long time, and it will be us on our own...that is if you decide you want to join me.
"What she said she's trying to do with this is to test me, you remember how I'm still technically her pupil? Well, in her way, this can be my graduation. She told me that I don't have to accept it, especially since she hasn't told me much information, but I wanted to. I don't have to bring anypony with me, but I'd like to. I've talked to both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, Fluttershy absolutely refused since the only detail she got out of it was 'dangerous'. Pinkie Pie said she had responsibilities at Sugarcube Corner that she couldn't leave for up to a month potentially. I haven't talked to Rarity yet, however."
When Twilight finished and looked at the two mares, Applejack had a thoughtful look on her face, while Rainbow Dash just had a grin. Applejack spoke up after a few moments of thinking, "So the only information that ya get is it's dangerous, and it could take a while. And ya agreed? Who in their right mind would accept that?"
"Ahem." Rainbow Dash tapped Applejack's shoulder, grin still intact, "This sounds awesome! I'm soo in Twi!"
Applejack mumbled loud enough for Rainbow Dash to hear her, "What am Ah goin' ta do with ya Rainbow."
Rainbow stuck out her tongue out at her, "You know you love me AJ, but she is right Twi. Why did you accept? I couldn't really see you jumping into something like that without any information before hand."
Twilight gave a small smile, "I just felt like I have a duty to the Princess as her pupil. She said she needed help and she asked me, I wanted to help. Plus the thought of this being my chance to graduate is exciting! I don't even really know what that will mean after, since I didn't go to any official school...it was all under the Princess herself. I'd like to know what's going to happen after."
Applejack again had a thoughtful look on her face, "So ya want Rainbow and Ah ta go with ya on this little 'quest' of yours. Ah gotta admit, it'd be nice ta go back to the old days where we used to do that all the time. We've made sure that Scootaloo knows how to take part in , and Big Mac is still here to take care of most if it, since it's off-season it shouldn't be too bad.
"Ah think Ah'd like to go with ya, especially since Rainbow's goin' with, Ah'd like ta be with her. However Ah'd rather Rarity not come with ta be honest."
Twilight blinked in surprise, "What? Why? I thought you guys didn't hate each other anymore? That slumber party, remember?"
Applejack raised an eyebrow at Twilight as if she was missing something, "Twilight—we've hated each other for three years now. How do ya not notice when one of yer friends never hangs out with two others anymore, and they try ta avoid each other?"
Twilight's jaw dropped open in surprise, "But...but...but we're a group! We're...we're all the Elements of Harmony, we have to be friends! It's like...an unwritten code or something! Wait are you saying she...isn't friends...with either of you two?"
Rainbow scoffed, "That snobby pony has an issue with Fillyfoolers, she still hasn't gotten over it since me and Applejack started dating. So she's not one of our friends anymore. And the Elements of Harmony don't say we have to be friends with all the others, that's basically your job. All I do is be loyal...to my friends, and a friend isn't somepony who doesn't like you for who you are."
Twilight was flabbergasted, "I...I don't even know what to say. I guess I just never noticed, I'm sorry. I can't just not ask her to go with though, that'd be rude. I'm still friends with her...even if she doesn't accept you two."
Applejack patted Twilight's shoulder, with a smile on her face, "That's fine, just tell her that we're goin' and Ah guarantee she won't want ta come with."
"But that's rude! That's like trying to get her to not go!"
"No it's not, it's tellin' her the truth, and lettin' her make up her mind."
Twilight looked downcast, she wasn't expecting news like that dropped on her at all. True technically it was nothing new, it was actually quite a long time since this apparent loss of friendship occured, but it was new to her.
"I guess I can do that, so that means you two are definitely going though? The more of us I could get to go, the better. Even though it sounds like it might just be us three."
"Aww don't feel bad Sugarcube, we haven't talked to each other in three years. We've gotten over it, it ain't a big deal. Just ask her if she wants to come, tell her we are, and let her decide. If she wants ta tag along, then Ah'll tolerate her for ya. But Ah doubt she's gonna join in."
Rainbow Dash grinned again and got in her pose she always made when trying to show off, wings straight out in the air, forehoofs on her hips, "Yeah! Besides, if all there is is danger, you don't even need anypony except me and Applejack. We could take care of anything there in ten seconds flat, well I could. With you two it might go down to six seconds, but that's on a good day. Plus it doesn't sound like something that the Elements of Harmony would be needed for, or else Princess Celestia would have told you all of us needed to go with you."
Twilight still had a glum look on her face, she didn't realize half her best friends hated each other, "I guess I'll go talk to Rarity now girls, thanks for agreeing to go with me. It is a little important to me, I was planning on leaving tomorrow, so you might want to get things ready. You won't have to pack anything unless you really need to, I have my magic. Which could easily outdo you sometimes Rainbow, you'd be surprised." She gave a wink to the surprised look on Rainbow's while Applejack burst out laughing, seeing Twilight outboast Rainbow Dash was definitely a sight to see.
Twilight walked out of the house to head on over to Rarity's, while Rainbow dash stared after with her mouth slightly open. She looked over to Applejack who was still guffawing loudly, she gave an embarrassed laugh, "You know, I'm actually a little bit proud of her now. That impressed me, never thought she'd say something like that.
"She didn't really give us much time to prepare did she? Guess we better go tell Scootaloo and Big Mac that we're leaving tomorrow...for a month possibly, huh?"
Applejack got her laughing under control and wiped a tear from her eye before responding, "Yeah Ah guess so, tomorrow...a new adventure finally. It's been over three years since the last one, Ah can't wait ta be honest. Ah think Pinkie and Fluttershy are missin' out, especially Pinkie Pie. I would'a thought that she'd want ta come along for sure."
"I guess not, just us three then...well...maybe Rarity, but I doubt it."
"Try not ta be too hard on her Rainbow Dash, it's still a possibility, and she is still friends with Twilight. We have ta respect that, even if she doesn't respect us." The last part she mumbled, but Rainbow Dash caught it and gave her a grin.
When they told Scootaloo that they would be leaving tomorrow, and it could be for up to a month, she got mixed emotions. On one hoof she was proud that they were leaving the farm under care of both her and Big Mac, and on the other hoof, she knew she was going to miss her parents. Applejack and Rainbow Dash decided to leave out the part about the quest being dangerous when telling Scootaloo.
Big Mac came across as cautious, he trusted the two, but he didn't really like the sound of going off somewhere that they didn't even know yet, doing something that they didn't have any idea about, for Celestia knows how long. Actually, not even Celestia knew how long they were going to be gone. Applejack convinced her brother to trust them, as they trusted Twilight. Eventually he just told them to, "Be careful," and that was that.
As they went to bed that night, the excitement died down a little bit, and Applejack thought about what she was getting into...but that was the problem, she had no idea what it was. She looked over at Rainbow Dash as they were laying in bed, and she was laying asleep peacefully. She thought about how Rainbow takes things head on as they come, and things seem to work out for her in the most part. So Applejack decided to just let her mind rest, and tried to get some sleep and whispered to herself, "Tomorrow is finally another adventure, it's been ages." She lay her head down on Rainbow's shoulder and sighed, allowing herself to fall asleep.