//------------------------------//
// Together Again 
// Story: Applejack Through the Ages 
// by Paradise Oasis 
//------------------------------//

Together Again

"Applejack, Darling! Could you please hold it still?!?" Rainbow Dash complained, trying to get the red mare's measurements as she worked. "I know putting that picnic basket together is important, but so is getting your dress sewed in time for the annual Ponyville town picnic!" 

"Sorry Dashie, but I gotta get these lunches put together before tomorrow!"  AJ replied apologetically, cutting several sandwiches and placing them in picnic baskets. "I already promised that I'd help Razaroo put those banners up in the park before the party tomorrow!"

The frustrated mare of fashion was at her wit's end in dealing with her busybody friend, who just couldn't seem to stand still long enough for a decent dress fitting. It had been several days since AJ had taken their friend Fluttershy to see the wisest pony in the land, and she had not taken a moment to rest, except for eating and sleeping, since then. 

"Darling, you've been working day and night on those picnic baskets, without a moment of friends or fun, and that's not healthy for a Ponyville pony!" The blue mare replied in a worried tone, putting her tape measure down. "Why don't we go out to the beach or something, maybe you could build a sandcastle, or go swimming!"

"Oh, I'd love to, but I've got to out a picnic lunch together for each of the four hundred earth ponies who in this town," The red mare sighed, folding several red checked napkins and placing them neatly beside each sandwich. "And that's not even counting how many unicorns are going to be visiting from Unicornia, or Pegasus from Butterfly Island!"

"Oh, it will be nice to see some of the unicorns again, Darling! They are always so much fun to talk to!" Rainbow Dash replied, already changing the subject. "Especially Rarity, although that little filly can often be quite a handful!" 

"Rarity? You mean she's only a little filly?" Applejack asked, surprised that her old friend's counterpart would be so young compared to the others.  "I mean, from the way the others talked, she didn't seen to only be a filly."

"Oh, I quite understand, darling! Rarity has done a lot of growing up during the course of our adventures, I will admit." Rainbow replied with a laugh. "But I assure you darling, she is still a little filly with a lot to learn!"

"Wow, you really think I'm grown up?" A childish voice suddenly called out, seeming to come from everywhere in the room at once. "Golly, it's really nice of you say that, Rainbow Dash!"

"What the hay?!?" Applejack looked around the room, trying to locate the source of the voice. "Is that your Rarity? Where the heck is she?"

"I'm over here!" A little pink unicorn filly with a yellow mane and heart cutie mark  exclaimed, trotting out from under the table. "And you must be Applejack, nice to meet ya!"

"H-hello..." AJ replied, looking at the little pony uncertainly. She had experienced many differences with the various descendants of her friends living in Ponyville, but this filly... already she could tell she had a rambunctious, playful look in her eye. And from the fact she had introduced herself by playing hide and go seek, the red mare could tell this Rarity was farrr different than her old dressmaking friend. 

"Rarity, darling! So good to see you!" Rainbow Dash smiled. "I didn't know you had arrived from Unicornia!"

"Yeah, Cheerilee and Lily Lightly brought me in this afternoon!" The little filly giggled. "I wanted to meet the town's new Picnic maker, and maybe play a game of hide-and seek with her!" 

"Oh my, that sounds like that would be so much fun! But, I've really got to work on these lunches!" Applejack replied sadly, filling another picnic basket. "But maybe we can play at the picnic tomorrow?"

"Oh, that'd be awesome!" Rarity squealed with glee. "Oh, could I ask Twilight Twinkle to join us? I'm sure Twi would just love to play some hide and seek, and run in the sack races with us!"

"But of course, Darling!" Rainbow smiled. "Now, you'd better get back to Cheerilee! You know how she tends to worry way to much about the little things, right darling?"

As the little filly happily trotted out the door, the wheels in Applejack's head were already turning. There was a Twilight, to go with the Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity she had already met. Visions of happier times, in a happier Ponyville, flashed through AJ's mind. The red picnic mare had believed that her life, with her old friends, was behind her forever. But, if there were all these familiar ponies around everywhere, then maybe there was hope.

Oh, there was the little issue of these mares all being different than their ancestors, Applejack realized. Pinkie was more level headed and practical, and Fluttershy had... issues. But all ponies changed over time, didn't they? Maybe, she could convince Rainbow Dash to be more of a Tomboy, and this Rarity was young enough, that she might actually be guided into being the girly mare her trend-setting ancestor was.

Why should I put the past behind me, after all? She thought to herself. Why, I actually might be able to build a new life for myself right here in Ponyville!

"Rainbow Dash, darling..." Applejack asked, batting her eyelids as she packed the last of the picnic baskets. "But do you think that after the party, we could arrange for a little sleepover. You know.. just you, me, Rarity, Flutters,  Pinkie, and this Twilight?"

"Well, darling, I suppose we could do that." Dashie replied uncertainly. "But I do think that might be a little awkward for Twilight..."

"Really? That's great!" Applejack replied excitedly, running out the door with her first stack of picnic baskets. "! It'll be sooo much fun, just us girls! We'll do each others manes, telling ghost stories,  playing truth or dare and dress up!"

"But Applejack, darling, you don't understand." The blue earth mare called after her. "Twilight isn't-"

"Oh don't worry, Rainbow! I know she doesn't know me yet, but I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" AJ called back, as she closed the door behind her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get these baskets to Pinkie's, bye!"

"Oh dear..." The fashioneista said to herself nervously. "I really don't know how Twilight Twinkle's going to take this..."