The Bonds That Unite Us
The Bonds That Unite Us
Two years. It'd been just a little over two full years since that day when Rainbow Dash had lost her parents and her family. But it was also two years since she'd come to get a new family. Two years since Applejack and her family had taken her in after the death of her parents at the weather factory in Cloudsdale. Two years since all that happened, and a full year since she'd come to live at Sweet Apple Acres exclusively, making the decision that she wanted to be with her new family rather than living far away in the clouds, isolated from everypony else. Sure it was a lot more work for her, managing her weather duties and assisting on the farm, but regardless of that she couldn't remember being happier.
Although being a pegasus working on a farm had its own problems that had to be dealt with...
"So how can you tell when it's time applebucking season?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked over the countless trees to the orchard.
...Such as knowing not only the routine but the meaning behind it.
"It ain' somethin' ya learn by lookin' at a calender RD, ah told ya tha' already. It's somethin' ya gotta learn ta sense by the crispness in the air, the feel of the breeze, the shininess o' the apple skins as the sun glistens off o' them as it raises," Applejack explained.
"So basically it's an earth pony thing," Rainbow Dash replied.
"Wiseapple," Applejack muttered and pushed Rainbow Dash's hat down over her eyes. "But more or less tha's it. O'course there's nothin' sayin' ya can' learn too so long as yer willin' ta recognize and pick up on the subtle hints nature's givin' ya."
Rainbow Dash just gave her a blank look as she pushed her stetson back into its proper position. For being a simple farm pony like she claimed, she talked in a more confusing manner than Twilight at times. At least when Twilight tried to give a breakdown explanation of how something complicated worked they'd all learned her efforts could be cut down to a simple phrase: unicorn magic is involved.
Applejack sighed. "It's nex' week RD, jus' like the year before," she explained.
"Make up your mind AJ, you just said applebucking season wasn't learned from the calendar," Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"Well the nex' week jus' so happens ta coincide with the start o' applebuckin' season," Applejack replied and "hmphed" in annoyance. Sometimes trying to teach Rainbow Dash anything farming related was impossible. But regardless she put her foreleg around the back of her neck and pulled her close. "Ya ain' too bright but ah still love ya."
"Heh, I love ya too," Rainbow Dash replied and readjusted her hat as it'd shifted on her. "Even if you are kinda bossy at times."
"Now don' go there sister. Ah wouldn' have ta be so bossy if ya wasn' so lazy all the time," Applejack told her.
"Now you don't go there, you know I work hard. I'm doing two jobs, managing the weather and helping out at Sweet Apple Acres. I'd like to see you try and do that," Rainbow Dash shot back.
"Aw calm down there RD ya know that ah'm only pulling yer leg, ah know how hard ya work an' all," Applejack reassured her and kissed her forehead. Rainbow Dash grumbled a moment, before shrugging and let it stop there. Even if it was a friendly argument she really didn't feel like having one right now. "Come on le's check the northern orchards. Gotta make sure las' night's rain storm didn' do any damage."
"Right behind ya," Rainbow Dash said as she followed. She didn't think there would be any damage, she'd been careful in organizing the cloud patches to try and keep such instances to a minimum, but storm clouds were funny like that and had a way of being unpredictable, there's no telling what took place last night.
And just like storm clouds the thought process could be a funny thing. As they walked in silence the thoughts of storm clouds followed a progression of other thoughts that eventually brought Rainbow Dash's mind to her parents. And that thought brought her to another topic of thought...
"Yer a might silent, somethin' up?" Applejack asked, snapping Rainbow Dash out of her thoughts.
"Oh, well kinda. I've got a question if you don't mind..."
"Not like ya ta be so hesitant. Wha's up RD?" she asked and stopped to face her, now curious.
"Well I've been part of the family for two years now, pitched in to help with applebucking and Zap Apple harvesting and even been through the family reunion and all, but still..." she paused. "AJ, what were your parents like?" she asked.
Applejack was taken aback by the question and her face showed that fact, something Rainbow Dash saw. Her expression changed from one that was inquisitive to one that was...less so. "Ah don' really wanna talk about it none Sugarcube," Applejack replied, the tone her voice took being one Rainbow Dash had learned well. It wasn't a mean or harsh tone, but it had an edge to it all its own that meant it was best to let the issue drop and not press any further.
"Alright then," Rainbow Dash replied, knowing that discretion was the better part of valor...or something like that.
"Granny?"
"Well howdy Rainbow Dash, what brings ya here?" Granny Smith answered as she turned from her focus on whatever was cooking on the stove to face her adoptive grandfilly.
"Well I..." she paused to look around as if expecting somepony to jump out at her. "I kinda need to ask you something. I tried asking Applejack and she just blew me off," she explained.
"Oh? Well wha's on yer mind Dashie?" Granny Smith asked.
She paused to look around again, making sure Applejack hadn't followed her back from the northern orchard, before stepping closer. "What were Applejack's parents like?"
The expression on Granny Smith's face just about perfectly mimicked Applejack's when the question had been asked to her, making Rainbow Dash nervous as to what her response might be.
"Ah guess it was gonna be asked sooner er later," Granny Smith sighed and turned down the burner to a low simmer. "Come wit' me. An' not a word ta Applejack or she'd be furious," she warned. Rainbow Dash just nodded and wordlessly followed her to the parlor where she watched the elder mare retrieve a photo album from the bottom shelf rung and lay it out on the coffee table, signalling for her to approach as she opened it.
"Are those them?" Rainbow Dash asked and pointed to an older photo of two ponies. The mare of the two was a deep luscious red with an apple and glass cutie mark adorning her flank, her blond mane being done up in pigtails, her face covered in freckles; she looked vaguely like Cheerilee. The stallion looked a lot like Big Macintosh, but his coat was a magnificent silver gray topped with a red mane, a hatchet and log cutie mark on his flank.
"Tha' they are. Tha's my daughter, Apple Brandy, an' my son-in-law, Timber Jack. Betcha can guess how Applejack got 'er name," she replied, causing Rainbow Dash to snicker, "yessiree them's ma children, from which ah was blessed with three wonderful an' hard workin' grandfoals. Not that you ain' jus' as wonderful Dashie," she was quick to add, getting an understanding nod in response.
"So what were they like when they were still alive?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Still alive? Heavens ta Betsy Dashie they's still alive," Granny Smith told her, "they're way up north in one o' them boom towns like Appleloosa."
"They are? Really?" Rainbow Dash asked and did a double take at the photo. Applejack's parents were alive? Then...why did she treat them like they were dead?
"Well they was as of las' month when they sent me a letter tellin' me abou' wha's been going on up there," Granny Smith explained and turned to a page closer to the back of the book, revealing the letter that was dated for the previous month.
"Dear Mother Smith, things are going well up here. I'm pleased to report that we have six new logging stallions to assist in clearing the forest in order to accommodate expansion of the town for new births and new settlers seeking out rumors about buried riches. They're hard workers and I have no doubt that clearing stumps will be doable in half the time. Your loving daughter regrets not being able to write but she's currently involved with teaching the new settlers how to best preserve their apples for when winter comes; some of them have little foals and need to be looked after constantly but 'Brandy doesn't have the time to assist them, what with managing the general store and all. Tell our little ponies we love them very much and wish that we were there with them. Your loving son-in-law, Timber Jack," Rainbow Dash read aloud. Confused she turned back to Granny Smith. "I don't get it, they sound really nice. So why did Applejack shoot me down when I asked her about them?" she asked.
Granny Smith sighed in response. "Ya sure ya wanna know abou' this?" she asked, Rainbow Dash nodded. "My granddaughter is one o' the most loving ponies yer ever gonna meet in all o' Equestria, got a heart o' gold with as much room as the whole outdoors. But Applejack also has a temper and a stubborn streak just as big. Back when Applejack was jus' a little filly, not much bigger than Apple Bloom, her parents came ta me an' asked me ta watch over their children for 'em while they headed north. Seems some kin to Timber Jack up there were in trouble tryin' to get the town started and were in dire straits an' needed all the help they could get er the town was gonna fold an' all their investment would go up in smoke wit' it. So they did the only thing they rightly could ta ensure nopony lost out. Ah took over watchin' ma grandchildren while they went north an' spent years rough livin' ta help out," Granny Smith explained. "Boom town's ain' no place fer foals. They knew their course o' action was the only way to ensure the best quality o' life they could have. They jus' plain loved 'em too much ta take 'em up there wit' 'em. But fer whatever reason Applejack jus' wasn't able ta wrap 'er head around that fact an' assumed they'd been abandoned an' unwanted by the ones that was supposed ta love 'em the most."
"But the letters-" Rainbow Dash tried but was interrupted.
"Ah've tried Dashie, ah've tried. But Applejack's too stubborn ta see an' ah finally gave up. Big Macintosh is ol' enough ta remember them fer what they's like. But Apple Bloom was just a little whipper snapper when they had ta leave, she was barely weened at the time, she don' really know 'em, but she ain' yet at the age o' askin' 'bout where she came from."
Rainbow Dash was...she was stunned by it all, this revelation being, well...revealed, to her like that. Finding out Applejack's parents were alive and...and she was starting to notice an eerie similarity between their respective positions regarding their parents.
"So all this time AJ's been holding a grudge against her parents because of a misunderstanding over what happened all those years ago," Rainbow Dash summarized, receiving a nod from Granny Smith indicating that she was accurate. You think you know a pony and something like this lands in your lap and complicates the matter. What else had the Element of Honesty been hiding from her? Inner turmoil and deep seated insecurities? Maybe...
"Granny, just what is the name of this boom town anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Now lemme think, been a while since they wrote abou' the town having a name an' such," she said as she tapped her chin in thought. "Ah think they said it was called New Manexico."
"New Manexico, got it," she muttered to herself, mentally noting it for later. "Thanks Granny, that was a lot of help. But right now I think I'd better get back out to the orchard and help Applejack. Don't want her thinking I'm napping on a cloud somewhere."
"Anytime Dashie," Granny Smith replied.
She really wanted to go to bed right about now. That comfy and supportive mattress and those fluffy, fluffy pillows were calling her name right now, but she had work to do, work that couldn't wait until tomorrow or any other day as time was simply not on her side.
Few ponies knew how much work went into managing the weather around Ponyville. They didn't know how long she stayed up studying the meteorological report charts showing warm fronts, cold fronts or cross winds that had to be factored in to how they manipulated the clouds and such. They didn't know what it was like to strain your eyes by the light of a firefly lantern late into the evening when others got to turn in. But it wasn't work related matters that had Rainbow Dash up late this night, it was something far more pressing in nature.
"If I can reach here...I can pick up a nice tail wind that should cut two hours off my travel time," she said to herself as she looked over the weather charts for the next week, laying next to them a map of the northern portion of Equestria; a map that she needed to get from Twilight who got it from Princess Celestia as all the other maps available didn't list the necessary locations for what she was planning. "But if I do that I'm gonna have to really hoof it to avoid this pocket of warm air or I'll run into turbulence..."
If Applejack were ever to find out what she was planning she was gonna buck her hard, but she'd already invested too much into this crackpot plan of hers to turn back now. She'd already gone ahead and cashed in the better part of her allotted sick days for the current year, but not before requesting the advanced meteorological charts for the same time being in order to plot her course effectively and efficiently. New Manexico was a long, long way off, easily two days by train, and if she was going to do this she needed to ensure maximum travel.
"Ya still awake RD?"
At the sound of Applejack's voice outside the nearly she nearly freaked, shoving the map and half the charts under the bed just as the door was opened. Her heart was pounding right now as the adrenaline coursed through her system; definitely not how she wanted to be found.
"Wha' ya doin' RD?" Applejack asked as she looked at the mess of papers on the floor and Rainbow Dash in the middle of it all.
"J-just studying the weather charts, wanna make sure there's nothing unexpected that might interfere with applebucking," Rainbow Dash answered as she tried to sound calm, but then an idea came to her. "I-I guess I fell asleep there for a minute. Thanks for waking me back up, I must've been dreaming."
"Ya look more like ya had a nightmare," Applejack replied dryly.
"Y-yeah that's it, it was a nightmare I remember it now," Rainbow Dash quickly replied, "it was a really bad one. The one where Discord stole my wings..."
"Tha' one again?" Applejack asked. She knew from experience that it was particularly unpleasant and even terrifying dream for Rainbow Dash to experience, being deprived of what she loved to do so much that made her feel so free. The first time she had it she'd woken up in the middle of the night crying her eyes out and hadn't slept the rest of the night. "Ah'm sorry Sugarcube."
"It's alright AJ, ya woke me up before it got to the really bad part so it's all good," Rainbow Dash replied. She had hoped that Applejack would consider the matter closed, wish her a goodnight and turn in herself. Unfortunately no such thing occurred and Applejack instead sat down next to her, looking over the charts before her.
"Ya read over this stuff every night?" she asked.
"Not every night, but often enough," she replied and yawned, "but I can't stay up any longer. I've gotta turn in and get some rest, I gotta get up before dawn tomorrow," she explained.
"A'right RD ah'll let ya get some sleep," Applejack told her and got up to head to the door. "Do ya wan' me ta keep ya company since ya had tha' nightmare again?" she asked.
Yes she did. She really, really wanted Applejack to sleep over tonight, just in case she did have that Discord dream now that she talked about it. But that was a luxury she couldn't afford right now as she still had to chart out her journey. She was going to have to go without for tonight. "No thanks AJ, I'm fine. You go ahead and turn in, I'll be alright," Rainbow Dash reassured her.
"If ya say so," Applejack replied and walked back to her, "g'night Sugarcube," she said and kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight sis'," Rainbow Dash replied, so desperately wanting right now to rest her head on her forelegs like a makeshift pillow as she waited until the door was closed, before reaching under the bed and pulling back out the discarded charts and maps. "Celestia please let this work..."
+++
Applejack,
Had to attend an urgent meeting up in Cloudsdale. Will be back soonest.
Signed Love, Rainbow Dash
P.S. Look after my hat!
It had definitely been strange to wake up to a letter placed on your pillow while you were still asleep. Even stranger considering it was Rainbow Dash's handiwork. She sure hadn't heard anything about Cloudsdale recently so how did the pegasus get word of it? And if it was really such urgent business why was her writing so clean...well as clean as it normally was. Something was indeed up with that mare, but it was gonna have to wait until she got back. In the meantime she had other matters to attend to.
Rainbow Dash was certain she'd taken everything into account in planning our her journey. Cross winds, warm fronts, cold fronts and everything. As far as the possible weather-related matters she really had taken everything into account. But what she hadn't taken into account was the dry and arid conditions of the long stretches of land between Ponyville and New Manexico, resulting in a considerable dust cloud that had to be flown through. She was so very thankful that she'd thought ahead and worn her goggles as it would be brutal on her eyes, just as it was on her nose.
She was able to reach the destination point to pick up that sought after tail wind, just narrowly missing the hot air pocket that would've given her turbulence through a daredevil act of flying sideways on an outward curve and swooping outward. However that had been her only stroke of luck since she left Sweet Apple Acres, and with the ensuing dust cloud that luck was really starting to run low. But she wasn't about to quit and just go home, she'd invested far too much already and she'd be bucked if she was gonna throw in the towel now! Although a hoofkerchief would come in really handy right about now so she could blow her nose after sneezing so much.
If she flew up higher she could get out of the dust cloud and fly clearer skies, and if she were a rookie she'd do just that. But higher up as it got warmer were cross winds that would only slow her down and possibly risk blowing her off course. For the meantime she had to just tough it out and wait and pray that the dust cloud had an end to it.
Of course another problem was how long this journey was going to take. Picking up the tail wind would cut the travel time down considerably if she could maintain her current speed, but that wasn't the easiest thing to do. Being the fastest flyer in Equestria really didn't mean that those speeds could be maintained indefinitely and chances were good she'd eventually have to stop and rest. Of course there was a trick she knew full well could cut the journey down even further, but it was hardly one that could be used when attempting to maintain secrecy. If she could perform a Sonic Rainboom she'd be hurtled forward at incredible speeds, but then there was the risk of giving herself away...but at the rate she was going that might just have to be a risk she needed to take.
"What the hay, not like Applejack is suspicious or anything," Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she made up her mind. "Sonic Rainboom, baby!"
Nopony would claim that New Manexico was a thriving manetropolis of a location, but it was certainly a good strong community that wasn't constantly threatened with the ever-present possibility of dying out. But it had taken a great deal of hard work and sacrifice to achieve that status and constant vigilance to ensure that it stayed there. Everypony had to pull together and do their fair share and sometimes even more than their fare share, this wasn't a town for those who weren't willing to get their hooves dirty, the settlers learned that the hard way. Those that weren't cut out for it tended to leave rather quickly, but those that could take it stayed to contribute for the greater good. And without those determined few the backbone of the whole town would collapse. Everypony had a job to do and they needed to do it well, whether it was bartering for needed goods, ensuring the hospital was properly stocked...or pulling tree stumps out of the ground to make room for expansion of the town.
"Come on put your backs into it!" the forepony called and two muscular stallions struggled to rip the latest stump from the soil. Hooked to strong harnesses that lead to strong ropes tied around the stump. Bringing the whole tree down was a lot easier than trying to get out the roots, that part was always slow going...especially when the ones that were supposed to be pulling them seemed to be daydreaming instead. "What're you two doing just standing around? We've got work to do!"
"Lookin' at the rainbow up there," one of the stallions replied and jerked his head skyward.
"Rainbow? What rainbow, there hasn't been any rain for...a week..." he trailed off as he too saw the rainbow they were referring to. Streaking across the horizon in a magnificent manner like the did fresh after a big downpour. But there was something a little odd about this one besides the dry climate it was appearing in. It looked...kinda tilted and...still forming? What the hay?
"Look out below!" came a shout from above as the rainbow collided with the ground like a meteorite, sending dirt and debris flying up as something tumbled about roughly, kicking up trails of dust as it came skidding to a halt just ahead of them.
"What the buck?" the forepony asked and approached to investigate. As the dust settled he could see that what had landed was a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane, looking in rough shape from her hard landing. "Hey," he said and gently shrugged her shoulder with his hoof, "you alright there lil' pegasus?" he asked. He was rewarded with a groan as made an effort to right herself and get back up.
"So not cool," she moaned as she shook her head to clear the cobwebs and look about at her surroundings, finding a gray stallion standing before her. "Is this New Manexico?" she asked as she pulled her goggles around her neck.
"That it is lil' pegasus. Or rather it will be in a few months, currently you're in a stretch of forest that's been slated for clearing for expanding the town," he elaborated.
"I made it then," she said and sighed in relief before looking back up at the stallion again. "Can you tell me where I can find a stallion named Timber Jack?"
"Right in front of you," he informed her, "what can I do for you?" he asked. She looked at him up and down and side to side, checking out his cutie mark and smiling.
"You're married to a mare named Apple Brandy, right?" she asked him.
"Now How did you know that?" he asked, very curious by this turn of events.
"Yes!" she cheered and leaped up in excitement, flapping her wings to bring her up to eye level with him. "My name's Rainbow Dash and I've flown all the way from Ponyville to find you two."
"Well it's nice to make your acquaintance Rainbow Dash, but what exactly is this about? What brings you all the way out here to New Manexico and how do you know both me and my wife?" Timber Jack asked as he felt himself growing annoyed at the interruption to his work by a pegasus that couldn't give him a straight answer.
"Because I know your mother-in-law Granny Smith, along with your son and two daughters, I'm..." she paused, stopping to think of what was the best way to proceed, "I'm best friends with your daughter Applejack."
"You know my little golden apple?" Timber Jack asked, before frowning at the chuckling going on behind his back from the two stallions who were supposed to be pulling the stump. "You two get back to work, this is no picnic!" he barked, causing them to jump and resume pulling. With that handled he turned back to Rainbow Dash, "so what brings you up around these parts? I know you didn't stop in just to say hello or anything like that."
"Well it kinda a long story and I was hoping to talk to you and your wife at the same time. Is she around?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"She should be over in the general store restocking the shelves right now. Just head..." he stated but paused, "somepony tell Thunder Kick to take over while I'm gone, something came up and I need to take care of it," he told the workers who nodded at his instructions. "Follow me."
"Right behind ya big guy."
"This place is..." Rainbow Dash paused as she looked around at the town. She really hadn't seen much of it other than on the way in from the clearing sight, but what she had seen so far was impressive. She'd expected everypony to be living in tents or the like but they actually had completed buildings with actual glass windows, easily putting them far ahead of what she'd been anticipating to encounter.
"Backwards compared to Ponyville?" Timber Jack suggested.
"No it's really something else. It looks like you've got the whole infrastructure thing going on," she replied.
"We're getting there. It's certainly no Ponyville but we're not exactly struggling to survive anymore. This is it," he said and gestured to the building in front of them, stepping in first followed closely by Rainbow Dash. "Excuse me miss I'm looking for a little filly named Apple Brandy who usually hangs out around these parts. You haven't happened to see her have you?" he asked.
"Yer talkin' ta her righ' now ya big sweet lummox," the red mare with the graying blond mane behind the counter replied and turned to face him with a smile on her face. "Wha' brings ya by so early Timber?" she asked, before pausing at the sight of Rainbow Dash standing next to him, "who's yer new friend?"
"Apple Brady this is Rainbow Dash from Ponyville. She says she's Applejack's best friend and has some news for the both of us," Timber Jack explained.
"Really? A friend of Applejack's? Well tha's good enough fer me. Pull up a seat an' make yerself comfortable there Rainbow Dash," Apple Brandy told her, highly excited by the turn of events.
"I'd love to ma'am," Rainbow Dash, shortly before her stomach grumbled rather loudly, "but could I please get something to eat first? I haven't eaten since dawn and I've been flying nonstop all day to get here and I'm starving," she moaned.
"Well certainly Sugarcube, sit yerself down and ah'll be right wit' ya," Apple Brandy told her and disappeared into the back room of the store.
Timber Jack just watched in silence as Rainbow Dash fluttered over to the counter and sat down on one of the converted barrel seats. She looked really tired and dirty and worn out, and he couldn't help but wonder if the news was of an urgent nature. As a father he wanted to push and make sure his girls and son were alright and nothing bad had happened. But one look at the little pegasus leaning against the counter told him he wasn't going to get anywhere like that.
Fortunately Apple Brandy returned not long after with a tray carrying a glass of apple cider and a plate of bread topped with a spread. Once she had something in her stomach maybe they could get some answers.
"Thanks," she replied and nearly guzzled down the whole mug of cider before letting out a sigh as it quenched her parched throat. "Oh that's so good. Just like the cider at Sweet Apple Acres."
"Well since we're on the topic of Sweet Apple Acres, what news brings you out here? Is everything alright back home?" Timber Jack asked, hoping he wouldn't have to entertain the more serious question about whether or not somepony was hurt.
"Now dear let the poor thing eat first. Ah'm sure if somethin' were wrong she woulda said so as soon as she found ya," Apple Brandy scolded him.
"That I would," Rainbow Dash nodded and the picked up one of the piece of bread in her hooves and bit into it. "I wanted to," she began put was forced to pause as her tongue came into contact with the food, "oh colt this is really good. What is this stuff?"
"It's called peanut butter, sorta like an apple butter spread bu' we make it outta the peanut crops some o' the folks aroun' here grow. One o' our biggest exports," Apple Brandy explained, "ah take it ya like it?"
"Like it? This is almost better than Granny Smith's Zap Apple Jam!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed and quickly dove into the second piece of bread before her.
"Quite a seal of approval right there," Timber Chuck chuckled despite his concern. Seeing her enjoy something so simple gave him reason to keep his patience and wait until Rainbow Dash was finally done eating before pressing further for answers. "So what's this news? Is everypony at Sweet Apple Acres alright? How's our family doing?"
"Everypony's fine, there's no emergencies going on to be concerned about," Rainbow Dash reassured him. "As to how everypony's doing back at Sweet Apple Acres that's kinda a long story. You sure you got time to hear it?"
"When it comes ta family we make the time. Start talkin' dearie," Apple Brandy replied.
"Alright. I don't know what all Granny Smith has told you but I know there's been correspondence back and forth so I'll just tell you things as I know them," Rainbow Dash replied and took a breath, thinking over everything that might be worth mentioning. "Applejack got her cutie mark and is managing Sweet Apple Acres as well as anypony could. Big Macintosh is...well...he's a lot more deserving of his name, almost as big as you," she said as the turned to face Timber Jack. "Apple Bloom still hasn't gotten her cutie mark yet, but she's trying. She's made friends with two other fillies in the same predicament and they call themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders, running all over Ponyville trying one thing and then another to earn them. And then there's Granny Smith...I don't know what to say other than she's good, still alive and kicking and always having a story about her fillyhood ready to tell anypony that's listening."
"That's Ma alright," Apple Brandy stated and laughed.
"That she is. Now what else? Oh yeah! I probably should've lead with this one but have you heard of the Elements of Harmony? Well Applejack holds the Element of Honesty," Rainbow Dash stated.
"Really? Our little apple holds one of the fabled Elements of Harmony?" Timber Jack asked. Rainbow Dash nodded. "Element of Honesty huh? Typical Applejack, she never could tell a good lie."
"Wors' liar in Ponyville," Apple Brandy proclaimed.
"Worst liar in Equestria's more like it. You should've seen the trouble we had when she tried to give a cover story so we could throw a surprise party for one of our friends," Rainbow Dash replied as she thought of what else to say, "oh yeah, THIS I probably should've lead with but your daughter has helped in saving Equestria a couple of times so far. First time was against Nightmare Moon, who actually turned out to be real by the way, and the second time was against the embodiment of chaos known as Discord."
"We actually heard about that," Timber Jack stated proudly. "The announcement went out from Canterlot and was far reaching, even all the way up her in New Manexico. I tell you we were so proud to find out our little filly was involved with that. We wrote her all about it but we never heard back," he explained, noticing a wince escape Rainbow Dash. "So it really is true that our daughter helped rescue the Moon Princess. Who would've thought."
"Well what can I really say? You...really raised her up great," Rainbow Dash replied, uncertain of what to really say on the matter.
"Not ta be pryin' er nothin' Rainbow Dash but what exactly brings y'all up aroun' these parts? Surely ya didn' come up just ta tell us abou' how are family's doin'," Apple Brandy inquired.
"Oh right I almost forgot. What I came up to ask you two was if there was any way you could come back home to Sweet Apple Acres," she said. She could see Apple Brandy and Timber Jack looking at each other before turning their attention back to her. Had she said something wrong?
"We'd love to go back home and see our family again and catch up on old times and new developments. And we'd leave in a heartbeat if we could. But in its current condition New Manexico needs constant and steady workers to keep it stable. The forest needs to be cleared to supply both the room and the lumber for expansion and new development, the crops need to be tended to and we haven't had a sufficient rainfall in a good while. The apple orchard needs to be harvested, along with a great many other day to day details, and the available work force just isn't big enough for us to go away even for a few days with all that we've got to do," Timber Jack explained.
"But-" Rainbow Dash began but was cut off by Apple Brandy speaking up.
"Like Timber Jack says we'd love ta see 'em all again, but the ponies of this town rely on us an' each other an' there's jus' too much work ta do. And in a community like this ya get close ta everypony an' they become like yer own family an' ya can't bear ta jus' leave 'em in the lurch like that. Plus some of our family are up here an' rely on us fer their livelihoods. It's a no win situation we're in," she explained in a sad tone.
"What if I help out?" Rainbow Dash asked without even thinking about it, "if I can help you two get enough work done could you come back to Ponyville for just a few days?" she continued. Timber Jack was just about to reply but she pressed on regardless. "I'm a really hard worker. I'm in charge of the weather for Ponyville and I also help out Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres when she needs another hoof, it's not like I'm not up to the concept of hard work or anything," she paused again, but again interrupted them, "please? This is really important to them. Applejack...she...she misses you terribly, and she wants Apple Bloom to know you too. And Big Macintosh...well he misses you too even if he doesn't say much."
How was one supposed to reply to such a heartfelt plea when in a predicament like this? If anypony knew that answer it would certainly be a big help to them right now. They could tell by the one in Rainbow Dash's voice that this was important, not just to their foals but also to Rainbow Dash herself; her big pleading eyes reflected that clear enough.
"Yer really askin' a lot of us Sugarcube," Apple Brandy sighed.
"It would be nice if it were possible. But I don't think even a dozen pegasi could help us enough to get done what needs to be done right now to the point where we could go back home," Timber Jack explained. He really had to make it clear, but even his conviction was wavering when he looked into her eyes. He let out a sigh, knowing that he'd been defeated even before he opened his mouth. "You can try and see if you want to but I can't make any promises. When can you start?"
"Right now!" Rainbow Dash stated and hovered off the barrel seat, only to be interrupted as her stomach growled again. "Um...could I get some more of that peanut butter stuff first please?" she asked.
"Anythin' for a friend of our daughter," Apple Brandy chuckled lightly and took the tray to the back room to get Rainbow Dash another helping of food.
1
Six days. It'd been six days since Rainbow Dash had left for Cloudsdale, leaving a note on her pillow the night before offering up no details about why she had to go, what she was doing or when she was going to be back. Six days of being away from her sister and best friend. Six days of Rainbow Dash not being around to pitch in and help out tending to Sweet Apple Acres. Six days of Applejack realizing just how much work Rainbow Dash did do around the farm now that she wasn't there to do it anymore. If Rainbow Dash ever came back she wasn't going to be teasing her anymore about being lazy.
"Still no sign of her?" Big Macintosh asked as he stood next to Applejack at the door, the sun setting lower in the sky and soon to usher in the night.
"Not so much as a loose feather," Applejack sighed and slouched. "Ah'm gettin' mighty worried bro'. What if she's hurt somewhere?"
Big Macintosh said nothing in response, knowing that trying to wouldn't yield any beneficial results. His sister was worried and concerned and she wasn't going to feel better until the source of her concern was alleviated.
"Ah'm gonna check the orchards," she announced and took off, not even waiting for a reply from her big brother. This matter was too important right now.
Big Macintosh again said nothing, knowing that regardless of whatever he had to say his sister wouldn't care. Applejack had too much love for her sister (regardless of by birth or by adoption) to even consider leaving them on their own. She was going to follow her heart regardless of where it took her.
In truth Applejack really didn't hold out too much hope of being able to locate Rainbow Dash out in the orchards, they were an enormous location and if the cyan pegasus was sleeping in one of the trees it could take days to locate her. But just standing around wasn't setting well with her and she had to do something even if it was pointless.
"Where ya at RD?" she asked herself as she looked between tree to tree.
Unfortunately if she was expecting to get an answer she was out of luck as non was to be had. It was a useless effort to try and search the apple orchards and she knew it full well. But what else could she do? She wasn't going to stop worrying until her sister was back home safe and tucked into bed for the soon to arrive evening, and that fact was driving her nuts, "Rainbow Dash!" she bellowed in frustration, but again received no reply. Defeated she hung her head and walked back to the house to wait for her to return on her own.
It turned out to be a much later wait than anticipated. Too concerned to attend dinner Applejack had stood watch by the window, idly noticing as the sun crept lower until Luna's moon was high up in the sky. And it was against that lunar backdrop that a small speck was noticed; a small speck that seemed to grow larger as it approached, the outline gaining more detail until it became an easy to recognize silhouette; it was Rainbow Dash. Applejack immediately bolted out the door to greet her as she touched down on unsteady hooves, looking completely exhausted and worn down, her coat dirty and disheveled, her mane unkempt and raggedy, and her goggles hanging limply around her neck with cracked and heavily scratched lenses.
"Hey AJ," Rainbow Dash greeted weakly, unable to even manage a wave as she needed all four legs for proper balance, "miss me?"
"Like ya wouldn' know Sugarcube. Where the hay ya been an' what ya been up ta? Ya look like something Winona woulda drug in," Applejack pointed out.
"Missing foal, the best flyers in Equestria were called in to locate and reunite the family. We searched high and low and I got stuck with the low. Six days of flying all over Equestria looking everywhere, especially in the Everfree Forest. But we found them and reunited them, happily ever after as Pinkie would say," Rainbow Dash replied, before slumping to the ground, totally exhausted, "food?"
"Anythin' ya want Sugarcube, sounds like ya had it tough," Applejack told her. She watched as Rainbow Dash tried to stand up on her wobbly legs, all the while knowing that walking wasn't going to be an option. "Jus' hold on a minute RD, ah got ya," she said and crouched down, crawling between Rainbow Dash's legs and standing back up to hoist her up on her back sideways. "Ya really need a bath after we get some food in ya," she told her.
"Too tired. Dunno if I can even stay awake through dinner," Rainbow Dash replied as she was carried back to the house.
"Well ya jus' try ta eat an' ah'll see about washin' ya myself if need be. Ah'll even scrub aroun' yer wings with a soft washcloth like ya enjoy so much," Applejack told her as she stepped back onto the front porch.
"Really? For me?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Well o'course RD, after all the good deedin' ya did ta bring that family back together an' all ya deserve a little pamperin'," Applejack stated as she maneuvered her way through the door, which would've been easier if her other siblings hadn't been blocking her way eager to hear what went on. "Jus' back up an' give 'er a little breathin' room."
"But we was worried," Apple Bloom protested.
"Well crowdin' ain' gonna help none," Applejack told her as she moved past them to set Rainbow Dash down in the dining room so she could eat.
'AJ?" Rainbow Dash finally spoke up, "where's my hat?"
"Safe an' sound in yer room where ya left it RD. Apple Bloom why don' ya run upstairs and get it fer 'er," Applejack suggested in a tone Apple Bloom knew all too well wasn't one that meant it was open for discussion. With a sigh she went upstairs to do as she was told.
"We're mighty glad ya made it back safely," Big Macintosh spoke up. Rainbow Dash didn't say anything and just nodded at his words, her eyelids heavy.
Apple Bloom returned not too long afterwards, carrying Rainbow Dash's stetson atop her own head before passing it to its rightful and grateful owner who didn't even hesitate before putting it back on and getting it adjusted just the way she liked it. "Thanks sis'," she said, causing Apple Bloom to smile.
"A'right tha's enough o' that, start eating RD ya need it," Applejack told them.
Rainbow Dash was thankful for the break in talking as it gave her a break from trying to follow the conversation and think so much on what was being said. Instead she could just nibble at her hay fries, salad and apple pie in silence and focus all her energy on staying awake so she didn't fall face first into her plate.
"Ya awake RD?"
It was a question Applejack had asked countless times in checking in on her sister. But normally it was asked late at night when everypony else had turned in for the night and was sleeping soundly, save for a lone pegasi who often had too much on her mind and needed somepony to talk to and sometimes offer up comfort.
This time around the question had been asked when it was morning and it was expected to be awake. Despite her lazy nature Rainbow Dash did manage to get up around the crack of dawn each morning and tend to the matters at hoof, both with her job at the weather bureau and with her chores on the farm. But this day was different, this day she was still burrowed under the covers and entirely unwilling to move, still in the same position she'd been when Applejack had left her side last night to let her rest.
When Rainbow Dash had stated that she didn't know if she could make it through dinner Applejack had assumed it was one of her usual exaggerations, but it had been anything but. She'd only managed to eat half of her dinner, a few bits inbetween bouts of drifting off to sleep before jumping back awake to eat a little more. After a while Applejack knew it was hopeless and just escorted her upstairs so she could turn in, figuring the bath could wait under the circumstances. She'd been out like a light as soon as her head had been on the pillow and carefully tucked in for the evening and hadn't moved since.
"Come on RD, say somethin'," Applejack said and prodded her shoulder. Rainbow Dash just mumbled and rolled over, burrowing deeper under the covers, leaving Applejack wondering whether to frown or chuckle. "Ya gotta get up RD the sun's up already," she said and prodded her shoulder more.
The continual prodding eventually annoyed Rainbow Dash enough to wake up and address her sister, grumbling the whole time as she groaned while trying to move. Every muscle in her body hurt and a few other organs did too. Maybe laying down for so long had made her stiff and getting up would stretch them out. It was just a matter of convincing her body that it was in its own best interest to do just that rather than keep laying there.
"Ya a'right RD? Ah know ya like sleepin' in an' all bu' this is late ever fer you," Applejack stated.
"I'm alright, really. Just a...just a touch of the feather flu I guess, must've got it from the foal when I found 'em," she lied.
"Feather flu?" Applejack asked.
"Don't worry you can't catch it, it's only contagious to pegasi, earth ponies are unaffected," Rainbow Dash told her as she rolled over to climb out of bed, wincing the entire time.
"If yer sick maybe I shouldn't have woken ya up, sorry RD. Ya jus' go back ta bed and get some rest so ya can ge' well," Applejack told her.
"I'll be alright, honest," she replied and yawned, out of habit going for an early morning stretch and wincing halfway through. Definitely not a good idea to be doing that. "Is there any breakfast left? I'm starving."
"If you say so," Applejack replied, not really buying it but knowing that fighting over it wasn't going to be good for either of them. "Ah think we can whip ya up somethin' good. Come on Sugarcube."
"As soon as I get my bed made," Rainbow Dash replied but was stopped by Applejack's foreleg on the covers.
"Don' worry 'bout that none. We gotta change the sheets as dirty as ya were las' night," she explained.
"Are you trying to insinuate something there?" Rainbow Dash replied.
"Come on RD no foalin' around this time. Ya been through a lot the past week an' ah ain' tryin' ta give ya a hard time, ah'm jus' concerned fer ya is all," Applejack reassured her. Rainbow Dash's scowl softened into a smile at these words and she just nodded, moving in to rest her head on her sister's shoulder. It was a touching and gentle scene, one that was unfortunately ruined all too quickly by the growling of Rainbow Dash's stomach demanding food. They both shared an amused laugh. "Come on Sugarcube we gotta tend ta tha'. An' ah think some o' Granny Smith's apple pancakes are jus' wha's needed ta hit the spot."
Apple pancakes, a delectable blend of batter and fruit spread stacked seven layers high at a time. Rainbow Dash's mouth was practically watering at just the mentioning of it. She'd missed out on it the last time it was served because she was away and she'd regretted that short term loss. Thankfully that matter was about to be resolved.
And with any luck another matter would soon be resolved later in the day. She just need to be patient and play it cool; something that in her mind she was perfectly capable of doing.
It was painful to watch Rainbow Dash try and walk. Her movements were stiff and slow and her pace looked like she was trying to favor an ankle that was giving her trouble. She'd assisted on Sweet Apple Acres to the best of her abilities, rounding up old bruised apples that'd fallen from the trees, hauling feed out to the chicken coops and the like, but it was definitely slow going and Applejack could tell she just wasn't up to the work. If she was suffering from the feather flu she really should be resting up to get better, but she was stubborn and insisted that she was up to the work. Applejack of course didn't like it but would respect her sister's decision, she was a big filly afterall and could make her own decisions.
But it was still painful to watch as she more or less limped along the way to the train station in Ponyville.
"Come on Applejack," Rainbow Dash called, insisting that she pick up her pace like she was dragging them behind, "the noon train is gonna be in soon."
The noon train. If she thought about it carefully Rainbow Dash's activity all day had seemed somewhat suspicious, everything based around getting her to Ponyville before noon for something. According to the cyan pegasus it had to do with Pinkie but she hadn't really elaborated beyond that. And as much as she wanted to trust her adoptive sister something just seemed...wrong...
"Ya sure Pinkie Pie didn' say what this surprise was about?" Applejack asked as she followed along.
"Applejack it's Pinkie, you know how she is," Rainbow Dash replied, "all I got was that we needed to be at the train station by noon for it, so it only makes sense that it's gotta have something to do with the noon train arriving, right?" she reasoned.
"Fair enough," Applejack replied, still having doubts and everything, but willing to go along with it and see how it all played out.
By the time they'd finally reached the train station it was five minutes until noon, giving them a chance to sit down and rest. But if they had time to rest they also had time to think, or rather Applejack had time to do the thinking, Rainbow Dash was too busy watching the clock and looking at the tracks, her ears twitching at every little sound. For somepony with a case of the feather flu she was oddly alert and sharp. She really didn't want to think bad of her, but there were suspicions that just wouldn't go away despite her best attempts to ignore them.
"Hey RD? where'd ya say ya foun' tht' foal at?" Applejack asked.
"The Everfree Forest," Rainbow Dash replied, "why?"
"Jus' curious is all. Mighty lucky ya found 'em before somethin' else did," she commented.
Did Applejack suspect something? Was she suspicious? If she was she wasn't exactly doing the best job of hiding it, but there was really no way of knowing what was up...right? However Rainbow Dash didn't have much time to think on the matter as the sound of the approaching train was getting louder and closer. Just a couple more minute and everything would be falling into place.
By the time the train had pulled into the station and those on board started to disembark Rainbow Dash could hardly contain excitement. If she were less mature she might start jumping about and tapping her hooves with excitement. But she'd had years to learn about self control so she could just sit there and keep herself composed...all while wearing the worst poker face Applejack had ever seen before in her life. However as more ponies got off the train and others got on, with still no sign of those she was waiting on that patience of hers was beginning to wear thin and she was getting highly frustrated.
"Oh come on where are they!" Rainbow Dash demanded as she hovered up for a better view to try and make out a familiar face in the crowd.
"Where's who RD?" Applejack asked, "ya didn' bring me down here fer no surprise by Pinkie Pie did ya?"
"Applejack is that you?" a voice called out in the crowd.
They turned in the direction of the voice as the crowd thinned. Rainbow Dash smiled with excitement, but Applejack just started in surprise.
"Alright you made it!" Rainbow Dash cheered and dropped back to the ground.
"Wouldn' miss it fer the world," Apple Brandy said as she approached the two. "Hi sweetheart, my how you've grown."
"Ma...Pa? Is that you?" Applejack asked in disbelief as she saw the two older ponies standing in front of her, not certain she could really trust her eyes, "wha'...what're y'all doin' here?"
"We came to visit our little golden apple and the rest of our family," Timber Jack explained.
"We jus' couldn' pass up after yer friend came up an' tol' us all how much y'all missed us an' wanted ta see us," Apple Brandy added.
"Rainbow Dash? Ya brought mah parents back ta Ponyville?" Applejack asked as she turned to face her.
"Yeah I did," she responded like she was trying to sound humble and proud all at the same time.
"Ya feather-brained idjit! Nopony asked ya ta do that! Ya shoulda jus' left well enough alone an' minded yer own business an' not stuck yer nose into matters ya!" she yelled before turning around and taking off back in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, leaving the three behind and stunned.
"Now just what was that all about?" Timber Jack asked as he watched his daughter gallop off angrily.
"I don't have a clue," Rainbow Dash replied after recovering from the initial shock of Applejack's outburst, "but I'm going to find out. In the meantime let's go over to Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith is gonna be so excited to see you walk in through the front door," she told them, barely able to hide her excitement despite Applejack's reaction.
There was still plenty of room for good things to come, they just had to get back to Sweet Apple Acres and they could make everything work out. They had to make everything work out. Surely Applejack's hardened spot in her heart for her parents couldn't remain that way indefinitely...right? However her thoughts of good times were quickly interrupted as a sharp pain shot up her right hind leg, making her wince as she put her weight back down on it again.
"Still tender?" Timber Jack asked.
"Yeah, but I'll be alright, don't worry about it," she told him, dismissing his concern in favor of speed, "come on let's get going."
"Granny Smith...hey Granny Smith!" Rainbow Dash called out as she walked into the farmhouse, "hey Granny Smith where you at?"
"Ya don' need ta yell Dashie, ah ain' deaf yet," Granny Smith replied as she walked out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about. "Wha's goin' on out here? An' why do ya look like something the dog tried ta drag in?" she asked.
"Special delivery from all the way up north," she replied and stepped to the side so Timber Jack and Apple Brandy could step inside.
"Hi Ma," Apple Brandy greeted enthusiastically.
"Hello Mother Smith," Timber Jack added in a somewhat more refined and restrained manner.
Granny Smith looked over the two in confusion for a moment before recognition finally crossed her features and she smiled. There was no way to forget those two regardless of how old they were; no more forget her own children.
"Apple Brandy? Timber Jack? It's really you?" she asked and stepped forward, still surprised at seeing them after so many years. "Well if this ain' the biggest, nicest surprise ah ever did see. Wha' brings y'all back here after so long?"
"Jus' a nice youngin' wit' a big heart," Apple Brandy replied and looked over at Rainbow Dash who was trying not to blush at how she was addressed. "How ya been Ma? We've been missin' ya somethin' fierce."
"I uh...I think I'll go find the others. Apple Bloom's still in school but Big Macintosh and Applejack should be around," Rainbow Dash volunteered and darted out the door before anypony could say anything.
"She must be quite a farmhoof to have around," Timber Jack commented as she watched the cyan pegasus leave.
"More than ya'd ever think," Granny Smith chuckled. "Why don' ya two come on in and le's talk, we got's ourselves plenty ta be catchin' up on," she told them.
It was painful to actually be up and flying about through the orchards and over Sweet Apple Acres, but right now she didn't have time to worry about the pain she had more important things to do. With Timber Jack and Apple Brandy dropped off and visiting with Granny Smith she had to find and round of Big Macintosh, which would be the easy thing to do, and then she had to find Applejack and try the same with her; but considering her freak out earlier that might be more difficult to pull off.
Fortunately Big Macintosh was relatively easy to find, being so big he stuck out so well with his red coat against the darker tones of the farm. "Big Macintosh! You busy down there?" she called to him.
"Eeyup," he replied.
"Well you need to take a break if it's possible and go up to the house," she told him.
"Somethin' wrong?" Big Macintosh asked.
"Nope, just some ponies up there I think you're gonna like to see," she told him before hovering down closer to his level. "But do me a favor? No matter what comes up, don't say a word about me, alright?" she asked.
"If that's what ya want," he replied and shrugged. "Mind if I ask who it is that's got ya so worked up?"
"If I told ya I'd spoil the surprise. But nevermind that right now I've gotta try and find Applejack," she told him.
"Might wanna check the north orchards, saw her goin' up there a while ago," he suggested and turned to walk back to the house.
"North orchards, got it!" Rainbow Dash said and took off in that direction despite it being a real pain to do so like that. But pain couldn't concern her right now, she was a pegasi on a mission of the utmost importance. "I'm comin' for you AJ," she said to herself.
Fortunately Big Macintosh's suggestion was accurate and Applejack was indeed in the northern orchard, sitting beneath an apple tree and facing away from the direction the farmhouse was in, her posture tense. Rainbow Dash circled overhead before gently touching down behind her to approach. "AJ?"
"Go away," she muttered.
"AJ what's wrong? Don't you wanna see your parents?" Rainbow Dash asked as she stepped closer.
"No ah don' an' ah wish ya'd stayed outta the matter, it ain' none of yer concern," Applejack told her and whirled around to face her, "y'all don' know wha' they did ta us growin' up an' ya didn' need ta know neither, the matter was closed. If ya had any brains ya woulda known enough ta jus' stay outta it an' not try ta do nothin' ya don' know nothin' about! Ah sure didn' expec' no backstabbin' from the likes o' ya, ah thought ya was loyal! Some friend ya turned out ta be."
"But I..." she tried to protest, taken aback by Applejack's suddenly hostility towards her and the hurtful things she was saying. "I just wanted to do something nice for you. You're...you're my sister and I-" she said but never got to finish as she was torn into again.
"Ya ain' mah sister Rainbow Dash, we ain' family! Yer jus' some orphaned pegasus pony tha' we took in outta the goodness o' our hearts 'cause she didn' have anywhere else ta go! Ya think that helpin' out on the farm and signing some form makes ya family? Well it don't! We ain' even friends after wha' ya done pulled!" Applejack shouted angrily. "Ah wan' ya outta here by the end o' the day. Pack up yer dang Darin' Do books and yer tortoise an' ya get outta here!"
"AJ!"
"Don' say another word ta me or ah'm gonna buck ya so hard ya won' know what hit ya," Applejack told her firmly before leaving, galloping past Rainbow Dash and not looking back.
Rainbow Dash just stood there and watched as Applejack left, unable to barely get any words out, and unable to fully comprehend just how much her words had hurt her. So much hurt, so much cruelty. Applejack had...disowned her? The past two years just...just gone in a single sentence and there was nothing she could do about it. Even if Granny Smith didn't agree with her granddaughter and overruled her that still wouldn't change the hurt of her words. "I'm...I'm sorry Applejack," was all she could say in response, trembling as tears began to fall.
By the time Rainbow Dash finally made it back to the farmhouse school was already well out, indicated by Apple Bloom's presence by her parent's side. The atmosphere inside was a good deal more upbeat than outside, making it all the more painful to have to deliver the news that she did. She knew it had to be told, but as she stood in the doorway watching the happy interaction it was a painful thought to have. She gave consideration to just turning and leaving and coming back another time, but curse Apple Bloom's good eyesight and lack of restraint at announcing things.
"Rainbow Dash wha's wrong? Why ya been cryin'?" she asked, causing everypony to look at her as she just stood there.
"I...I twisted my ankle in a gopher hole," she lied quickly, figuring it'd explain the tear stains to her fur as well as anything. "I uh...I tried to get Applejack to come and talk but she...she refused..."
"Mah sister don' even wanna talk ta her own parents?" Apple Bloom asked, "well why not?"
"That...might be our fault..." Timber Jack said hesitantly, bringing Apple Bloom's attention back to him.
"Wha' ya sayin' Pa? Ya did somethin' to hurt mah sister?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I think we must have a long time ago. But it was nothing like hurting her physically, it was...emotional. Back when you were just a little foal, and a very cute foal at that, we found ourselves in a difficult position. I had some family up north that were in a really bad predicament and needed help or they were going to lose everything. Now we knew we couldn't take you with us so we asked your grandmother to take care of you, knowing you'd be in good hooves and, in time if we were still gone, you'd be able to help her out here at Sweet Apple Acres. Your brother was old enough to understand the importance of the matter, you were just a little thing and really wasn't aware of anything that was going on, but your sister was in a difficult place, filled with awareness but not understanding. I guess...I guess she just believed that we'd abandoned you for no good reason, even if that couldn't be further from the truth," he explained and sighed as he stood up. "Maybe we should go-" he started but was quickly interrupted by Rainbow Dash's objections.
"No you can't go now, not so soon you just got here! I'll go find Applejack and bring her back here and if necessary I'll make her start talking, just don't leave yet. Please just stay one more day, that's all," she pleaded, desperate to avoid having them leave.
"...I was going to say, maybe we should go see about finding a room for the night," Timber Jack stated. "We might not have all that much time to be here, but we're not about to leave just because our little golden apple is upset."
"Pony feathers! Ya ain' sleepin' in some danged lodge, ya's sleepin' here, yer family," Granny Smith objected.
"Ya sure yer alright with tha' Ma? Six ponies under one roof is gonna be kinda crowded," Apple Brandy pointed out.
"Ya ain' seen crowded 'til ya try an' sleep six in a covered wagon," Granny Smith pointed out, earning a chuckle from the younger generations present. "It'll be a'right."
"Alright now that we've got that resolved I'm gonna go try and find Applejack. I'm not letting her ruin everything just 'cause she's got a stubborn streak as wide as Ghastly Gorge," Rainbow Dash stated and adjusted her hat. "I'll be back, with Applejack."
The pain in her wings was worse now than before, nearly unbearable in nature. All the flying today really straining her muscles from everything she'd been through in the past week. She'd taken off for Ponyville at top speed, soaring just barely over the buildings to scour the streets down below for any sight of Applejack. Had it been anypony else, somepony that wasn't a friend or family she'd let somepony else handle it, but that wasn't the case here, not with Applejack, not after all they'd been through.
Eventually though her search paid off as she came upon the sight of the stetson that Applejack always wore, perched atop her owner as she was walking along the street, possibly headed for Twilight's library. However where she was really going was back home once she got done with her. With that in mind she flew overhead and dropped down in front of her, cutting her off. "We need to talk," she stated simply and firmly.
"We ain' got nothin' ta talk about," Applejack replied just as simply and stepped aside to pass but Rainbow Dash cut her off again. "Outta mah way."
"Not gonna happen," she stated, "I really don't care if you don't want me to be your sister anymore, that's really not important right now. You need to talk to your parents. You're going to talk to your parents and we're going to get to the bottom of this."
"Ah ain' got nothin' ta say ta them," Applejack stated firmly. "An' anyway it don' involve ya none, whadda ya care fer anyway?"
"What do I care? What do I care!? My parents are dead and I never got the chance to tell them how upset they made me when they were alive, I'll never get that opportunity no matter how much I talk to their graves! You actually have a chance to talk to your parents and you're throwing that away because you're too stubborn to take it!" Rainbow Dash stated.
"They left us an' never looked back 'cause they was too busy chasin' after some feather brained dream! Ah ain' got no words fer 'em. Matter's closed," she stated. "Now are ya gonna step outta mah way er do ah gotta get tough wit' ya?" she asked.
She had never, ever raised a hoof in anger towards one of her own friends before in her life. But Applejack's words and stubbornness had pushed her far beyond that point and left her with an overwhelming desire for action rather than talk and the next thing she knew she'd slapped Applejack across the face, putting an immediate end to whatever else she had to say.
"Do you have any idea of how hard it was to even get your parents to come back here for you?!" Rainbow Dash angrily yelled as she hovered in front of Applejack, getting dangerously close to her face; dangerously close for Applejack in her current mood. "Do you? Do you know what I had to go through? I flew for over ten hours straight in each direction, nonstop from Ponyville to New Manexico and then back again! Flying even when my wings burnt and felt like they were going to fall off, when it hurt to flap them! I flew through dust clouds and cross winds! Do you know how hard it is on the body to perform consecutive Sonic Rainbooms in a single day?!" she yelled as she got closer and closer, and in the process forcing Applejack on the defensive and causing her to actually step back until she was backed up against the wall of a building and had nowhere else to go as she faced Rainbow Dash's tirade. "I had to...I...I...nevermind! Nevermind what I did this isn't about me, the point of it all is that you owe me! And the very least you can do is talk to your parents and tell them what they did that was so wrong! Start listening to your Element for Celestia's sake and stop being so stubborn and cowardly! Because if you don't so help me I'll...I'll...well it won't be very nice I'll tell you that..."
Applejack was...she didn't want to admit it, she was genuinely scared right now. The Rainbow Dash that hovered before her right now, panting desperately for air to recover from her yelling fit, wasn't the same Rainbow Dash she'd known since her arrival in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash was boastful and arrogant, lazy but a hard worker when it was important. But this Rainbow Dash was...she was a dragon in pegasi clothing, a ball of rage and anger that would've made Nightmare Moon flinch, would've caused King Sombra himself to stop in his ethereal tracks and do a double take. She was heavily invested in this it seemed and was intent on protecting that investment at all costs, even if it meant getting violent to do so.
"Yer right Rainbow Dash, yer right," Applejack finally admitted, but Rainbow Dash didn't seem to be paying much attention right now. "Ah need ta talk ta 'em. Ah'll do just that, ah promise. Jus'...jus' lower yer voice a'right? Yer makin' a scene and scaring everypony..."
"Good," Rainbow Dash exclaimed and maneuvered behind Applejack to lift her up into the air. "I'm not giving you the chance to change your mind, you're talking to them right now and you're flying Pegasus Express!" she said and zoomed off, headed back to Sweet Apple Acres at top speed.
"They're here! They're here!" Apple Bloom called to alert the others.
There had been nothing for the Apple family to do but wait for Rainbow Dash to return with Applejack, but that didn't mean they'd done nothing the whole time. Rather they'd used the wait as an opportunity to catch up and get to know one another better, finding out what was going on in each other's absence. However all attention turned to the horizon to see Rainbow Dash's approach with Applejack in tow just as she promised.
Applejack was the first to land, being carefully set down despite how upset Rainbow Dash obviously was and how much pain she was in, the cyan pegasus right behind her and prodding her. "Get in there," she ordered.
"Ah'm goin' ah'm goin'," Applejack protested as she was herded into the house, past the others and back into the parlor.
"Everypony back in here please," Rainbow Dash called out, even though it was unnecessary as the Apple family had already started filtering back into the room. She waited until they were all back before continuing. "I know that it isn't my place to say anything, but this is how things are going to proceed," she paused and faced Applejack. "You're going to tell your parents exactly what's bugging you and why you're being such a pain," she then turned to Timber Jack and Apple Brandy, "and as her parents you're going to listen while your daughter tells you why she's upset and try to help her through this, understand?"
"Quite a bossy little pegasus," Timber Jack muttered. Apple Brandy nodded in agreement before they both faced Rainbow Dash and nodded their understanding.
"Alright Applejack you're up. Start talking," Rainbow Dash told her and stepped back.
Applejack sighed and mulled the matter over as she stood in the middle of the room like a spectacle. She really wasn't happy with Rainbow Dash right now for all this and she'd made that clear, but that really didn't make her feel any better right now. Thinking things over in the back of your mind that you'd love to say if given the opportunity, and finally finding said opportunity being thrust upon you were two drastically different things and didn't exactly transfer over very well.
"This really ain' easy ta say," she started and sighed and shook her head. "Ma...Pa...it...really hurt when ya didn' come back fer us like ya said ya would. Ah can still remember ya sayin' ya had ta take care o' stuff an' needed ta leave us with Granny Smith but ah always figured ya'd come back or at leas' write an' tell us somethin, but ya never did. Ah lost count o' how many days ah'd stand by the mailbox an' just wait ta hear from ya an' never get nothin'. Or how many days ah'd be watchin' the road an' hope that today would be the day y'all came back fer us like ya said. An' ah...ah..." she paused, "ah was so mad at y'all fer leavin' us! Do ya know wha' it's like havin' ta grow up without yer folks aroun' when ya need 'em the most!? Do y'all know the teasin' that goes on at school when ya don' have no folks ta bring aroun' fer Family Appreciation Day an' the mean ponies taunt ya an' say tha' yer folks didn' care for ya none? Do ya know how many times ah got stuck in detention fer gettin' inta fights with them dang bullies jus' defendin' yer honor!? Do y'all know wha' its like when...when ya start ta actually think that they's right an' wonder if yer folks really didn't care about ya none and had more important things then their own foals ta care about? Or...or when ya start ta wonder if maybe ya done somethin' wrong an' tha's keepin' 'em away 'cause they's too upset ta come back?"
She stopped momentarily to breathe and keep herself composed. She really wanted to be open and get everything out, but with Apple Bloom watching she had to try and keep a level head.
"Ya wasn't there when we needed ya! When Apple Bloom was teething and cryin' all the time an' needin' comfortin' like only a parent can. Or when Big Macintosh broke his leg when he tried ta buck an apple tree in the mud! Ya wasn' aroun' ta give us the birds 'n' bees talk an' we had ta learn 'bout that in school! An' ya sure wasn' there when ah got mah heart broke on mah first schoolfilly crush!" she yelled. "An'...an' after that ah jus' stopped carin' 'cause it hurt too much ta think abou' y'all an' ah...ah started thinkin' we was better off withou' y'all in our lives! Ah hated ya, ah absolutely hated ya! Ah couldn' stand the though o' ya!" she yelled more, finding it difficult to keep focused, "a-a-an' then ah started hatin' mahself fer thinkin' such things abou' ya, a-an' then ah'd wind up hatin' ya all over again 'cause o' how bad ya made me feel abou' mahself bein' so angry with ya!"
By now Applejack was a mess of stuttering and panting, unable to form coherent words or thoughts and reduced to digging deep to offer up anything of relevance, but there was nothing there except anger.
Timber Jack and Apple Brandy had agreed to hear what Applejack had to say to them, even though it was painful for them. At some points the urge to interrupt seemed overwhelming, but they remained silent regardless until Applejack had finally run out of things to say, although they both continued remaining silent until she'd finished catching her breath.
"Alright Applejack you've had your say, now it's your turn to listen. So you just sit yourself right down there like a good little filly while we do the talking. I really don't care if you forgive us or not but you're certainly going to hear us," Timber Jack ordered.
Applejack gulped at the tone in his voice, even after so long knowing that he meant business. "Y-yes Pa," she replied and did as she was told.
"First I want to say that I'm sorry for what you had to go through in our absence. It wasn't right and we regret all the misery you experienced," he began, "but do you really think it was all that easy on us to choose which of our family to help out? For parents to choose between their foals and their cousins and siblings? Trust me it wasn't anything like that. You and the siblings were our pride, you were the most important thing in our lives and we loved you all more than life itself. But as you know in the Apple family kin is kin and when somepony's in trouble you lend a hoof and don't ask question. It isn't our fault that my relatives had gotten in over their head trying to found New Manexico and were in danger of losing everything they had, and it's not their fault either so don't think about going and blaming them. We had a difficult decision to make and not a lot of time to make it in, ultimately we chose what was the best option available to us. We knew your Granny Smith would take care of you all and in turn you could help her take care of Sweet Apple Acres in time while we were away doing what we needed to do. We couldn't bear to take you with us because boom towns are no places for foals. So many days we barely had enough food to feed ourselves, we couldn't stand the thought of trying to ration out what we had in order to feed the three of you and know that it wouldn't be enough and you'd have to go to bed hungry and crying. You didn't need to be exposed to the diseases they had up there when the hospital wasn't up and running and the doctors were overwhelmed while some ponies were collapsing and dying in the streets because the stream was contaminated and the closest fresh water supply was over a mile away in the Everfree Forest. Even if it weren't like that we still couldn't have taken you. Big Macintosh wasn't big enough to do the work that would be needed of him and he could be of more use here with his grandma. Apple Bloom was too little and in need of much more care than we'd ever have time to provide. And taking you would mean pulling you out of school and taking you away from all the friends you had.
The day we left we knew we were in for the long haul and had to tough it out. It was years before the mail service ever got set up so we could communicate back and forth with other towns. We had to go all that time without ever knowing if we made the right decision or not, wondering if our little foals were doing alright or if a disaster had destroyed Sweet Apple Acres and there was nothing and nopony left, you have no idea how hard that is on a parent, to lay awake nights worrying about stuff like that. You don't know how overjoyed we were with your grandmother finally got word to us in our first letter that everything was alright and starting sharing details with us, how her letters made us feel like we weren't so far away. We wrote you letters too but you never responded to them and that broke your poor mother's heart. We thought to writing about Apple Bloom but what do you tell a filly when they haven't seen you since they stopped nursing? Big Macintosh is the only one who actually responded to our letters and told us how you all were doing, about details your grandmother wasn't aware of.
If we could've come back and seen all you earlier we would've in a heart beat. But for so long New Manexico was so close to dying out we just couldn't do it. We had to work long and hard just to keep that town alive, from sun up to sun down and many times even after that. I can't tell you how many times we had to work around the clock because there was nopony else available to help out. Raising you three as much as we did was easy compared to what we had to do for that town. We had to become very skilled at countless necessary professions in very short order, doing things that were far outside of what our cutie marks told us we were cut out for; if we weren't leaning how to clean and tend to wounds from the doctors it was assisting the undertaker in burying the dead as fast as possible."
The only reason Timber Jack had stopped talking was the fact that he'd talked for so long he'd winded himself, forcing him to pause and breathe again. During this time Apple Brandy came up behind him and rubbed his back with her foreleg. "Calm down hubby yer scarin' the poor dear. These're the details of life we wanted ta spare 'em," she told him before turning to her daughter. "What he's tryin' ta say sweetie is that we missed ya mighty fierce. We missed out on yer foalhood an' watchin' ya grow up an' earn yer cutie marks an' make friends. We missed out on so much and regretted every minute of it and we woulda done anythin' ta change tha' if we coulda," she explained.
Applejack could only hang her head, not uttering a word in response. To say she felt low would be an understatement right now. However before she could even start on getting out an apology for how she'd treated her parents all these years her attention was commanded back upward as her father seemed to find his second wind.
"And another thing Applejack, you should be ashamed of how you've been treating Rainbow Dash as of late. You have no idea how good of a friend she is to you. If it weren't for her we wouldn't even have been able to come here and see you all. We couldn't even get away because of all the work we had to do back in New Manexico, but rather than turn around and leave Rainbow Dash stayed and did everything she could do to help. I tell you what I've never seen a little pegasus pony work harder than I saw her. With her help we managed to clear more trees in a day than we could've done on our own in a week. When she wasn't doing that she was flying deep into the Everfree Forest to fetch back clouds to make sure the crops got plenty of rain. When she was in motion she was blur as she flew back and forth from tree to tree helping get the apples picked so they could be gotten to market. And don't even get me started on how much effort she put into clearing out the tree stumps, she must be made of iron or something.
She pushed herself to the point of exhaustion doing the work of full grown stallions, and when she couldn't stand up any longer she somehow found the strength to stand herself right back up again and push even further. At the end of each day she couldn't even walk, she just dropped where she stood once she knew the day was done, weak as a newborn foal. Every day I had to carry her back to our house at the end of each day where your mother would tend to her and make sure she was alright; if it weren't for your mother feeding her so well I don't think she ever would've made it. I kept expecting her to just drop dead from exhaustion but she never did, I'm sure it must've been through Celestia's good grace. Even when she slept on the spare cot we had to offer her and she'd talk in her sleep, all we heard was how she had to get the work done, how she couldn't let you down by us not being able to come back and see you. And what does she get when she comes back? You turning your anger for us against her and yelling at her for caring so much, and she still tries her hardest to make everything right. Element of Loyalty indeed. You could learn a few things from her if you ever stopped to think about it little missy," Timber Jack lectured, not holding anything back.
Applejack was left in stunned silence as her father's words sunk in. Rainbow Dash had done so, so much for her, working herself to death in secret just so her parents could come and see her. And what did she do when she got back? Did she gloat? Did she expect compensation for her sacrifice? Did she rub it in her face about how good of a friend she was? No! She'd come home beaten down half to death claiming she was sick with the feather flu. Now it made sense why she had such a hard time moving, why she was walking like she was trying to conceal a limp. And her only concern had been whether or not she was back in time for applebucking season, intending to assist with that ordeal in her poor condition. She looked away from her father to where Rainbow Dash currently sat. She had every right to be wearing a look of smugness on her face but no such look was present. Instead all her face showed was compassion, even a look of embarrassment as her exploits were listed off one by one; exploits that Rainbow Dash hadn't even brought up in their confrontation back in Ponyville. All she complained about was how long she had to fly back and forth and...oh Celestia it just now dawned on her that she'd actually flown home in that battered and weakened condition!
"And that's not even the half of what she did while there," Timber Jack informed her as he wound up for another round, only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash's interruption.
"Sir please, you really don't have to keep going on about what I did, it's not all that important. There's really no need to be boring everypony with all the little details about what happened," she stated.
"And tha's another thing. We come back ta Ponyville and find out tha' Rainbow Dash here is somethin' of a local hero and entrusted with the Element o' Loyalty an' she didn' even tell us 'bout any o' that. All she claimed wa' she wa' jus' a simple lil' weather pony tryin' to help out a friend of hers," Apple Brandy added. "If we hadn't run into yer unicorn friend Twilight Sparkle back in Ponyville on the way here we still woulda been in the dark abou' everything."
"Hey what can I say? That's what friends do for each other," Rainbow Dash said as she stood back up. "I know that I'm playing mediator here and all, and it really isn't my place to be making judgements about family matters that don't involve me, but I think the air's been cleared pretty well for the day. So if ya don't mind I'm just gonna be going so you can have some family time together and work on building some good memories and experiences. Besides I've really gotta check in with the weather bureau and see what tomorrow is supposed to be."
"Rainbow Dash-" Applejack spoke up but was silenced by a hoof placed over her mouth.
"We'll talk later Applejack. This is your time to be with your parents, I don't wanna interrupt that," Rainbow Dash told her and pulled her hoof back. And before Applejack got the chance to say another word she left the room and could be heard going out the front door to the house.
She was torn now, between trying to catch up with Rainbow Dash and thoroughly apologize for how uncaring she'd been to her, and staying to make up with her parents after she found out what all they'd gone through. She'd made some thoroughly bad decisions and conclusions up to this point and now they were all catching up to her. She had no right to call herself an Apple after all she'd said, after all she'd thought.
"A-ah'm sorry. Ah'm a right mighty sorry," was all Applejack could say as her tail curled around her hooves as she sat there.
"You should be, you have plenty to be sorry about," Timber Jack told her, "but then again we too have plenty to be sorry about," he finished as his voice softened.
"More than we can rightly make up for," Apple Brandy said before pulling her daughter into an embrace, the very first one in years. "Wha' we did wasn' exactly the right thing, but under the circumstances at the it was the best thing we coulda done for everypony. It don' make it hurt less an' we know tha', it hurt powerful fer us too. We missed y'all so much, gettin' ta watch as y'all grew up into fine strong upstandin' ponies. That day we had ta leave ya behin' ah don' know which one o' us was cryin' more, me er yer father," she told her, Timber Jack nodding behind her. "We knew full well what we were gettin' ourselves inta ta help ou' family an' friends an' it was one o' the hardest decisions we ever had ta make in our lives," she explained as she stroked her daughter's mane.
"Maybe we were wrong to try and stick it out for so long, stubbornly refusing to give up on the hopes and dreams of our friends and family. Maybe our priorities were misplaced all those years ago. But we were young at the time and didn't know as well then as we do now; not that it excuses anything that happened, it's just how it was," Timber Jack explained as he stepped closer. "We never stopped loving any of you, no matter what. We always dreamed of the day that we could come back and see all of you again, and that dream kept us going through the roughest of the rough patches we had to soldier on through."
"An' we're so, so sorry tha' ya ever had ta think that ya'd done somethin' wrong that was makin' us stay away," Apple Brandy finished.
That had done it. Her parents words had slowly but surely chipping away at her, like a sculptor at a piece of marble, weakening the hold she'd had on all of her negativity and anger towards them. All the years of resentment had been festering and building, and now they were being washed away. And upon hearing her parents say that they were sorry it finally became too much.
"Ma...Pa..." was all she managed to get out coherently, becoming too choked up with emotion to get anything else out as both of her parents moved to hug her together.
Granny Smith observed the scene and smiled a knowing smile at having her family back together again. Without a word she stepped out of the room to let her foals have time with their own foals and catch up on some much needed family time together. There would be plenty of time for her to be with them later. For right now Applejack was in the most need of them as she cried in the middle of their loving embrace.
"Ah'd say yer plan paid off there Dashie," Granny Smith said as she stood beneath one of the many apple trees to the orchard surrounding the house, resulting in a startled yelp and a rustling of leaves to occur above.
"How'd you find me?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked down, "and what plan are you talking about? What'd I do?"
"Oh don' ya think ya can fool me all tha' easy Dashie. Just 'cause ah'm an old mare don' mean ah'm not still sharp," Granny Smith told her, smiling a knowing smile up at her. "Ah knew ya was up ta somethin' when ya was askin' abou' the name of the town an' all. And fer the life o' me ah couldn't think of why a pegasus would be interested in the name o' a far off town unless they was plannin' on goin' ta conduct business up there."
"So you knew this whole time and never said anything?" she asked as she came down from her perch on the apple branch to stand next to the elder mare.
"It wasn' mah place ta say nothin'. Part of bein' a grandma is knowin' when ta interfere an' when ta hold back an' see how things play out. Ah think ah made the right decision in holdin' back," she said and smiled as she looked towards the farmhouse.
"I hope that's the case, because I feel like I made the wrong decision. I can hear Applejack crying all the way out here," Rainbow Dash commented as she too looked at the farmhouse, feeling uneasy at the sounds coming from inside.
"Ah'm not really surprised by that, mah granddaughter's quite overdue fer havin' herself a good cry," Granny Smith replied, "she didn' cry abou' their parents leavin' 'em here wit' me, she always believed they'd be comin' back. But after years and not so much as a letter she grew disillusioned an' just bottled it all up, never wanted ta shed a tear er be teased fer cryin' on top o' everythin' else. Tha' was aroun' the time she set out for Manehattan ta find herself, er whatever ya young whippersnappers call it these days. Bu' then one day she came back an' decided she was happier here than anywhere else. An' all because she saw a magnificent rainbow in the sky," she paused and glanced in Rainbow Dash's direction.
"The Sonic Rainboom," Rainbow Dash stated. She remembered that story when the Cutie Mark Crusaders were asking each of them how they got their cutie marks when searching for inspiration. Now the realization was hitting her about the significance of it all. "My Sonic Rainboom..."
Granny Smith nodded. "Another reason we wanted ya ta be part o' the family Dashie. All those years ago ya brought ma granddaughter back home, even if ya didn' know ya did. An' now all these years later ya did it all again an' brought her parents home ta her," she replied, earning an embarrassed but cute response from Rainbow Dash. "By the way Dashie, is this wha' ya really want? Ta be ou' here while everypony else is inside an' together?"
"Applejack's parents don't need to know about me. This is there time together to reunite properly. They don't need anymore bombshells dropped on them at a time like this, or anymore distractions to take away from what's important. As far as they're concerned I'm just a humble weather pony who was trying to help out a friend. It wouldn't be right for me to thrust myself on them like this," Rainbow Dash replied. "...You...aren't gonna tell them are you Granny?"
"Tell who abou' wha' Dashie? Ah'm jus' an' old mare who may er may not be goin' senile in mah old age. Why ah don' even remember what we was talkin' abou' five minutes ago, nevermind the last two years," she replied, giving Rainbow Dash a wink in the process. Rainbow Dash knew to take this for what it meant, that Granny Smith knew when it was right to interfere, and when it was right to hold back and see how things played out.
"...Thanks Granny," Rainbow Dash replied and hugged the older mare around the neck, before looking back at the house. "I'm gonna get to going now, I'll be back in the morning. Right now I've gotta go see the others and make sure I didn't jeopardize my friendship with them after how I treated them earlier, afraid somepony might spill the beans. Meanwhile you should get back inside, they're your foals too and you deserve time with them as well. Them being gone all these years couldn't have been all that easy for you either."
Granny Smith just smiled at Rainbow Dash's words. Despite her age she was certainly wise. And while she didn't exactly agree with her on her belief about what was best in this situation she would at least respect it, that was the least she could do for her after everything she'd done for them.
2
"Ah'm sorry ya gotta be goin' now, we're gonna miss ya somethin' fierce...ah'm gonna miss ya somethin' fierce," Applejack stated.
Nopony had wanted it to happen, but despite their wants and desires there was nothing that could stop the next day from coming, bringing with it the afternoon and the necessary separation as the journey back to New Manexico had to be made. The night and the morning had flown by too, too fast for any of them as no amount of effort could squeeze the many missing years into the few hours they had together. Apple Bloom had far too many questions and wanted her parents to come to school for show and tell, Granny Smith had too much fussing, Big Macintosh had become talkative and Applejack...well in the end Applejack had simply wanted to be held to make up for all the years of being away.
There just wasn't enough time in the day for it all. A fact that wasn't going to change. A fact that nopony was going to forgot as they stood on the train station waiting for the final boarding, using what few minutes were left to be together.
"We're going to miss you too sweetheart," Timber Jack told her as he hugged his daughter one more time, "but hopefully we'll be able to visit again, both sooner and longer. New Manexico won't be struggling forever."
"We'd all like that," Applejack replied, "an' maybe ah can come visit y'all sometime an' see New Manexico an' help ou' there."
"We'd like tha' too," Apple Brandy replied and kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Ah promise ah'll write, tell y'all 'bout what's goin' on here wit' my friends an' all," Applejack told them.
"We'd like that very much sweetheart, it'll make the distance a little less daunting from day to day," Timber Jack said as he brushed his chin along her head. Then he turned his attention to Rainbow Dash as she stood off to the side like a stranger who'd been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. "And you Rainbow Dash, we can't thank you enough for this wonderful opportunity made possible through all your hard work and determination."
Rainbow Dash didn't say anything in response, she just smiled and looked down at the train platform. He couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle before turning back to Applejack. "You really do have a wonderful friend Applejack, you're one very lucky filly to have her," Timber Jack told his daughter.
Again she looked over at Rainbow Dash and that look she had on her face. No smugness or anything normally associated with her, just modesty and a trace of embarrassment. She couldn't stand it!
"No ah don', Rainbow Dash ain' no friend of mine, not anymore," Applejack stated.
"Applejack!" Timber Jack bellowed, horrified at his daughter's callousness after everything that'd happened.
"Now hol' on just a sec' there Pa ya didn' let me finish ," Applejack interrupted, "Rainbow Dash ain' no friend of mine anymore because...because she's mah sister! Has been fer two years now an' ah couldn' be luckier!" she declared. She turned to face Rainbow Dash again with a smile and expected to be met with one in return, but instead it was a look of horror and fear. Now she was thoroughly confused at to what this was all about.
"Yer sister?" Apple Brandy asked and eyed the both of them. Applejack nodded while Rainbow Dash looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere far away. "Well it's about time ya said somethin' Sugarcube! Ah was afraid we was gonna be back in New Manexico withou' ya sayin' so much as word one abou' it," she stated proudly, which only added to the shocked look on Rainbow Dash's face.
"You knew!? H-how? When?" she asked frantically. Who had told them? When had they told them? Which pony said what and ruined all her hard work!?
"Well..." Timber Jack began hesitantly, "we sort of knew about you from the beginning Rainbow Dash. Mother Smith sent us a letter, I guess shortly after everything happened, informing us about the events that occurred at the weather factory and the course of action that was going to be taken, as well as what the outcome was," he explained.
"You knew the whole time? Then...then how come you didn't say anything until now?" Rainbow Dash asked, unable to believe the news. They knew? They'd always known!?
"We didn' say anythin' before 'cause Ma said that was how ya wanted it. Tol' us how ya didn' feel like ya'd earned the right ta call yerself a member of the Apple family fer whatever reason, how ya didn' introduce yerself at the last family reunion as bein' anything more than a friend o' the family 'cause you was afraid o' being rejected due to yer bein' a pegasus, like tha' ever really mattered. So we jus' played along an' let ya get comfortable at being an Apple family member at yer own pace, jus' patiently waitin' ta see when ya'd come out an' tell us the news," Apple Brandy explained.
"It wasn't easy though. Reading about somepony that's suddenly your daughter is one thing, but when they literally fall out of the sky looking for you, it's hard to play stupid and pretend you have no knowledge about them," Timber Jack pointed out, "but even if Mother Smith hadn't told us we would've suspected something. The signs were kind of hard to miss."
"S-s-signs? What signs?" Rainbow Dash stammered, feeling like she could be knocked over by one of her own feathers right now.
"Now jus' calm down Rainbow Dash don' get excited," Apple Brandy said in a reassuring tone as she saw her getting visibly upset. "Le's just say tha' the quality o' yer work showed through. Buckin' apple trees like ya was back in New Manexico isn' exactly the sorta thing a pony can learn jus' from helpin' out and observin' occasionally. Watchin' ya in action, an' yesterday seein' ya at the train station wearin' yer hat an' vest, it was kinda easy ta tell tha' yer story wasn' all tha' accurate an' there had ta be more ta it than ya was sharin'."
"Or how hard you worked in trying to clear forest to put us ahead of our schedule. You might be the Element of Loyalty and all, but I doubt that the loyalty to just a friend, no matter how good of a friend, would've driven you to try so hard at getting rid of that stump all by yourself," Timber Jack added in a proud manner.
"Well I..." Rainbow Dash tried to speak but the words weren't flowing as easily as she'd like. The revelation had hit her like a ton of bricks and leaving her slow to recover. "I was up there for Applejack's sake, I didn't think it was necessary to bring up anything about myself..."
"All the more reason for us to be so proud," Timber Jack stated as Apple Brandy moved in to envelop Rainbow Dash in a warm embrace, eliciting a surprised squeak from the cyan pegasus. "You made it possible for us to reunite with our family again, all of our family."
"We can't ever tell ya how proud we are ta have ya as a daughter, Sugarcube, er how much we'd jus' love ta be yer parents," Apple Brandy told her and lovingly nuzzled her cheek.
"You...you really mean it?" Rainbow Dash asked as she tried to stay calm. "My parents? I can...I can really call you...my parents?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper at this point.
"You don't really need to. If you need time to get used to the idea-" Timber Jack began but was quickly interrupted.
"No-no I want to, I really do! I wanna be part of the family, I want you two as my parents," she was quick to state. "When I came to New Manexico looking for you I was just a stranger at the time that you'd only read about, you had no reason to pay me any mind, but you didn't do that. You helped me while I helped you. You gave me a place to sleep, you looked after me when I was in need, you introduced me to peanut butter! You barely knew me and yet you treated me so well. I...I..." she was starting to run out of words to use in the situation, "I can really call you...Mom and Dad?"
"We'd like that. It only seems fitting when a daughter is referring to her parents," Timber Jack said and moved in to nuzzle her other cheek once he had the opportunity.
Rainbow Dash didn't say anything in response as she was embraced by the two, having no words to offer up to describe how she was feeling right now. Happy didn't even come close to describing it.
"Ah'm so sorry tha' we gotta be leavin' jus' after finally gettin' ta be together, it ain' right. It jus' ain' enough time," Apple Brandy told her sadly and stroked her mane gently.
"I'll visit when I can," Rainbow Dash told them as she melted into their embrace, "and I'll write. I'll write a lot."
Now it was Applejack's turn to be silent and stand off to the side and just watch and smile to herself. She felt happy as she watched the bonding going on, watching as Rainbow Dash got some time with her newest family. There was no doubt about it, Rainbow Dash made one heck of a sister to have. Just when she thought she'd had the cyan pegasus all figured out she went and did something she never would've expected from her or anypony else. Going all the way to New Manexico to get her parents and arrange a special Apple Family reunion all for her and not expecting anything in return, not even taking the opportunity to brag about her own accomplishments, acting like the most humble pony in Ponyville.
And all the while she'd acted like such a jerk, such a horrid pony to her and everypony else because of so many years of misunderstanding and unjustified resentment. This was going to take some serious work to rectify, if it could be rectified that is. All of the hurtful, hateful things she'd said and yelled for no good reason. Making matters all the more painful was how, even after everything she'd said to her yesterday, Rainbow Dash had still showed up the next day right after she'd tended to her weather duties to help in bucking apples like, as she'd put it, a good hired hoof would do, without so much as a single word to the contrary. Once her parents left this happy little moment might change for the worse. Patching things up with her parents might've actually been the easier of the two.
Finally the train whistle sounded, indicating that it was time for final boarding and anypony who was going had better get on or get left behind. Reluctantly they separated and stood back.
"We're going to miss our little golden apple," Timber Jack mused, "and our little zap apple," he continued as she turned his attention to Rainbow Dash, causing them both to giggle, "be good girls."
"We will Pa," Applejack reassured him.
"Take good care of everypony," Apple Brandy told them.
"We will...Mom..." Rainbow Dash replied, finding joy in being able to use the title again for the first time in a long, long time.
There were so many words left that needed to be said, that should be said, but there was no time left to say them in. With much reluctance and sadness on everypony's parts the two elders stepped onto the train before the doors finally closed and the train began pulling out of the station, each party waving from the windows for as long as sight could be maintained, the train growing smaller and smaller at it traveled into the horizon before disappearing from sight completely.
Now it was just Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and an uncomfortable silence left behind. A silence that was unbearable to Applejack.
"Uh...RD...ah..." Applejack began, but Rainbow Dash didn't let her finish whatever she had to say.
"We should probably be getting back to the farm Applejack, there's a whole lot more apples in need of bucking than we got this morning, even with your parents taking the time to help out," Rainbow Dash told her and turned to leave.
"RD wait, ah'm trying ta apologize," Applejack told her, causing Rainbow Dash to stop in her tracks and turn to face her. "What ah said yesterday was uncalled fer. It was worse than that it was absolutely cruel an' ah had no reason ta say any of it. Ya was jus' tryin' ta help me the best way ya could an ah tore inta ya like a pig inta a pile oo' slop an'...ah RD there ain' enough words in the world ta properly say how sorry ah am."
"Do we really need to be having this conversation right now?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yeah we do RD, what ah said ta ya yesterday was horrible an' unforgivable. Ah ain' got no right ta be asking ya if ya can, an' ah'll understand if ya can't," Applejack told her and hung her head.
"You said some pretty hurtful things Applejack. Forgiveness isn't exactly something that can just be hoofed out freely," Rainbow Dash replied. "I went through a lot of trouble to bring them here and what do I get for it all? Yelled at and told that I'm not a part of the Apple family anymore, told that I'm not your sister anymore, even evicted from what's come to be my home."
"Ah had no business sayin' any o' that ta ya RD," Applejack said as she stepped closer. "Yer mah family RD, yer mah sister an' ah love ya. Ya been there fer Apple Bloom when ah couldn' be, ya been there fer all o' us. All ya was tryin' ta do was help an' ah was horrible 'cause o' somethin' that wasn't even yer fault. Ah...ah'm jus' so sorry..."
Rainbow Dash was silent as she approached, leaving Applejack was unsure of what was going to come next. She wouldn't blame Rainbow Dash if she was going to slug her again, she really deserved it. But instead of getting punched in the face she felt Rainbow Dash's forelegs wrap around her and pull her into a hug.
"I never said that I didn't forgive you," Rainbow Dash pointed out as she hugged her close.
"Jus' like that? H-how?" Applejack asked, taken aback by it all. "Not that ah'm complainin' er nothing but...how can ya do it withou' even thinkin' on it?" Applejack asked. She'd been positive it would've taken much longer for Rainbow Dash to actually forgive her.
"Because a very wise earth pony once told me a long time ago that there's no use in holding a grudge," Rainbow Dash replied and kissed her forehead. "I never got to talk things out with my parents or forgive them while they were still alive because I was so angry at them. I don't ever want that to happen with you or anypony else now. And being mad at you over something you said when you were emotionally upset just isn't worth it. You're my sister and I love you too."
They remained together and silent, simply sharing in the comfort and company of the other.
"RD?" Applejack finally spoke up.
"Yeah AJ?"
"Will ya...will ya still be livin' at Sweet Apple Acres wit' us?" she asked hesitantly.
"If you'll have me," Rainbow Dash replied and finally disengaged the hug. "Now let's get back, those apples aren't gonna buck themselves."
"RD ah swear there are times that ah still don' understand ya none," Applejack commented as she watched the cyan pegasus leave before turning to follow her. "Mind if ah ask a question?"
"It's a free country."
"Why'd ya do it anyway? Why'd ya fly all the way up to New Manexico and work yerself inta the ground like Pa said jus' ta bring 'em back here?" she asked. "Ah know ya musta had a reason ta do it an' all."
"They're your parents AJ, I couldn't exactly not do it under the circumstances. I didn't want you to...you know, find yourself in the same situation I did, never being able to tell them how you felt. It's a horrible feeling to have," she replied and shrugged, "what can I say? We're family. Family does stuff like that for each other."
"...Mighty appreciated," Applejack replied and stepped up closer so she was walking by Rainbow Dash's side. "O' course Twilight might have an alternate hypothesis. Knowin' her she might suggest tha' ya might o' subconsciously thought ya could in some way get the kinda closure ya was seekin' wit' yer own parents bu' never did get ta have."
"Oh really? Twilight might say that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "AJ you've been hanging around Twilight too much you're starting to sound like an egghead yourself."
"Ah'm an egghead? Look who's talkin' wit' her Darin' Do series ta read," Applejack shot back.
"You leave Daring Do outta this," Rainbow Dash ordered and playfully swatted at her with one of her wings, causing Applejack to laugh which in turn caused her to laugh as well, easing whatever tension was left between them.
"Sometimes yer too much," Applejack said inbetween chuckles, "but seriously...are we good?"
"Yeah we're good," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Which reminds me...can I ask you a favor?"
"Wha's up?" Applejack asked.
"After we're done bucking for the day I'd really like that bath I was promised the other night."
She was a little surprised at the simplicity of the favor Rainbow Dash wanted from her. She'd expected something a lot bigger, something to make up for everything that'd happened over the past few days, but just a bath? "If that's wha' ya want RD, sure," she replied.
"Even with the wing scrubbing and all? 'Cause right now my wings are killing me."
"Even wit' the wing scrubbin' ya crazy pegasus, yer wort' it," she laughed. "Let's go home."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
Dear Princess Celestia,
This isn't a report on friendship, rather it's a report on family so sorry if there was any confusion when you received it.
I learned that even when family does things that make you madder than a bear stung by a bee and you can't think straight you still have to love them when all they were trying to do was help you out, and it's not best to lose your temper because you wind up saying things you wish you never would have and you regret once you calm down again. I'm afraid I learned this the hard way and it's a lesson I'm not soon to forget.
Singed, your humble subject and apple farmer, Applejack
Dear Mom and Dad,
You have no idea how good it feels to have somepony to say that to that's actually alive.
This being my first letter I really don't have much to say in terms of updates for back here in Ponyville. I really just wanted to write and tell you that I'm so thankful you could actually make the trip out here and help Applejack. You helped her avoid what I had to go through and that's worth a lot. And I really want to thank you for being so nice and taking me in like you did, now I really do have a whole family.
I was going to mark this as "signed" like I do the letters to Princess Celestia but Twilight suggested something a little less formal was appropriate. She's right of course but I don't want to tell her that so I'll finish it when she's not taking the letter for me.
Love, your little zap apple, Rainbow Dash
P.S. Can you send up any of that peanut butter?
Dear Ma and Pa,
I don't really know what to say right now other than I miss you something fierce and I feel terrible for so many years of hostility toward you.
I'm hoping to be able to come out there next month and see about lending a hoof provided nothing comes up back here at home. I hope nothing does because I really want to see New Manexico and how everypony's doing.
When I get some more stuff to tell you about I'll send another letter, I promise.
Love, your little golden apple, Applejack
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Wow... I have to say that that is some damn good writing...
While I didn't like some plot points, which is a trivial topic, I have to say that the story was amazing... I loved how it portrayed RD perfectly in terms of how loyal she is. Great stuff!
Jack
I need a doctor, no a plumber, my eyes are leaking AGAIN!
This was definitely a pretty heartwarming story overall.
The weird thing about it, for me, though, is that I found imagining RD living on Sweet Apple Acres permanently a lot easier than imagining her wearing a Stetson hat, despite the fact that the former is a larger change than the latter. Heck, I completely forgot about her hat unless it was directly mentioned within the story. So, in my mind her hat would vanish unless mentioned by the plot.
"When it comes ta family we make the time. Start talkin' dearie," Apple Brandy replied.
No, no you do not. You are both terrible Ponies and should be ashamed of yourselves.
In any case, I'm enjoying this story.
Lovely story. Applejack had a right to be resentful-I wouldn't have been so forgiving in her place-, but it was nice how far RD went for her friend.