The Royal Rainbow

by ALICORN_RAINBOWDASH

First published

RD has been born an alicorn, and she's very confused about life in general.

RD has been born an alicorn, and she's very confused about life in general. She's never eaten an apple, never gotten a cutie mark, never have even known about The Wonderbolts. She does all of these for the first time with hurdles in the way.

Ch. 1

View Online

The Royal Rainbow
********************
In the outskirts of Ponyville, there was a quiet little forest with a tiny, wooden cottage. A lily-white pegasus mare with a purple shimmering mane and tail, Starlight, was pregnant and was about to give birth. Starlight and her mate had to birth the foal outside because their house was quite small. Her sides bulged so large, she couldn't even see her own tail. Her mate, Midnight was concerned why her sides were so abnormally big.

Midnight had to encourage Star a lot before he could even start to see the foal. Even before the whole foal was out he saw something incredible.

“Ughh….” Starlight moaned she thought that this birth would surely tear her insides out.

“You’re almost there!" Encouraged the big black stallion.

"Come on one more big-“ He was cut off by a loud moan.

“Ugh…...I think… it’s…out…” Starlight said breathlessly.

“Starlight, you've done it! Oh wow.” The stallion eyes go big as he sees something very different about this foal.

Starlight heaves. She looks at the towering jet-black, dappled stallion of her dreams, Midnight, and smiles a weak smile. Midnight's eyes were full of concern.

“Well, what is it?” Starlight asks. The big, black stallion looks at her with sad, golden-amber eyes.

“She…S-She isn't normal, um…well-“ Midnight struggled to get the words out.

“Well what? What’s wrong?” Starlight demands. She is too weak to get up and she couldn't look over her own sides.The aura of Midnight's horn comes to life in swirls of gold. He lifts up what Starlight just gave birth to. A large,transparent rainbow-colored rock with a single baby alicorn embedded into it. No umbilical cord, heck, it wasn't even alive!

“No,” Starlight’s ocean-blue eyes widen with shock, “It can’t be…” Starlight stares straight into her partner's burning amber eyes and whispers something barely audible. The winged pony is too weak to move. Midnight just stared at the transparent stone.

“We must report to Princess Celestia at once.” The pegasus shakes her head. She couldn't go all the way to Canterlot after a birth such as this one. She wants to stay here to rest.

"You." Star says. "You need report to Celestia. I am too weak to move." Midnight is hesitant. He would much rather stay here, but he must tell the princess. He nuzzles Star, he puts the stone in a sack and levitates the stone what is their child and then gallops off toward the royal towers in the mountain.
***
He finally arrived at the huge gates of the royal castle. 'Thank goodness I'm here!' Midnight thinks to himself. 'My horn was getting very tired.'

Two guards stood outside.

“Why do you wish to see the Princess?" one of them ask, "She is very busy.”

“My wife just gave birth. This was no normal birth. It was an alicorn.” Midnight replies. The two guards look at each other and laugh. 'What a petty excuse to go into the castle! This stallion has no mare with him!' The other guard speaks.

“Nonsense. These are all lies. Now get o-“ Midnight sees red.

“Lies? LIES?! Do you think I would lie about something this serious? Birth is not a joking matter. I have proof!” He uses his horn to lift the sack off of the stone that was birthed out of Starlight.

“See? I must now see the Princess!"The guards are shocked. After a minute or so of gaping, the left one speaks,

“Y-Y-Yes! G-Go r-right ahead!” The two guards lift their spears and let him enter. Midnight recovers the rainbow rock with it's protective casing and walks in. The lights are dimmed into a soft haze. He steps inside the royal castle. He is awed by the architectural structures.

The brand-new parent enters the large doorway to see Princess Celestia sitting on her throne with all her glory. The goddess of night sat next her, with her piercing blue eyes fixed on Midnight.

“What do you wish, young pony?” Princess Celestia says as she gazes down at him. He bows down to her.

“Princess Celestia, I’ve come a long from Ponyville to show you something.” Midnight sets the stone down and removes the sack that has been keeping it a secret. He glances up at the princess.

“This is what I have come to show you.” Celestia and Luna gasp. They merely stared at the stone.

“It cannot be!” Exclaims Luna, “No, it is real. This pony is not fibbing!” Celestia walks toward him.

"You must be very tired from your trip." Says the alabaster alicorn, “Where is your partner? I want you two to rest here together, tomorrow may be an eventful day.” Midnight's eyes widen in shock. He and Star resting in the royal palace? He couldn't turn this down. The food, the rooms, the pools! He had to.

"She is at home." Replies Midnight."She was too weak from such a hard birth to come." Celestia nods, she knew how hard birth is.

"I see." replies Celestia, "I must travel now, before it's too late." The shimmering alicorn looked at Luna. The goddess nodded, as if to say, 'The pony's mate can come.' Celestia turned back to the stallion before her, her eyes stone cold.

"Our little home is 528 Birchcreek Avenue, West Ponyville." He gave Celestia his address of their small cottage to retrieve Starlight. Midnight was so curious why Celestia was so urgent to get Starlight and bring her here, with no guards, nothing. He also was awed that she could teleport herself to that address and bring back another pony. The magic of the alicorns was beyond belief.

With a glow of Celestia's horn, she vanishes. Midnight is standing with Luna and a pink alicorn. " You must be Cadence, married to... uh..." Midnight blushed furiously. Luna starts giggling and Cadence laughs, "Yes, I am Cadence and it's Shining Armor. He's the head of the guards." She smiled sweetly.

A mere second later, Starlight is on her feet next to Midnight and Celestia is back on her throne. The alicorn stone was before Midnight and Starlight's hooves. Midnight recovers the alicorn embedded in the rainbow stone ,and levitates it. Starlight nuzzles Midnight reassuringly.

"Luna," Celestia says in an inquiring voice, "Would you do me a favor and show these ponies to a room?" The dark alicorn nods.

"Why of course, my faithful sister." Luna replies, drawing her attention toward the ponies standing before her.

"Come," the midnight alicorn says, "I shall show you to a comfortable laying room where you two can regain the energy you need." The pair looks at each other, stifling a giggle. The alicorn sure did talk funny. Regaining composer, they walk out of the room, and down the royal blue hallway to their bedroom where they would stay for the night.
***
The next morning started with a sunrise that Celestia made, and it was beautiful. Streaks of gold and red, pink and maroon, yellow and orange complimented the rising yellow ball of fire amazingly. They couple nuzzled as they watched in awe. After the lights show in the sky ended, they heard a delicate knock on the door. They jumped at the noise even though it was a slight one.

"Come in." Midnight said, expecting to see a mare with a breakfast cart. Which there was, but it was behind the ruler of Equestria.

"P-Princess Celestia," Stuttered a surprised and confused Midnight, "What-What do you need?" Celestia looked solemn.

"I must speak to you." The royal voice came softly, like it was hiding a secret. The breakfast mare hurriedly delivered the morning meal and quickly passed on, shutting the door behind her.

"Whatever do you need?" Starlight asked, looking up at Celestia while she ate her dandelion meal. Celestia forced a smile,

"Starlight, how did you sleep? Are you more rested than the day before?" Inquired the alabaster alicorn. Starlight nodded.

"Yes, I slept very well. Much better than yesterday. These beds sure work a miracle!" Starlight replied sincerely as she patted a hoof on the mattress. Celestia gave another forced smile and nodded.

"Very good! I'm glad." The alabaster mare's face fell again as the couple finished their meal.

"There is something more I have come for, ponies. A more grave detail." The princess replied.

"It is the stone." Her purple eyes drift over to the shelf it is placed on. Midnight follows her gaze. He knew this wasn't something he would like.

"Do you know anything about it?" The alicorn questions. The mates shake their head.

"All I know," Says Midnight, "Is that there is an alicorn in it, and Starlight gave birth to it." Starlight nods in agreement.

"Both very true. That stone has a long history. That is the protective casing of a princess, and there is only one way to open it." Celestia's face is grim. She looks like she is sick to her stomach. She proceeds with her speech. "You two have to open the stone. Luna agreed with the decision, but Cadence didn't. She thought that another alicorn would bring chaos to the royal castle. That it would over power the decisions made. I told her that she then could spend all the time she would like with Shining Armor, without the worries of the castle and royal problems. She really liked that idea and agreed." Celestia said.

"Who's Shining Armor?" Starlight asked in confusion, not knowing that Midnight has vague knowledge of him. Celestia pauses a moment to moisten her throat before answering.

"He is the head guard and he's married to Cadence. He's a very hardworking and knowledgeable pony. Celestia smiled a brief moment, seeing that Starlight understood what she had explained. He smile soon fell, getting back to what she was there for.

"Do you ponies have an idea how to open the stone?" The couple shake their heads, waiting for the alicorn to go on. Celestia looks grim once again. Her bottom lip was quivering. "You ponies...you must...you must decease. Your love for each other is the strongest thing on this planet, stronger than any magic. It is the only thing that will break the stone and free the foal."

The ponies just sat there, shocked. They never even had the slightest notion about death. Pegasus looks at unicorn. Unicorn looks at pegasus. Both are utterly crushed. They weren't even able to spend time with their one and only foal. Tears streamed down Starlight's face. Midnight gripped her and crying silently. Celestia looked like she was about to bawl, but she was supposed to be the strong one. After a half hour or so of comforting, Celestia looked at them.

"W-Will-Will you... will you sacrifice yourselves?" Celestia asked quietly, her purple eyes welling up. The couple looked at each other, they nuzzled one last time and follow Celestia back to the throne room where Luna was waiting. Luna called to a guard to get Cadence. The guard saluted and galloped out of the room.

Celestia set the stone down by the two ponies, and stepped back. Cadence suddenly bursted into the room, huffing. Celestia looked at the ponies and nodded. Midnight looked Starlight, then at the stone. He puts is on hoof on it and so does Starlight. They suddenly start to glow. The 3 princesses shield their eyes, the light was blinding. Electricity rockets throughout the room. A loud boom sounds around the room and then, silence.

Ch. 2

View Online

“What the..?!” A squeaky voice rings out. The princesses snap their heads up, They see a teenage mare in the center of the room. The rainbow shards from the stone lay scattered at her feet. The confused mare is a cyan blue color with a rainbow colored mane and tail. She swishes her tail. Her eyes lock onto Celestia. She pinned her ears flat back and her beautiful eyes narrowed.

“Where am I?!” She demanded. She glared at the princesses with hard, cold, heartless eyes. After a second or two, the mare's stance softened, “Who am I?” She looked at the ground. Her rose-pink eyes started to glisten.

“Welcome. Your name is..." Celestia pauses. She eyes the teen. The parents never had given her a name. The mare before her intently looks at Celestia, swishing her tail again. Celestia is torn, she isn't sure if she should give her a name, or let the mare decide. After a moment of pondering this predicament, Celestia quickly replies, "You don't have a name young pony. Your parents never gave you one. ” Dash just stared at her.

“This isn't right,” she said, “ I’m a teenager, I was just born, and my parents, who aren't even here, didn't bother to give me a name?” The pony huffs. Her eyes narrowed again.

"Where the hay even are they? They don't even care about me?" Luna looked solemn.


“Your parents sacrificed themselves for you." Luna replied, “All alicorn parents have too. It's a thing that's for another day.” The mare looked down at her feet. A single tear rolled down her right cheek.

“So I’ll never see them… ever?” The cyan pony squeaked. All 3 princesses nodded, their faces grim. She broke down. Cadence walked down the stairs to comfort her. “I’ll take you to where you will be living.” Said Cadence in a low, soothing voice with her right wing over the teen's back. She nodded, still sobbing, and walked out of the room and down the hallway.
***
As the blank-flanked teen stepped into the light of her new bedroom, she was at peace. Her sobbing had stopped and she was renewed with confidence. The bedroom was a bare stone bedroom with a king size bed in it.

“It needs decorating,” said Cadence, “but otherwise, it’s fine for now.” the multicolored mare nodded. She still couldn't believe herself. Her parents gone, an alicorn foal who was really a teenager. 'That makes absolutely no sense.' she thought.

“You should explore the village, go in some shops, meet some new ponies, I’m hoping you'll make many new friends!” Cadence explained and smiled. The cyan alicorn returned the grin. Cadence turned and cantered back the throne room.
***
The mare sighed.
‘This all is happening too quickly!’ She thought to herself as she paced around the room, looking at every little crack in the wall, she walked over to the large mirror on the wall, gazing into her own refection. Her eyes traveled over every line of her body, as if tracing her own body on paper. She stopped at her flank, studying it. ‘Didn't the princesses have something there?’ She tried to hack at her mind at what it was called but couldn't come to think of it. She sighed as she heard a quiet knock on her door. Startled, the cyan mare used her horn to open the door, coming to look at a very cute stallion.

"Hello... ma'am." He said, obviously nervous.

"Hi," the mare replied, "Can I help you with something?" She asked, curiously wondering why the cobalt-maned pegasus was at her door.

"Um... I came to, uh, give you, um, this basket from the, uh, princess." He said blushing furiously, pushing in a large food basket with is wing.

"Where would you like this?" He said, "If I can come in that is." The rainbow tailed pony smiled sweetly,

"Of course you can come in, put it on my bed please." The rainbow alicorn watched him put it on her large bed, and turn to walk out the door. She caught sight of the stallion’s marking on his flank.

"Wait," The mare said, "What's the thing on your flank called?" The stallion was startled, his large emerald-green eyes glanced at her flank.

"It's a cutie mark." He replied smiling. The cyan pony smiled,

"How do I get one?" He laughed, "You get it by doing something you enjoy and it's your special talent." He grinned, "My names Soarin'. What about you?" The rainbow tailed mare sighed, walking over to the window leaning out of it, watching the activity below the castle.

"I don't have one, I was born today." She said, rubbing her head since she was still trying to wrap her mind around it. She felt a hoof lay on top of her back. She looked back and saw him looking at her with his emerald eyes gazing at her.

"Hey, it's fine, He said, removing his hoof from her back, replacing it with his soft feathered wing.

"Maybe we can brainstorm some." She gazed into his eyes, her stomach doing back-flips. She really liked this stallion.

"Okay, sounds good." He started to lean toward her, until a the door of her room slammed open, sending them both flying up into the air. She saw an angry yellow mare with fire colored mane standing in the large doorway.

"Really Soarin'? The princess sends you up here to deliver a small food basket to the new princess, and the next thing I know, you're flirting with her?! Really?" Soarin's cheeks burn. He looks into the alicorn's rose-irises and then at the huffing pegasus in the doorway. He lands and hangs his head, folding his wings in the process.

"Sorry Spitfire." He mumbles, following her to the doorway. He looks back a the alicorn.

"Sorry. Talk to you soon?" he asks sweetly. The cyan pony nods and chuckles.

"See you soon, Soarin'." She closed the door behind him and walks over to her new bed, thinking of Soarin' and slept a long night’s sleep.
***

Ch. 3

View Online

A few days later when she awoke in the morning, the teenager knew what she would do today. Decorate her room! It was so boring and gray and she wanted to liven it up with color. The mare wanted to go into town and look in the shops see what there is to see.

She took to the skies. The wind rushed through her long, graceful, colorful mane. She climbed higher and higher and sped above the clouds, racing the wind. The cyan alicorn loved it. "Maybe I'll earn my cutie mark in flying!' She thought, thinking of the conversation with Soarin', thinking of his sweet smile. She felt the adrenaline rush, the whistle of the wind as it rushed past her ears, the gentle, soothing strokes of the air combing her mane. She was in heaven.

After a few minutes she sighted the town and darted down. Faster and faster she streaked downward. Something formed at her hooves, it was clear, but it soon turned orange and looked like a band of electricity. She stayed calm as it formed a triangle around her. She sped forward, as a loud boom went off. A sonic boom and a rainbow all at once, a sonic rainboom! The mare had done the impossible! She whooped and did a back-flip, a rainbow tracing her movements.

As she streaked toward the ground, She saw the faces of shocked and awed onlookers. She slammed to a halt, the cyan pony heard cheering. She looked around, grinning. As the dust settled, a gasp arose around her.

“An alicorn?!” One pony said.

“We were not informed of such!” another angry pony yelled.

“Easy all,” The alicorn spoke with much authority in her voice, “Do not be mad at the princess, she is in the process of an assembly! Celestia is my guardian mother. Please, give Celestia the time she deserves.” She didn't want the ponies mad at Celestia, she was only born the other day for Celestia’s sake! A beautiful white unicorn with a purple mane and tail stepped forward.

“Why of course darling!” She said and smiled. She was stunning, especially with the diamonds on her flank. A western-looking pony popped out of the crowd and stood next to the unicorn. She was and orange-ish colored pony with a golden mane and a brown hat.

“Of course we'll give Celestia her time." She said. The teen alicorn grinned sheepishly, she wasn't used to attention like this.

“Alright, alright! Everypony please, go back to your lives.” She said pleadingly. The crowd scattered all over the town. As the rainbow-maned mare looked around wondering which shop to go into first, a young orange pony with a magenta colored mane walked up to her.

“Um, miss?” The filly said. The cyan teenager's rose-colored irises looked down. The younger pony's eyes were full of awe. The mare smiled,

“Yes, little filly?” Her eyes lit up when the alicorn said that.

“I just wanted to say that what you just did, was AWESOME!” Her little wings fluttered.

“Why thank you-“ the teen paused. She didn't know the pony's name.

“Scootaloo! My name’s Scootaloo. What your name?” The eager pony replied.

“Thank you, Scootaloo. That was awfully nice of you. My name is... well, I don't have a name." The mare replied. Scootaloo looked puzzled. Then she gasped.

"I know what your name could be! Rainbow Dash! I thought of that because you're so fast, and your mane is a rainbow!" The ecstatic pony looked at the cyan alicorn. The alicorn pondered this name. 'It's an awesome name. I thought it would be something cheesy like, Fastie or something. But this name is awesome!' the mare thought. She looked at Scootaloo.

"You know what little filly, I actually really like that name! I think I'll keep it." Rainbow Dash the alicorn smiled. She gave the little filly a noogie. The little foal squealed. Dash laughed.

"Thanks for the awesome name little Scoot." Dash said, "Now you better run along to your parents. I don’t want them worried.” Scootaloo's face went from awed to mournful. She poked her hoof into the ground and her ears drooped.

“I-I don’t have any parents,” She said, “I never have.” A tear rolled down her cheek. Dash was disgusted with herself. She made a filly cry for Celestia's sake! She felt terrible. Rainbow Dash couldn't leave a little foal roaming the streets! Dash had to take Scootaloo with her.

“I don’t have any parents either.” Dash quickly replied. “I never have.” The filly's crying stopped and her face lightened.

“Really? No way!” The little pony exclaimed as she fluttered her tiny wings. Rainbow laughed.

“Way, and I’ll make you a deal," Dash explained, "You come home with me today and we keep each other company. Deal?” Her face brightened. A smile cracked across the young filly's face.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” She jumped to her feet and grabbed her scooter.

“Follow me!” Dash yelled and she charged onward to the castle with a small pony behind.

Ch. 4

View Online

The second Dash stepped into her castle room, a tiny filly bolted inward sliding to a halt.
“This is awesome!” the Scootaloo squealed. Rainbow laughed, she walked over to her bed and flopped down on it, watching the little filly wander around her room, peering into every nook and cranny. The filly looked at Rainbow and gasped.

"How did you get your cutie mark?" Dash's head snapped up.

"I got my mark?" She whipped her head around and grinned at her flank. It was a primary colored rainbow coming out of the underside of a cloud.

"Oh my gosh, Scoots! I had no idea!" She flew up and swooped down on Scootaloo
picking her up. Dash flew out of the window gripping on to the filly. Rainbow sped upward to cloud level and snapped her wings shut, letting herself fall until the very last moment. The orange filly she was gripping onto in her arms squealed with delight. Dash laughed as she flew back into her room.

"Wow Dashie, it took you a long time to get your mark!" Dash laughed.

“Believe it or not little Scoots, I was born only the other day.” She looked at the filly. The little pony's face was scrunched up with confusion.

“How are you a teenager then?” she asked. Dash stood silent for a moment.

“I was wondering the same thing myself. I never have asked the princess. Would you like to come with me to ask her?” Dash inquired.

“Sure!” She replied with a hop. They trotted down the red carpeted hallway. After a few minutes, Scoot and Dash trotted straight into a guard, who stopped them.

“HALT!” he said, “What is the meaning of this filly here?” He said glaring harshly at the cowering filly in between Dash's legs. Rainbow stepped up to him, Her chest and forehead pressing against his.

“How dare you inquire a princess! I am free to do what I like, is that clear?” Dash's rose-pink irises were strict and cold. The guard looked startled.

“Y-Yes ma’am. G-Go right a-ahead!” He then galloped down the hallway, tail tucked between his legs. Dash looked at Scootaloo with eyes full of sorrow.

“Sorry about that Scoot, I didn't want you kicked out.” Rainbow apologized.

“That's okay,” she said, “I understand.” Dash grinned softly and trotted forward. Turning the corner, Dash bumped into him. The very same stallion she had saw the other day and instantaneously liked him. He was a pale cornflower blue with a darker blue-gray mane.

“Hi Soarin'. ” Dash said sheepishly with rose red cheeks as the blue pony stepped to the side, letting her pass.

“Hi.” He replied, his emerald eyes shimmering. I blushed a shade even darker as we trotted on.

"You like him, don't you?" teased Scootaloo. Dash guessed that she saw her inferno red cheeks.

"Maybe." Rainbow replied with a sly grin. Scoot then winked at her and briskly trotted forward.
***
As Scoot and Dash stepped into the royal room where the princesses sat, Celestia was deeply into a letter to somepony Dash had not yet met.

"Hi, ma'am." Dash said politely. She looked up as Scootaloo popped out from behind my tail, the three royals raised their brow at me.

"I'm sorry ma'ma, I-" Celestia cut her off.

"Don't be! We're merely surprised that you have a filly with you. Now what is it?" Dash glanced at Scoots. Scootaloo got the message and bounded into the question.

"Well," started the tiny-winged filly, "We were both wondering, since Dash was born yesterday, why is she a teenager?" With this statement, Celestia raised a brow. Scoot looked at the rainbow-maned pony that towered over her, She smiled and stepped closer to Dash.

"Dash?" Celestia asked questioningly. Dash looked down at Scootaloo, who was clinging onto Rainbow

"Rainbow Dash, actually. This little filly right here, Scootaloo, named me after I got this," Dash said, showing off the branding on her flank. Princess Luna and Celestia smiled.

"Well done, Rainbow Dash." Celestia said, a grin on her face as she glanced at the orange filly next to Rainbow.

"Back to your original question, why Dash is a teenager is still to this day unknown. Scientists are still trying to figure it out." Celestia replied, Luna sitting next to her nodding in agreement.

"Quite." Replied Luna.
'Well that didn't help much.' Thought the cyan mare and smiled.

"But then, how do I know the Equestrian language? And know how to do math, and science, or writing?" Celestia nodded,

"Yes, I do see where you're coming from, When out of the stone, you have the knowledge of a advanced senior pony in High School, Where you will be going any day now. Again, we still don't know where it comes from, it's almost impossible to figure out." Rainbow was fascinated. Scootaloo's eyes were full of awe.

"Thanks princess." Scoot said as Celestia gazed down at the pair. Dash nodded in agreement.

"You're welcome." she replied as they trotted out the room.

Ch. 5

View Online

As the foursome galloped toward Sweet Apple Acres, they heard a distant booming sound of a western mare’s laugh, accompanied by the high pitch squeaking of another mare. Dash flew low, steadily flapping her wings, and hovering over the three fillies, her shadow engulfing them.

Scootaloo looked up, eyes full of awe like the day she first met her, even though it was that morning, it felt like ages ago. Dash smiled, and the filly returned it. The orange pony looked back to the dirt path on which she was traveling.

“We’re here!” cried Applebloom, as she sped over to Applejack. Sweetie trotted over to Rarity and hugged her. Scootaloo looked at Dash, and walked over to the sisters.

“Hey AJ, Rarity, we have something to show you.” Scootaloo said. The mare’s looked over at Scootaloo, and then traveling up to meet Dash’s eyes. Both of their eyes widened.

“Oh my!” Applejack exclaimed. Rarity nodded, “Oh my indeed!” She said, studying Dash.

“Who might you be?” questioned Rarity, “If I may, that is.” Dash laughed, she smiled at the mares,

“Oh no, I don't mind. I’m Rainbow Dash, me and Scootaloo we were hanging out with each other today, and she told me about you two.” Dash said, glancing at each of them, then down at Scoot. Scootaloo smiled, and Rainbow rustled her mane.

“Well, then,” Applejack said, “Ya’ll are always welcome here. You want some apple cider? Or maybe some apple pie?” Dash smiled, “Sure! I’d love that.” The six ponies turned and trotted up toward the main barn, slowing as they got near. Applejack opened the door and held for the other 5 ponies, closing it behind them.

“GRANNY SMITH, BIG MACINTOSH! GET YER’ PONY HIDES DOWN HERE, WE GOT GUESTS!” She took a breath and smiled apologetically, “Sorry ya’ll, didn’t mean blow yer’ drums.” She pointed to the large mahogany table with her hoof.

“Ya’ll can sit there, Ah’ll go get the apple cider while Granny and Mac gets the pie ready.” Applejack said, as two more ponies came down the stairs. A large red stallion was first to appear, he helped an older light green mare down. As the stallion, Big Macintosh, turned, his eyes widened. He was quiet for a moment, as if not sure what to say the rainbow-maned alicorn sitting in one of the chairs.

“H-Hi, ma’am.” He stuttered, his voice deep. Dash smiled, “Hello there, Mac, I’m Rainbow Dash.” She replied, “Do you need any help?” He shook his head. “Nope.” He smiled, and walked out.

“So, Rainbow Dash, what’s it like living in the castle? I mean, I’ve been there before, and stayed a week, but that was in the guestrooms. And why have we never seen you at school? It’s senior year, the last school year ever.” Rarity asked looking at Dash quizzically. Dash glanced at Scootaloo and then at her.

“Well, Rarity, the castle is pretty awesome, it has a great view from my room and a mare delivers each meal. And why you haven’t seen me before, is because I was born only a few days ago.” Dash said, hoping Rarity understood. Rarity nodded, “Yes I guess I can see that about the castle, but the whole born only a few days ago? I’m not sure.” Dash sighed.

“Well, Celestia said that it’s a mystery the pony scientists are trying to find out.” Rarity pondered this for a moment. “Yes, I have an idea too. My friend, Twilight Sparkle, is a exceptionally smart pony, and maybe she could find out something.” Dash nodded. The aura of her horn came to life, magically spawning a small piece of paper and a quill. She scribbled something down quickly and floated it to the graceful unicorn. “Okay, maybe another day. Here’s of the number of my room phone, call whenever.” Dash smiled, admiring the pretty unicorn. “Okay.” She said as Applejack returned.

“Ah got yall’s cider!” She exclaimed, holding a pitcher of golden juice. “Rar, would ya be a dear and get some glasses for all of us? Granny and Mac too.” Rarity smiled, “Of course, AJ!” Her horn come to life, it opened the mahogany cupboard and pulled out eight glasses, placing them in front of all the ponies. AJ carefully poured hot cider into each, having just enough for everypony.

Before AJ even sat down, Granny and Mac came in with a large steaming pie. Mac placed the pie in the middle of the large table, and helped Granny into the tall chair. AJ looked at Rainbow, “Would ya like to cut the pie?” AJ said holding the pizza cutter in her hand. “Sure, I’d love to.” Dash said lifting the cutter magically. She delicately cut the pie in eight slices as Rarity placed plates. Rainbow put a slice of the hot apple pie in front of everpony.

They all dug into the pie, Dash loved it, she had never tasted apples or, for that matter, apple pie. She finished first, stifling a large burp. Looking around, she noticed she was the only one done.

Locating Applejack, she smiled, “Wow Applejack, I’ve never had apple pie, actually, I’ve never even had apples!” Applejack’s eyes went wide. “What.” She paused, pondering the statement, “Are ya pullin’ mah leg? What ponies never had an apple?” Dash sighed, and told everypony the story about how she was born and all, and they just stared.

"Darling," Rarity paused, not sure what to say, "Are you sure? You didn't hit your head or anything? That's quite, er, different." AJ pondered it for a moment.

"Ah'm not entirely sure how it makes sense, but Ah guess it has ta." Applejack added, “Well shoot Rainbow, ya shoulda came ta me a lot sooner with this whole apple thing! Ah'm sure ya can see Sweet Apple Acres from ya castle room! And Ah'll whip ya up some nice fritters next time for sure!" Applejack smiled pleasantly. Rainbow return the smile gladly.

"Yeah, I can see Sweet Apple Acres from my room and I would love to eat "fritters" soon, anytime works for me!" Dash also scribbled down her number for her castle room and glanced out the window.

"Boy, it's getting late, I better head back to the castle. I'll see you guys around?" Dash said sighing slightly since she didn't really want to leave. She just realized the girls were absent from their chairs, and her heart sunk a little. 'I didn't even get to say goodbye to Scootaloo!

"Well Ah'm sure ya'll be hearin' from me soon." Applejack replied swishing her long tail behind her.

"And also from me darling! I'll help you style your mane to look dashing!" The three mares laughed at Rarity's pun and said their farewells. Rainbow Dash walked out into the cold night, spread her massive wings, and darted away into the night sky.