All was silent and still in the air that hung over Ponyville, a shear looming glow of deep purple mounted itself high in the skies as it slowly brightened into copper. Morning tasted like sweet mountain air, the dew attempting to cling onto it's leafy perch for a few seconds longer.
The silence at last broke as birds flung themselves from their cozy nests. Singing their high toned songs; their melodies echoing from the orchards till they reached deep into the town. The brilliant burning star in the sky peaked its rays of light over the small valley just as a dust of golden leaves picked up over the slap of beating wings overhead.
A steady stream of a blurred rainbow hung behind to reflect off of a clear pond. Whipping and twirling in an unnatural pattern. The white clouds held no fight as they were quickly separated and slowly dissolved as the multicolored light broke them apart.
"So cool! Did you see that!" Over the years a certain cyan Pegasus had gained the eyes of a few Fillies; fans. These fans adored her like no other and today they had positioned themselves in the town square looking up to see the winged pony strut her stuff as she finished her daily job. Rainbow grinned down at her audience, giving a quick salute.
"Now I call that there showboatin' if ya ask me…" An orange filly rolled her eyes up at her friend, a small smile cracked her lips as Rainbow Dash started to loose control only to regain it within seconds. "That dang pony…" Applejacks words were drowned out as the group of fillies began to stomp their hooves in excitement. Applejack tightened her jaw "I don't get what all this here fuss is about."
"Oh my gosh here she comes!" The group squealed as Dash stopped her wings and puffed her chest out, her light blue feathers breathed in the open wind that had formed around her. The small amounts of rain that hung in the air stopped suddenly and touched the now blaring sun in the right way to form small glints of rainbow beams.
"Rainbow Dash!" High pitched cries of excitement came from the five ponies. They rushed over to the Pegasus who was grinning ear to ear. "Can we have your autograph!"
"Hehe sure thing, where would you like me to sign?" Rainbow put a pen into her mouth and removed the cap. Applejack stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"Oh here Rainbow! Make it out to Cherry Berry! No I was here first! Cloud Kicker, make it out to Cloud Kicker! Sign my wings I'm Sky Lyre! Stop shoving!" Rainbow pushed her way to the center of the group.
"Now, now ladies please one at a time." She headed over to a purple earth pony who held a camera. "How about you, what's your name?"
"S-S-Snappy Scoop." Rainbow smiled and sighed the ponies camera. Snappy's eyes rolled back and she fell over.
"Oh, my turn next!" The other ponies squealed. "Lemon Tart! It's spelt L-E-M…"
Applejack hadn't noticed herself staring until Rainbow grinned at her. The group of fillies let out sighs of admiration as Dash trotted past them and over to her friend; her hooves barely touching the ground.
"Hey Applejack, what's up?" Rainbow's grin widened. "Who knew you were one of my many fan fillies. Where would you like me to sign?" She laughed loudly at Applejacks glare.
"Is it just me or dose somepony seem a bit full of herself?" Applejack had to let out a laugh as her friend raised a brow.
"So if your not here to witness my awesomeness…then why are you up so early?" Rainbow squinted her snout; she hated mornings so for somepony to actually want to get up this early was crazy talk.
"Well ya'll see everypony is up and at um this mornin'." The orange earth pony pointed her hoof around. About everypony in Ponyville was up and cleaning, setting up posters and balloons.
Rainbow's ears went back as she looked around in a circle and back to her friend who was now putting on an apron. The freckled pony looked up, her jade eyes examining her friends confused face. "Don't tell me ya'll forgot what t'day is?" Dash scratched her head. "Gesh Rainbow ya'll have been too up your own snout to remember? Today is Ponyville's very own FairFesta!"
"What! That's today!" Her pink eyes lit up as she did a quick back flip into the air, causing a few of her fans to clap. "Oh boy oh boy oh boy! I can't wait, tonight is going to be so awesome! The games, the activities, the laser tag, and oh Celestia…the food!" Rainbow pranced around her friend, unable to control her growing excitement as she thought about Ponyville's fair.
"Now simmer down there Rainbow we can't have ya'll going Pinkie Pie on us till all this here work is done and…" Applejack was cut short as a purple unicorn placed her two front hooves onto her cart. "…oh hey there Twilight what ya'll up to?"
"Oh so much and the day hasn't even started yet!" Twilight Sparkle shouted louder then necessary as she examined the cart of apples. "I'm placed in charge of this years fair's up most organization and preparation…oh I have to do good or the Mayor might…the Mayor might…what will the Mayor do to me if I was to mess this up. Would I be banished, or would I just become the laughing stock of Ponyville?" Twilight panicked as she pulled out a book labeled 'Ponyville Festivities.' "This is Ponyville's very own FairFesta, I just have to get it right!"
"Hey calm down there sugar-cube, I am sure ya'll just the pony for the job." Applejack gave the purple pony a small nudge of encouragement.
"Ya who else would want to do that type of thing anyway?" Applejack gave Dash a warning glance but the cyan pony ignored her. "And besides if your doing all the book stuff we can keep your clumsy self out of the way."
"Alright Rainbow I think she got the picture." Applejack smiled at the now frowning unicorn.
"Anyway Rainbow Dash good job with the clouds, and Applejack you have done a great job with your fruit… That's right, fruit! The cakes sent me over to get some for their pies." Twilight took out a check list and pulled out a pen. "I think three dozen should be good for now."
"Three dozen it is…um Rainbow could ya'll be a good sport and fetch a basket fer Twilight here?" Rainbow rolled her eyes and pulled a basket from the top of the pile and placed it next to her friends. She watched closely as Applejack bucked the side of her cart sending thirty-six apples directly into the basket.
"Wow, that was so cool!" Applejack smiled at Rainbow's delight, Twilight raised a brow…normally AJ never was a pony to show off.
Twilight paid for the apples and adjusted the wicker basket onto her back. She started to head off only to pause and turn around. "Oh I almost forgot…" She pulled out her checklist again and crossed off both Applejack's and Rainbow Dash's names and then handed them two decorated cards.
"Huh, what are these things for?" Rainbow studied the gold and white trimmed card, she pulled on a bow only for it to bounce back into place. "Looks like it came right out of Rarity's fu-fu shop."
"That's because it did." Twilight stated as she grabbed the frilly card from Rainbow, she opened it up and a bunch of small hearts and streamers flung out.
"Dang, good thing I didn't open that up mid-flight or I may have crashed…" Rainbow nudged Applejack on the shoulder as Durpy Hooves smashed into the side of a building above them; streamers floating down from the crash sight. "Ouch! Maybe I shouldn't of said anything…" Applejack let out a small snort at Rainbow's expression.
"Hey will you two pay attention, I only have time to explain this once!" Twilight motioned her two friends to sit down as she explained the contents of the card. "This year for Rarity's booth she has decided to host a 'Love Competition."
"Sppppt…hahaha "love competition" that sounds soooo lame!" Applejack shoved a hoof over Rainbows mouth.
"Ignore her sugar-cube, I think what Rainbow is trying to say is…what in the haystack is a "love competition"?
"Well Rarity normally hosts something to do with her fashion boutique but this time around she wanted to do something…different." Twilight pointed back to the opened card. "So she decided to host a Love Competition to see who is the most liked couple in Ponyville all…"
"HAHAHA!" Rainbow fell on her back, tears streaming down her eyes. "'Most liked couple"…hahaha that is rich!" Applejack smashed her hoof back onto Rainbow's face; pining the Pegasus down.
"Please continue Twi.."
"Well like I was saying, all you have to do is write down the names of the couple you like the most. They don't have to be a couple that is already together, just two ponies that you think belong." Twilight smiled. "But you can't put your name down and…" She looked over at Rainbow Dash as she started to gag on her laughter. "…everypony has to fill one out!"
"Whoa there a second, dose everypony really have to Twi? I'm not really one for that there whole love stuff, it makes me get a bad taste in my mouth." Applejack pouted, and Rainbow tried to make a joke only getting mumbles out due to the orange ponies hoof firmly in place.
"Sadly….yes Rarity has Spike counting the cards that return, she will track down everypony until they are all turned in." Twilight moved in and lowered her voice. "And she can get real ugly when upset."
Applejack nodded and grabbed Rainbow's card from Twilight handing it to the Pegasus. "Then we will get right to that."
"Who did you put down then?" Rainbow rubbed her jaw as Twilight turned around.
"Well…" Twilight looked between her two friends, a small blush forming on her snout. "…why would you care?" And with that the Unicorn was off.
"Well this stinks." Rainbow was still sprawled on the ground, she blew at one of the loose streamers. "Love competition…so lame."
"Come on now, get over yourself Rainbow and just humor those two will ya?" Applejack patted her friend on the head a few times before sitting down and opening the card a few inches from her face so that she wouldn't be surprise attacked by the ribbons.
"Oh I will do more then just humor them!" The blue Pegasus laughed as she grabbed her pin off of her friends cart. "I am going to write down their names sense they both like this love stuff so much!"
Applejack felt her face heat up, "W-What? Hang on there ya'll don't mean…" She looked over as Rainbow wrote, 'Rarity' and 'Twilight Sparkle' in the two empty spots. "Rainbow you can't do that!"
"And why not?" Dash cracked her signature half smile, seeming rather pleased with herself.
"Well, b-because they are both fillies and…"
"And what, don't tell me you have a problem with special some-fillies?" Despite Rainbows serious tone her smile widened at the orange ponies face.
"Well of coarse not sugar-cube, but Rarity is going to be all kinds of frazzled when she finds out what ya'll did." Applejack couldn't help but shift nervously.
"Really?" Rainbow stood from the dirty street and took a few steps toward her friend, she put her snout next to Applejacks ear and whispered. "Because, AJ the only pony appearing to be frazzled is you." Rainbow's grin widened. "Does something about filly love get you flushed?"
Applejack couldn't move as she felt the heat of Rainbow's breath against her ear. She couldn't help but notice her light blue flank still glistening with sweat, the dirt from the road smeared across her cutie mark.
"Rainbow…ya'll filthy." Applejack stated bluntly as Rainbow's face went white and her pink eyes widened. "Oh not like that!" The farm pony gently pushed her friend away. "You perv! I mean to say ya'll have mud and sweat on your flank."
"Wha?" Rainbow looked over herself; pouting as she examined the caked pits of mud starting to form on her coat. "Not cool." She let out a small sigh. "Guess I have to go wash up before the fair, see you tonight AJ! Oh and give Spike my card will ya!" Without waiting for her friend to answer the powerful Pegasus spread her wings and was gone in a flash of rainbow.
"Ya see ya…Rainbow." Applejack shook herself off as a cold shutter went down her spine. "That dang pony needs to learn how not to joke around so much…"
She turned around to see Rainbow's fan fillies staring at her. Snappy Scoop taking a quick snap shot of the orange filly. Applejack rubbed her eyes from the unexpected flash. "Do ya'll need something'?" They quickly turned away. Applejack shook it off and turned back to her task of apple stacking.
(Rainbow's POV)
Rainbow grinned as she soared above the clouds the adrenalin the rush of never ending speed, a race with the wind itself. She twisted her lean mussels into a quick back flip, tucking in her wings to extend into a set of spirals. This is what she lived for, her being…her everything…jade eyes, curvy flank, light mane…beauty… her eyes widened as she sharply snapped to the side.
"Crap…"She grinned her teeth together as she followed air pockets, trying to loose speed. Quickly she tucked into a barrel roll; snapping her wings out to catch as much air into her extended feathers.
She was panting heavily, beads of sweat formed on her brow. Not because of her close call, no she got into near accidents on a daily, sometimes getting seriously injured. Her breath quivered. "Dang it, that is the second time today that…" Rainbow bit down on her lip. "Why do I always have to think of her, that stubborn, annoying, country pony!" She kicked the air before letting herself fall down onto a cloud.
"Applejack…why does it have to be you?" She pulled a pile of damp cloud under her head. "Nap…a nap is all I need to clear my head." She closed her eyes and let out a large yawn.
The sun was up and high, drying off the salty perspiration on the Pegasus's lean body, dust flew in the air and twirled around the busy town of working ponies. For tonight's FairFesta would be like no other. Sometimes it takes more then a nap of clear ones thoughts…..
(Applejacks POV)
"Well that's the last of em'." Applejack smiled at the customer who just purchased her last apple barrel. "Apple Bloom do ya'll mind letting Big Mac know that were in need of more apples down here pronto."
"Sure thing big sis, I'll be back in a jiffy!" Apple Bloom beamed.
"Actually ya should take ya time, get some lunch or somethin' I have to go and hum…have a little chat with Rarity." The older sister patted the cards that rested Inside her apron.
"Oh are ya talking to her about that Love Competition?" Apple Bloom beamed.
"What in the hay, don't tell me Rarity has got ya'll youngins votin."
"Well of course she does, every pony in Ponyville means every pony." The small filly frowned. "And besides I am mature enough to know love when I see it! Unlike some pony who can't even smell it when it's up her own nose." The red headed filly laughed at her own joke.
"What do ya'll mean by that?" Applejack raised a brow.
"Nothin'" Apple Bloom giggled and pranced away.
"Now I really have to have a chat with Rarity." Applejack turned the sign on her cart to closed and began to head deeper into the town, to a certain Unicorns place.
"SPIKE! SPIKE! I need more tinsel!" Applejack paused outside the neatly primed house of the one the only: Rarity.
"Of course my sweet right away…"
"Oh and more rubies…SPIKE or you listening to me? It is rude to keep a lady in waaaaaiting." The orange earth pony took a deep breath and walked into Rarity's boutique.
The small bell above the door dinged as Applejack walked in. "We are closed for today, can no pony read…" Rarity began before noticing who it was. "Oh Apples darling sorry about that, it seems like I am a bit tired."
Applejack gave her a weak smile, "Oh it's alright sugar-cube."
"So what can I do for you today sweetheart?" Applejack cringed slightly at the name, she really couldn't stand Rarity at times.
"Well ya'll see it's about these here cards and…"
"Oh that, Spike is in charge of the cards dear. Just a moment SPIKE!" Rarity smiled at Applejack before turning around. "Now excuse me I have five hundred and ninety-two more of those…sweet little cards to make."
"Spike is at your serves my lady." The small purple dragon clapped his heals together and saluted.
Rarity waved in the direction of Applejack, "Apples darling is in need of some assistance, it seems as though the card was to difficult for her to follow." Applejack grinned her teeth together.
"Why ya little pompous vermin…" Applejack mumbled before Spike moved her over to the side.
"It's not really a good idea right now to make her upset." He looked over his shoulder to make sure Rarity wasn't listening. "She bit off way more then she could chew this time with the whole card thing."
"That's what I wanted to discuss with ya'll, first off having youngins vote on the area of love isn't right." Applejack put her hoof over Spikes mouth as he attempted to talk. "Secondly, why in the hoot do I have to fill one of these dang cards out?" Applejack lifted her hoof from the baby dragons mouth.
"Because Rarity worked hard on them and…" He was interrupted as a hoof was placed back.
"Well that's all on her, thirdly here is Rainbow's card." She handed the folded piece of paper to the dragon. "And here is mine, note that it is not written in. If ya want ya'll can fill it out."
Spike nodded as Applejack removed her hoof. "I will just tally up another Rarity and Spike vote for your card, and give me a sec…" Applejack watched as Spike opened Rainbows, a slight smirk lit up her features as she saw the look on Spikes face change.
"WHAT!" Spike screeched loudly as he read over Rainbow's card multiple times. "How could Twilight do something like that to me, am I not her baby dragon!" The dragon banged his head on Applejacks legs.
"Umm sugar cube, it was Rainbow's vote Twi had nothin' to do with…"
"And Rarity must think me a horses uncle if she thinks she can get away with this!" Applejack watched as Spike started walking back and forth. "Your lucky you and Rainbow have…" Spike stopped and put his hands over his mouth.
"Me and Rainbow?"
"I didn't say anything, as the official tally keeper I am bound to keep my mouth zipped! You will never get anything out of me!" Spike smashed his head on the table; knocking himself out.
"Well that sure was random…" Applejack waved a quick goodbye to the busy Rarity before heading down a long path that slowly turned to orchards. "Time to get all washed up before the Fair…"
Noise flooded the valley as the hard working residence of Ponyville prepped their town with decorations. A sear looming glow of bright orange mounted itself high in the skies as it slowly darkened into deep blue. Night air brought new life to the valley, the bright paper lanterns speckling over the darkened canopy, illuminating the streets once more.
"My fellow Ponyville residences…" An echoing voice flooded the streets. "The Ponyville annual FairFesta has begun!" The Mayor clapped her hoofs hard on the stage followed by the rest of the ponies.
A steady stream of a blurred rainbow hung behind to reflect off the crowd. Whipping and twirling in an unnatural pattern. "Dang it, I overslept." Rainbow let out a yawn. "And I still need a shower!"
