Chapters “Thanks again for helping me find my chickens Twilight.” A yellow Pegasus was walking underneath a thick canopy of leaves. Even during a cloudless day such as today, the overgrowth blotted out most of the sun, leaving the Everfree Forest dimly lit.
“No worries Fluttershy,” the purple unicorn walking beside her responded, “next time you’re fixing your fence though, make sure the chicken coup is closed.”
The pair walked through the forest, keeping close to the edge, lest they lose themselves.
“I will! I don’t want those poor chickens to get lost again.” Fluttershy’s soft voice was filled with worry as she spoke. “I hope none of those poor dears are scared.”
“I wouldn’t worry, judging by the trail of feathers, I’m sure they are both close by and safe.” Twilight reassured the Pegasus.
After walking for a while, the purple unicorn stopped in the middle of a small clearing.
“What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked tentatively as she stood capturing the different sights and sounds of the Everfree.
“I think we should split up here to start searching for your chicken. We can cover more ground and bring them back here.” Twlight’s horn was suddenly wrapped in a purple aura as she arranged a quick and crude cage to hold the chickens they found.
“I don’t know Twilight… are… are you sur-“
“Of course I’m sure!” the lavender mare interrupted, “You don’t have to worry or be afraid Fluttershy, it’s the middle of the day. The Everfree Forest is different during the day.”
Twilight was right. During the day, the Everfree wasn’t as scary as usual, Fluttershy thought to herself. It almost had a calmingly magical feel to it. Still-
“Okay…” the Pegasus drew out the word, her head low as it panned the trees.
“I’ll start looking south, you can start north. We’ll meet back here in about an hour if we don’t find anything, okay?”
Fluttershy nodded, and with that, the two ponies parted to search for some chickens.
________________________________________________
“It’s almost been an hour, and I couldn’t find any of them.” Fluttershy continued to walk, her gaze scanning the bushes for any sign of her poor chickens. “Well, I should head back and see if Twilight found them.”
Immediately Fluttershy stopped, her eyes widening to a realization. She had no idea where she was. Her heartbeat starting to pick up pace, her legs starting to weaken and shake, the yellow pegasus was frozen in place.
The Everfree Forest may indeed be less scary during the day, but being lost was scary no matter what time it was.
What should I do? What should I do? The meek pony’s mind started to race, her breathing getting heavier under the anxiety.
“Help!” Yet her cry was nothing more than a squeal caught in her throat.
No need to panic , she thought. If she just stayed here, Twilight will find her soon, or she would get everypony else and they would all search for her… But by then it will already be dark!
Frightened by the prospect of being lost and alone in the middle of the Everfree at night, the poor mare collapsed into tears. The birds and insects continued to sing their happy songs in the distance, the sounds of the forest ignoring the lone sounds of sadness.
“Now what do we have here?”
Startled, the yellow Pegasus shot up, her eyes red and puffy, tears flowing beneath.
“I apologize for startling you little miss, however, I noticed you here alone crying.”
A dark green stallion aproacehed her slowly, his gray mane and beard hanging heavily from his head and face. His deep brown eyes peered from under thick eyebrows, staring at her.
Looking at this strange earth pony, Fluttershy seemed to calm down. His presence made her oddly feel safe and at ease.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“yes…”
“What was that dear?” he stepped closer, head leaning in to hear the shy mare.
“I…I’m okay…” Fluttershy responded through her erratic breaths and receding sobs.
“So what is a sweet young filly, such as yourself, doing alone in a forest such as this?”
“I’m not alone – well I am right now – but I was with my friend,”Fluttershy slowly started to regain her composure. “She was helping me search for my lost chickens. We split up, and now… and now I’m the one that’s lost.”
Sounding defeated, the poor pegasus lowered her head, her long pink mane covering her face.
“Well then, let’s get you unlost!” The stallion slowly walked past her before turning his head over his shoulder. “You coming?”
Fluttershy just stood there, staring at that strange stallion. She knew she shouldn’t trust random ponies, especially ones you meet in the Everfree Forest alone, yet – she felt like she could trust him. Something about this mysterious earth pony made her feel almost… happy.
Cautiously, the mare put one hoof out and slowly started to follow the mysterious old stallion.
Walking through the forest, Fluttershy noticed all sorts of woodland creatures ducking in and out of the trees. The few rays of light leaking through illuminated the forest in such a beautiful way. As she continued to follow her guide silently, she was filled with the same amount of awe and wonder that flooded her the first time she came to the ground, the same day she earned her cutie mark and discovered her affinity with animals and nature.
“So, is that your friend over there?” the stallion said, breaking the silence.
Fluttershy had noticed he stopped, and she saw Twilight ahead, next to a cage full of chickens. Almost without thought, she ran towards her friend.
“Twilight!” she screamed softly.
Catching both the unicorn’s attention and the pony herself, the Pegasus embraced Twilight Sparkle.
“Fluttershy-” the lavender unicorn said, struggling to breath under the tight hug, “there you are.”
The pegasus dropped her hooves around Twilight, and noticed her friend a complete mess. Stepping back, Fluttershy saw Twilight’s disheveled mane, strands of hair jutting in various directions with sticks and leaves woven in. She noticed that the purple unicorn was also lightly bruised and beaten as well as slightly charred at her tail.
“Twilight,” Fluttershy asked with concern, “What happened to you?”
“It’s a loooong story,” Twilight responded with a deadpan expression, “At least it looks like you were able to find all the chickens by yourself. Good job!”
Shocked after noticing the cage full of chickens, she turned to respond to Twilight.
“I didn’t find any of the chickens, in fact I got lost.” Pointing toward the direction she just ran from, “If it wasn’t for that old stallion over there-“
“What stallion?”
Glancing over to where an old dark green earth pony should be standing, stood a great oak tree.
“Well, in any case, we have all your chickens.” Twilight said, “We should start heading back before it gets too dark.”
The two ponies counted the chickens to make sure they were all there. After a triple check by Twilight, the unicorn wrapped the cage in a purple aura; levitating it, along with the chickens, and starting toward the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.
The yellow Pegasus looked back at that great oak tree. Staring at it, she felt like it was starting back at her, yet it soothed her and made her feel… happy.
“Thank you” she said quietly before trotting to catch up with Twilight, leaving the oak tree smiling behind her.
A hard day’s work is always rewarding. Taking time to relax is just as fulfilling. Applejack never got too much time to herself, seeing that she saw to Sweet Apple Acres almost twenty-four seven. Sometimes a mare just needs space to let go and be herself. Although she was a hard-working country earth pony to the core, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have more to her.
Being such a hard-working and reliable pony meant something. It didn’t just mean what everypony saw, it meant living up to certain expectations and to a certain picture. It meant living on one side of the coin. On the rare occasions she got time off, Applejack could let loose and relax.
“Applejack!” a white unicorn approached the orange earth pony, “How are you doing dear?”
“Well Rarity, I’m doin’ quite-“
“Shouldn’t you be be up at Sweet Apple Acres bucking apples? It is that time of year is it not?” Rarity interrupted, albeit cordially.
“Considerin’ what happened the last time I worked non-stop buckin’ apples by myself, Big Macintosh thought it would be good for me to take my time off.” Applejack said.
“Well you sure deserve it Applejack.” Rarity was just about to walk off before turning around to invite the country pony for a cup of tea at the café. “Twilight was supposed to join me today, but she is helping poor old Fluttershy find some lost chickens.”
“Much appreciated Rares, I have some time to spare before my appointment.” Applejack said, joining Rarity as the two walked off towards the Ponyville Café.
As the two ponies reached the café and found their seats outside a waiter came up rolling a large silver cart in front of the pair, the cart full of an assortment of different loose-leaf teas and a steaming kettle resting on a hot-pad on top. After choosing from the wide array and being poured their teas, Rarity chuckled before taking a sip from her cup.
“I would have never thought to see sompony such as yourself enjoying a nice cup of tea like this.”
Slightly annoyed by her friend’s oblivious yet well-intentioned comment, Applejack responded to it matter-of-factly,
“We may be complete opposites, but that don’t mean I don’t enjoy doing some girly frilly stuff once in a while.”
“And I’m not saying that this is girly and that you don’t enjoy being a mare once in a while darling, but you’re so… tom-boyish that – well, sometimes it seems that Applebloom almost has two brothers instead of just one.” Rarity said, trying her hardest not to sound mean.
“Didn’t we resolve this here topic at Twilight’s first slumber party?!” Applejack said, her voice rising and her face showing a mix of annoyance and hurt.
“We did, and I apolojize for saying such a thing. It’s just that-“
“All you ever see is a rough-an’-tumble country pony who takes work over fun any day.” Applejack stood up from the table and sighed, “Thanks for the tea Rarity, but I better get goin’ before I’m late for my appointment.”
Before Rarity could do anything, the earth pony walked away from the table towards her original destination.
________________________________________________
*Brrrriiinng!*
“Ah, Applejack!” said a pink earth pony with a blue mane, as she moved from behind her desk to greet Applejack, “We only see you at the spa once a year, you should come more often. Working on a farm day-in and day-out must wear you down.”
“Thanks” Applejack said to Aloe as she cloaked the country pony in a white robe.
Settling into the pool of water, the earth pony let out a long sigh and sank lower as she let the warmth run deep into her
“Applejack?”
Immediately the earth pony froze in place and looked up, only to be met with the face of a very apologetic Rarity. “May I join you?”
“I don’t see why not.” Applejack snorted, “Never thought to see me in a place like this either?”
Rarity stepped into the hot tub and inched herself closer to her friend.
“Applejack, I’m really sorry for what I said, it was wrong of me. Sometimes I forget that ponies are more than just one-sided.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Applejack said brooding.
“You may be a tom-boy and have a tough shell, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a mare with feelings too. Even you deserve to act ‘girly’ once in a while.”
Easing up, Applejack wrapped her hooves around the unicorn and held her in a tight embrace.
“You know, you may be a superficial drama queen-“
“Hey!”
“but even you have more to ya’ than what other ponies see.”
“Thanks Applejack.”
“You too Rarity.”
The two friends let themselves go and sat there relaxing in the spa side by side.
“Hey girls.”
Looking up both Rarity and Applejack were surprised to see Twilight Sparkle here.
“Twilight?” Rarity and Applejack said in tandem, “What’re you doing here?”
“Would you mind if Fluttershy and I join you?” the purple unicorn said walking into the steaming water ignoring the question.
“Fluttershy is with you?” Rarity asked.
Joining the other three, the yellow pegasus squeezed in between Twilight and Rarity.
“So what are you two doing here?” Applejack inquired, “Weren’t you two off searchin’ for chickens?”
“Well…” Fluttershy started.
“It’s a long story.” Twilight finished.
Returning to Carousel Boutique after a nice evening with her friends at the spa, Rarity set off to work on her greatest design yet. As the white unicorn was working, she couldn’t help but laugh to herself when thinking back to Twilight’s story.
“Oh poor dear,” she said to herself chuckling, “how ever do you turn finding lost chickens into such a fiery ordeal?”
Rarity was flying all about her work room, grabbing fabric and patterns, threading needles, and setting bobbins. Being a master at her craft, the mare found it easy to finish outfits almost without thought, allowing her mind to wander to other places.
“If it were me in such a situation,” Rarity stated aloud, speaking to nopony but her mannequins, “I would have found those chickens without any trouble.”
Searching around the boutique trying to find her scissors, the white unicorn’s mind wandered to thoughts of Twilight searching the forest with various and unnecessary scientific instruments.
After finding her pair of scissors and levitating a long stretch of fabric towards herself, the unicorn cut out a small pattern from said fabric before gently laying the newly cut pieces down on her sewing table.
I wonder what I would have done in her hooves? Rarity paused thinking to herself.
Continuing to work, yet mind free, the fashionista allowed her imagination to take hold as she searched the Everfree for those lost chickens.
~~~
“Naughty things!” Rarity screamed as flame-clad insects approached her with fiery hisses, “Shoo! Go Away!
“Help!” She panicked, “Won’t some pony save me?!”
The popping and hissing of the Fire Bugs were the only response, their immense heat starting to scorch Rarity’s white coat.
“Oh woe is me! Alone in the Everfree Forest surrounded by these… things, and no chickens in sight!”
A voice boomed in the distance, “I will rescue you fair maiden!”
There at the top of a hill, shone a beautiful white stallion, his golden locks shimmering in the wind as he ran forth to rescue this damsel in distress.
Without allowing any time for the Fire Bugs to react, the brave young knight bucked them away, shooting them far above the forest’s canopy. The demons vanquished and the white mare saved, he approached Rarity, his chest held high.
“Are you alright my lady?” The deep rumble of the stallion’s baritone voice sent shivers down Rarity’s spine as he spoke softly, yet with power.
“Why, yes good sir,” Rarity responded hiding her face behind her purple mane acting as demure as possible, “but I still have these chickens to find. Lost and alone, whatever shall I do?”
Looking deep into her eyes, “Are these the chickens you have sought after?”
Almost out of thin air, the stallion produced a large cage full of clucking chickens.
“Yes! However can I repay you?” the white unicorn asked as she fell into his arms.
“No repayment I necessary, seeing such a smile on a beautiful creature as yourself is enough for me.”
Leaning in close, the two ponies were inches away from each other as their lips edged closer and closer until-
*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*
Jolted from her day dream, Rarity had to groan in disappointment.
*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*
“Coming!” She yelled from upstairs as she ran to answer the door, “Yes?”
“Hey Rarity!”
“Why hello Pinkie Pie.”
Jumping up and down excitedly, the party pony handed the dressmaker a small envelope as pink as the former. “It’s an invitation to a sleepover party at Sugarcube Corner this weekend!” Pinkie Pie said, enthusiasm and pure delight almost visibly exploding from her mane.
“Why thank you dear, but wouldn’t the Cakes mind having guests sleepover?”
“Oh! We don’t need to worry about that!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “The Cakes are going on vacation so that Pound and
“Well, I don’t think I have anything too important planned the next few days… Oh why not?” Rarity said with a smile.
“Yay! That’s just two down and four more to go. See ya later Rarigator!”
Before shutting her door, the unicorn watched as the pink earth pony jumped off towards the library. Chuckling to herself, Rarity let out a soft sigh. “Even if I was cut off from such a great dream, a sleepover does sound fun.”
Why did I agree to do this again? Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she darted in between buildings, hiding beneath their looming shadows cast by the light of the moon above.
I have to find somewhere I could hide!
“Rainbow?” A hushed voice called out, loud enough for the Pegasus to hear, but quiet enough to remain undetected by Ponyville’s sleeping residents.
What could I do? If I don’t get out of here now, they’ll find me!
Frantically searching for an escape, Rainbow Dash had no choice.
“If I fly out I’ll be caught for sure, but if I don’t they’ll still find me…” The rainbow mare closed her eyes and cursed as she thought of her only solution, “I have to fly up. If I’m fast enough I could probably make it to a cloud or something…”
Her muscles tightening.
Okay. One…
“Rainbow.” Hoofsteps could be heard echoing along the walls of the alley she was hiding in.
Her nerves firing off.
Two…
“Rainbow Dash.” The voice was getting closer.
Her hooves sweating.
Three!
Just as the silhouette of a unicorn stepped onto the ground Rainbow Dash was, there was no mare to be found. Swiftly yet silently, the cerulean pegasus shot directly to a cloud lazily floating above her.
Made it just in time!
“I know you’re in there Rainbow Dash!”
Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened and her face sunk.
Did she… really-
“I already saw you as you darted towards that cloud Rainbow.”
Engulfed by a glowing purple aura, Rainbow Dash was gently dragged out of her safe haven, or what she thought the cloud could have been.
“Found you!” Twilight Sparkle said as she brought her pouting victim floating upside down in front of her.
“Oh good job Twilight!” Rarity said congratulating her friend.
Arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed, Rainbow held her silence in defiance of her captors.
“Oh come on,” Twilight said bopping her gently on the nose, “Turn that frown upside- Oh wait…”
Smiling at the joke, the unicorn let her friend loose of the magical restraints.
“So I’m guessing I’m it now?” Rainbow scowled.
“Oh knock it off,” Appejack said cantering up to the pair along with Fluttershy, “You won anyways.”
“But I don’t like being it! I’m not good at finding other ponies.”
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms again and fell on her haunches pouting.
“Don’t be mad Dashie! It’s fun being it!” Pinkie jumped out from behind Twilight startling the ponies there.
Composing herself after being surprised by Pinkie, Twilight spoke up. “Well, be that as it may Rainbow, you’re still it, so close your eyes and count.”
“I’m tired now though,” Rainbow said, feigning a yawn, “Let’s all head back to Sugarcube Corner and relax for a little before hitting the hay.”
“You’re only saying that because you were caught.” Rarity chimed in, “How about just one more game then we can all head back?”
“Fine…” With a heavy sigh of disappointment Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and started counting, “One Hoofington, Two Hoofington, Three Hoofington…”
As her friends lay asleep strewn about the room, Twiligh Sparkle sat staring out into the night sky from the window of Sugarcube Corner, musing over all that has changed since her first time in Ponyville. The lavender unicorn scanned the sky, Luna’s dazzling night sprinkled with shimmering dots of light. By itself each star was its own, unique and special in their own ways. Together though they created a fantastic pointillism above Equestria. Enraptured by such and awe inspiring sight, Twilight’s focus was tuned in on nearly empty portion of the sky.
All alone, distanced from her sisters, it’s a wonder how anypony could have found such a sad and dimly lit star. Twilight found her, and the mare gazed into the light thinking about how lonely she once was.
“You know… I was like you once.” Twilight whispered to the little star, “I used to be all alone, my light faint.”
“I used to think that I didn’t want any friends because I had more important things to do,” Twilight continued in a hushed voice, “The truth was, I was lonely because I was afraid… Afraid that nopony would like me.”
The star didn’t respond, yet Twilight thought it did get slightly brighter.
“After Shining Armor left for the Royal Guard, I decided to keep to my books and studies, the stories I read and the knowledge I learned being the only friends who I knew wouldn’t look at me strangely. Then Spike came along and I had a new brother I could do everything with!” Twilight closed her eyes and smiled as she thought back to her times with Spike in Canterlot.
“I was content, to me Spike was the only friend I really needed. Still… there was just something missing. Eventually though I was sent here to Ponville, and after that my entire life changed!”
“That small empty feeling that I had, it vanished. Filled by…” Twilight turned her head around to look at her friends.
“Kind hearts,” Fluttershy was curled in a ball wrapped snuggly in a blanket cocoon, a tiny smile on her face.
“Fun friends,” Pinkie Pie was lying in her bed, her legs twitching as if she was prancing in a field in her dreams.
“Selfless souls,” Rarity was sound asleep in a lavish pink sleeping bag, an eye mask covering her face.
“Faithful companions,” Rainbow Dash was on top of her sleeping bag snoring, legs sprawled out and her mouth wide open.
“True sisters.” Applejack was sleeping peacefully on her side, her arms hugging her hat close to her chest.
Turning back to the star, Twilight noticed something. Squinting her eyes and looking closely, the unicorn saw five other stars had appeared next to the once lone light.
“Goodnight.” Twilight whispered to the star, smiling.
Pulling a blanket over herself and laying down her head, the unicorn drifted off to sleep. Dreams of fantastic adventures with her friends filled her head.
It wasn’t fair. Standing there watching Rainbow Dash practicing her tricks, soaring through the blue sky and swimming amongst the clouds under the warmth of the summer sun, it made Pinkie Pie sad. No matter how hard she tried or what she did, she would never be able to experience flying side-by-side with one of her bestest friends. It just was not fair.
The pink pony continued to smile and cheer on the pegasus, her normal boisterous demeanor masking her true thoughts. Helping her friends have fun doing what they love was what the party pony was all about. The earth pony could always share a picnic with Fluttershy and her woodland creatures, she could always help Twilight as she performed one of her experiments, and bucking apples beside Applejack and the apple family at Sweet Apple Acres was no problem, even enjoying a simple stroll across Ponyville with Rarity was something Pinkie could do with one of her best friends. The one thing the outgoing earth pony couldn’t do however was taking to the sky. To fly alongside Rainbow Dash, doing everything a friend should be doing when helping with aerial tricks.
Dashie was one of Pinkie’s closest and dearest friends. Ever since what happened with Gilda the griffon, those two ponies became even closer. Thinking back, Pinkie Pie was pretty sure that this was one of the real starts to their strong friendship. Ever since then, Rainbow would always seek out the pink pony if there was a prank to be pulled or if she just wanted to hang out, or even when she needed help with her aerial performance. It was fun and Pinkie always loved every second she spent with Dash, but watching Rainbow made wish that she could do more.
As Rainbow Dash finished looping around a cloud, Pinkie noticed the rainbow mare swooping down towards her. Landing beside the pink pony, the pegasus thanked her for spending the day together. Laughing and giggling, Pinkie Pie started hopping up and down as the pair headed back to town. As the two continued back to Ponyville, talking about all the amazingly awesome and fantastic tricks performed by the cyan Pegasus, Pinkie caught a glimpse of something in her friend’s eyes. In her eyes, amongst Rainbow’s usual pride and sureness, the earth pony saw something else. She saw gratitude and love. In her friend’s eyes, she saw the bond that close friends share, unique and almost unknowable. Yet Pinkie understood. She saw that she didn’t need to fly with Rainbow Dash at all. She understood that she just needed to be there for her. Even if she wasn’t flying alongside Rainbow Dash, just being a good friend and making her smile was everything she needed.