A Rainbow of Personality

Chapter 5 (4.5)

“What in tarnation?!” Twilight and Rarity heard Applejack exclaim from the other side of the field.

“We should probably hurry over there and explain the situation to her,” Rarity said quickly, looking at Twilight.

Twilight agreed as they started running over.

As Twilight and Rarity reached the Apple Family barn, they found Applejack angry to the point she was red in the face.

“If I find the pony who did this…” Applejack muttered, pacing back and forth.

“Applejack, calm down, we can explain,” Twilight said, approaching her.

“Oh, so it was YOU who did it?” Applejack accused, advancing toward Twilight.

“No, no, no,” Twilight quickly said, backing away from Applejack, “I mean that I know who did it.”

“Who is it?” Applejack demanded. “Why, when I get my hooves on them.”

“It was Rainbow Dash, but we have to explain something first-” Twilight started.

“Rainbow Dash! I knew it!” Applejack yelled.

“Please, Applejack, listen!” Rarity begged, trying to stop Applejack as she started toward Dash’s house. “Twilight messed up a spell, so it wasn’t really Rainbow Dash who did this.”

Applejack stopped. “Fine, I’ll listen. But there better be a way to get my apples back.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said, then proceeding to explain the situation so far.

“So you’re telling me it wasn’t actually Rainbow Dash who screwed up my farm, but a clone of her pranking side?” Applejack asked as Twilight finished.

“Pretty much,” Twilight confirmed.

“If anypony else was saying that, I wouldn’t believe them,” Applejack commented. “But I’ll go along with you for now.”

(Author note: Applejack joins your party!)

“Great, it’ll help to have another set of eyes to look out for the other Dashes,” Twilight said. “Now we should probably start looking around the apple, er, pear orchard, it’s going to be dark soon.”

As the group headed into the orchard, they heard a familiar mocking voice.

“Looking for someone?” The orange Dash called from her cloud above.

“Why you-!” Applejack exclaimed. “Get down here right now and put my farm back in order!”

“Who are you, my mother?” Orange Dash replied sarcastically. “You’re gonna have to catch me first!”

“I don’t understand why you put so much energy into everything,” Green Dash commented from her reclined position on the cloud.

“If you can catch me before sundown, I’ll consider putting the apples back,” Orange Dash challenged Applejack, ignoring Green Dash’s comment.

“You’re on!” Applejack accepted.

Orange Dash sped off, nearly throwing Green Dash off the cloud in the process. Applejack began to run after her when she suddenly felt her tail get yanked backward. Looking back, she saw Twilight holding her back.

“Let me go!” Applejack yelled. “There’s half an hour left until sundown!”

“And you’ll waste that time if you think you can catch up with her, especially considering she is flying!” Twilight retorted. “Unless you can sprout a pair of wings, I don’t think you have any chance of catching her.”

“You’re right,” Applejack admitted, sighing. “So what did you have in mind to catch her?”

“Well, I can bring her down with magic, but we have to find a way to catch up with her on land first,” Twilight explained.

“I can run fast, but not that fast,” Applejack commented. “The only pony I’ve seen who can catch up with Dashie on land is Pinkie.”

Twilight’s face lit up at this.

“Pinkie said she was going to look for some of the clones here!” Twilight said excitedly. “Now all we need to do is find her.”

At that moment, Pinkie popped out of one of the nearby trees, scaring the group.

“You called?” She said.

“Pinkie, I don’t know how you do it,” Rarity said, catching her breath, laying on her “fainting couch.”

“Do what?” Pinkie inquired, confused.

“Nevermind,” Rarity replied, dismissing the question.

“Pinkie, can you help us catch up with the Orange Dash?” Twilight asked.

“Of course, no problem,” Pinkie said, happily.