Chapter One :: The Mane Five
It's a Magical Life!
written and edited by Kingy!
To forum #54588, where it all began, the Utah Bronies, The MLP club at SUU, all my awesome fans and to anyone in need of a little 'magic'.
Chapter One :: The Mane Five
Snow was falling over the rooftops of Ponyville. Large, puffy snowflakes clinked softly against the cheerful windows, which were glowing with light and invitation. Wisps of smoke hovered out of every chimney, for cozy fires accompanied each home, the inhabitants trying to keep warm from the bitter cold that knocked on their doors. To an outsider, who may have been visiting Ponyville to defrost their hooves and spend the night at the Pony Inn, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary would have crossed their mind if they looked upon the quiet streets, quickly being hidden by the falling snow. No passerby would have suspected a thing, glancing into those windows and seeing the jaunty decorated trees or the wrapped up families sipping hot cocoa and tea, for Hearth’s Warming Eve was upon Equestria. Soon, fillies and colts as well as mares and stallions of all ages would be slipping into their warm beds, both eager for the morning to come.
But further on down the road, snug cottages were replaced by the dark, bare trees of Sweet Apple Acres, stripped from all their apples months before and standing useless until the dawn of spring. Once beautiful and full of life, the forest lay ugly and forlorn, but such were the effects of winter. Nopony in their right minds would be out in misery such as this, the temperature dropping into the negatives, both Celsius and Fahrenheit. But the sound of a trot of hooves nearby proved there could be such a daring being in the midst.
A blue pegasus, bundled up from head to hoof, had just emerged from the forest, shivering deeply and making her way towards the hoof-shaped arch that gave entrance to the property of a great red barn. Unlike the other residents in Ponyville, who were without a care in the world, the pegasus’s face was riddled with anxiety. Her pink cheeks, flushed with cold, matched her bloodshot eyes. Entering the arch, the pegasus gave a long look back through the desolate forest, sniffling. With a look of utmost defeat, she slowly moved her head away and breached the farm’s threshold.
The pegasus opened the front door to the home connected to the barn and walked in to its warmth. The pegasus called Rainbow Dash shook off the cold her clothing couldn’t keep out. Glancing around the room, she noticed the usual furniture that had been present there the day before was gone; dusty outlines were all that remained, giving the home as empty of a feeling as the trees out in the forest. Cabinets, clocks, chairs and tables were absent as well. It could have been moving day…except for the fact that not a single box lined the floor. The sight wasn’t new to Rainbow Dash, but each time it met her eyes, it was still as depressing as the first.
Several ponies were lying on blankets of the sitting room floor, very close to each other. Their eyes darted behind the pegasus as she entered the room, expecting another accompanying her, their faces falling when they realized this wasn’t so. Rainbow Dash gazed emptily toward them, feeling exactly the same.
“She’s gone,” said Rainbow Dash quietly. A touch of her anger could be felt in her voice. The first to respond was the pony nearest to her, a purple alicorn with a mane the colors of early night.
“What about her tracks?” asked Princess Twilight Sparkle, standing up. “Where were they going?”
“I dunno, they’re already covered,” said Rainbow Dash, throwing her beanie to the floor. “Stupid snow.”
“Do you…do you think she’s on her way to the Oranges’ in Manehattan?” asked Rarity, shivering herself at the thought of such a cold journey.
“It’s too far,” said Rainbow Dash, shaking her head. “She’s stupid, but not that stupid.” She pulled her fuzzy jacket over her head and threw it down next to the beanie.
“Rainbow,” said Fluttershy, offended. “She wasn’t stupid…just very upset…”
“Whatever,” said Rainbow Dash, sitting down and folding her forelegs. A purple hoof-shaped bruise was forming in the middle of her chest, now visible, as though somepony had kicked her. The other three ponies glanced at the bruise and then looked away hurriedly. Noticing this, Rainbow Dash changed the subject.
“Where’s Pinkie?” asked Rainbow Dash, scanning her friends.
“She’s still upstairs with the others,” said Twilight Sparkle sadly. “She still hasn’t said a word to any of us.”
“Figures. I’ll go get her…”
Rainbow Dash sighed and got back on her hooves. She ascended the wooden staircase, trying to avoid glancing up at the many smiling portraits of the Apple family on the walls, which were the only decorations that still remained upon them. She entered her friend Applejack’s bedroom to find three ponies upon on her bed: Granny Smith, Big Macintosh and Applebloom, Applejack’s immediate family. Applejack’s bed was the only piece of furniture in the room.
Pinkie Pie was pacing around the room solemnly, barely glancing up at Rainbow Dash when she noticed her enter. Unlike her usual bubbly self, Pinkie looked irritable and pouty, laughter nowhere to be found in her usual animate eyes. Rainbow Dash ignored this for a moment and turned to Granny Smith.
“D’ya find her?” asked Granny Smith, although she already knew the answer.
Rainbow Dash hung her head, her ears drooping. “I’m sorry, Granny.”
“Granny smiled weakly. “Don’t be sorry, Rainbow. Applejack has run away many times before. She’ll come ‘round.”
“Eeyup,” mumbled Big Macintosh absentmindedly.
Applebloom was fast asleep against Big Macintosh, curled up like a lapdog. Applejack’s Stetson was lopsided on her head, as though she was keeping it warm until Applejack decided to come back home.
“Has she been wearing that this whole time?” said Rainbow Dash quietly.
“Mhm,” said Granny, stroking the filly’s mane. “I reckon it gives her comfort, having somethin’ personal like Applejack’s Stetson with her.”
Rainbow Dash looked at the three of them sadly. Since she had ever been friends with Applejack, they had considered her a part of the family. The Apple family had always been notorious of their humble and giving nature, which was why Rainbow Dash felt so terrible. Coming up to them empty-hoofed and not being able to repay that kindness in some way left her with even more guilt; a considerable portion was already sitting on her plate. After all, she was responsible for all this in the first place. If she had been able to control her anger with Applejack, none of this would have happened.
As sorry as she was, Rainbow Dash wasn’t a quitter. A new plan just had to be made. Her ears perking back up, she slapped on her game face and her wings shot out instantly, prepared to do whatever it took to fix this. If it meant freezing her flank off outside up until dawn, she could handle it. Another stupid roadblock was no match for her.
“C’mon, Pinkie,” said Rainbow Dash in what she thought was a final tone, turning to the pink earth pony. “Let Applejack’s family have some alone time.”
Pinkie stopped and leered at her. A manticore would have been less intimidating. Knowing only too well what Pinkie’s temper was capable of, although exercised very rarely, Rainbow Dash took a step back.
“Pinkie, please—”
“Just give her a while, hun,” said Granny wisely. “We’re all goin’ through the same thing. Go see what Twilight wants to do. Maybe think about turnin’ in as well. Y’all are welcome to stay the night.”
Sleep hadn’t even crossed Rainbow Dash’s mind, but she nodded anyway. She gave Pinkie an annoyed look before walking to the door.
“Yes ma’am. Thanks.”
Rainbow Dash trotted from the room and glanced out the window on the landing. Snow was beginning to thicken into a flurry, and the wind was picking up. A knot tugged in her stomach. What were they going to do? They had chased after Applejack in the past once before when she had been defeated in the Canterlot rodeo, but conditions were far worse: It was late night, a blizzard was on the way, and worst of all, as much as they didn’t want to admit it, Applejack wasn’t planning on returning this time.
Nevertheless, Rainbow gritted her teeth and hurried back down the stairs.
“No dice?” asked Twilight when Rainbow Dash had returned.
“No dice,” said Rainbow Dash. “So what are we gonna do?”
“Well,” said Twilight, heaving a great sigh. “Let’s look at the facts here. It’s dark outside, a blizzard is underway and we have no feasible idea where Applejack could be hiding right now. Going out and looking for her in these circumstances doesn’t seem like an idea that holds any common sense—”
“Well facts they may be, dear, we have to do something,” said Rarity, who had wrapped herself up in her own blanket. “Get a hold of the police!”
Twilight shook her head.
“I’m not bothering with the police on Hearth’s Warming Eve. This is a friendship issue. A matter I need to take responsibility for. Just because I’m a Princess now doesn’t mean I’m going to put that responsibility on somepony else—”
“If it’s anypony’s duty, Twilight, it should be mine,” interrupted Rainbow Dash. “I told her to get the heck out of here in the first place!”
“I have an obligation to believe Applejack left on her own terms, Rainbow. Not because you alone were angry with her.” Twilight glanced down at the bruise on Rainbow Dash’s chest, but not looking away this time.
“Yeah, but—”
“Twilight is right…Applejack hasn’t been herself for weeks...,” said Fluttershy.
“Months, I’d say,” said Rarity. “Ever since…well—”
“Alright, fine,” said Rainbow impatiently. “But again, what are we going to do? Just sit around on the floor all night until Applejack becomes an ice pop? Doesn’t seem like a great example of friendship to me.”
Twilight heaved another big sigh and walked to the kitchen window, glancing up at the bombardment of snowflakes.
“I’m going to have to fly to Canterlot.”
Rarity gasped. Even Rainbow Dash shivered slightly. Canterlot was no Manehattan in terms of distance, but it was still below freezing outside. Was Twilight insane?
“But…Canterlot is miles away, Twilight,” said Fluttershy. “You’ll catch pneumonia out there…”
“Why, Twilight?” asked Rarity in disbelief.
“Celestia will know what to do. I hate bothering her at a time like this…but we have no other alternative.”
Rarity and the others exchanged uneasy looks.
“I’m going with you, Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash, picking her beanie back up off the floor.
“No,” said Twilight. “I need you to stay here and look after Applejack’s family. Keep them company. I know you really want to help, Rainbow, I really do, but Applejack’s family needs more help than I do at the moment.”
“But Twili—”
“No, Rainbow,” said Twilight, stomping a hoof with a loud clunk. Immediately, Rainbow Dash’s mouth shut magically, as though her lips had suddenly been glued together.
Rarity and Fluttershy, who looked on the verge of requesting to go with Twilight as well, froze. Rainbow Dash stared, shocked that Twilight had done such a thing to her.
“Look,” said Twilight softly, advancing to Rainbow Dash, who was still looking stunned, “I know how you feel, Rainbow. We all do. But it’s my duty as a princess—”
“Twilight…,” piped up Fluttershy suddenly. She winced when Twilight looked her way, afraid she was going to magic her mouth shut the same way. “Twilight…Rainbow Dash has been friends with Applejack longer than any of us…don’t you think she has the right to be the one who gets to decide? I mean…it makes sense…you know….”
“Fluttershy is right, Twilight, if Rainbow Dash wants to be the leader, I believe she should be the one who’s in charge—”
“As true as that may be, girls, Canterlot is miles and miles away, and we don’t have much time—”
“Rainbow Dash is the fastest pegasus around, dear,” reminded Rarity. “How would speed be an issue with her?”
Twilight obviously didn't expect this big of a quarrel. She started towards the door. She turned back to the three of them.
"I'll be back as soon as I can with a solution, I promise you."
“Pinkie Promise?” growled a voice. All four of their manes whipped around. It was Pinkie. Angry tears were swelling in her eyes. Fluttershy whimpered.
“Pinkie, please don’t do this again,” said Twilight. “Not now—”
“Pinkie Promise?” repeated Pinkie, staring Twilight directly in the eye.
Twilight said nothing. She looked from Pinkie’s reproving stare, to Rarity and Fluttershy’s pointed looks at Rainbow Dash, who was looking out the window determinedly. After several moments of the tense silence, Twilight’s horn lit up and a small zip sound came from Rainbow Dash’s mouth.
“Come on, Rainbow,” said Twilight, realizing she had no other choice. Rainbow Dash bundled up and was beside her in an instant, ready to go.
"You girls are right. Rainbow Dash has every right to come along with me. We're all in this together."
Twilight then averted her eyes back to Pinkie, giving her a meaningful look.
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
In an instant, Pinkie ran over to Twilight and collapsed into her, gasping in sobs. Twilight hugged her like a sister, feeling the pain. Rarity and Fluttershy joined the embrace, closing their eyes as they all hugged tightly. Her lip trembling, but trying with all her might to keep herself from sobbing harder than Pinkie, Rainbow Dash put her forelegs around all of them, a fervent determination glowing in her eyes.
Rainbow Dash didn’t know how they were going to do it, or all where they were going to go, but she was not going to rest until her best friend was back home safe and sound. Without her, Applejack, they were all incomplete; not only as Elements of Harmony, but as friends.
