Weeks bled by for Applejack. Her entire existence boiled down scavenging, begging and running from varmits like Brass Hoof. The doughnut shop was not the last place she robbed. She gave up trying to get a job or getting inside the public housing. She spent most of her days sitting on the roadside clutching her aching stomach. She spent her nights hiding in whatever alley she found herself in.

One day a crowd of beggars were gathering long the road. A light of hope shone in their eyes. Applejack warily joined them. One brown mare looked down the street expectantly, "Are you sure she's coming?"

A blue filly nodded, "I saw her me-self. She gave me this." the filly reveal a perfectly ripe apple. Applejack's mouth watered just looking at it. So there was somepony who cared after all. She had to see who this pony was.

"Here she comes!" cried the brown mare.

The unicorn arrived with half the fanfare of a princess. She led a small train of ponies carrying baskets of food. As she passed the small clusters of beggars she levitated some fruits to each of them, giving them a warm, radiant smile. The beggars bowed, treating her like royalty. She certainly dressed like it. Her dress was blue with swirling purple accents and her hat looked like a peacock made a nest in a stovepipe. There is only one pony Applejack knew who would have such a fashion sense. "Rarity!"

The fashionista perked her ears to her name being called. "Who's there? Oh... Applejack? What are you doing here?"

Applejack hung her head, "It's a long story."

"I see... well we shall have plenty of time to discuss it at lunch. Come along now, you simply must be famished."

"That's mighty kind of ya."

"What are friends for."

"Sacre bleu!" Rarity gasped, "I never thought somepony's life could go so horribly." The pair were sitting outside Rarity's favorite cafe. Applejack's grimy coat was earning some rude stares, but no pony dared to bother the fashion queen of Canterlot.

Applejack frowned into her fifth cucumber and daffodil sandwich, "You don't know the half of it. Now I spend my days duckn' bandits and eatn' slop... but that don't mean I want yer pity."

Rarity rolled her eyes, "Relax darling, I can't just leave my friend out in the cold. Stay at my house. There's more than enough room for you."

"I wouldn't want ta take advantage of yer hospitality."

"Applejack," Rarity said sternly, "You can't go on like this. You WILL let me help you."

Applejack looked stunned, then smiled, "Thanks."

Rarity's "house" was more like a castle. It was easily as big as town hall back in Ponyville and twice as gaudy. The design made it look like a mix between a big plantation manor and the Crystal Palace. "Land sakes Rarity, how'd you manage to land this bungalow?"

A butler opened the ornately carved door for his mistress. "Well when a couple serves the cultural center of Equestria they tend to receive some benefits. It isn't quite as beautiful as the other Cloud District manors, but then the others don't pay their servants half as much." Applejack noticed that the servants who followed her were all smiling as they returned to their quarters.

Then AJ did a double take, "hold yer horses. Are you saying ya have a coltfriend?"

"Well, more like a husband. We've been married for 3 years now. Oh Trendy, I'm home and I brought a guest with me!"

Trenderhoof poked his head over the second floor balcony, "Hello my snowflake, I'll be down in a moment."

Applejack raised an eyebrow, "I thought he didn't like ya."

"Time can change many things Applejack. After we discovered our mutual knack for artistic potential things just clicked."

Trend cantered down the large staircase in the center of the room. "Honey, I was just reading about the cloaking magic of changlings. I think if we can use those properties for...A- Applejack!" He stared at the farm pony a little too long before shaking his head clear. "How nice to have you at our home."

Applejack blushed. Rarity coughed, "Trendy, Applejack will be joining us for dinner. Could you escort her to the powder room to freshen up?"

The brown unicorn looked like he saw a ghost, but he quickly regained his composure, "very well, right this way Applejack."

"Now if you don't mind, I require some freshening up as well." Rarity glanced back at her husband. She will have to find a way to punish him for his behavior later. Then she trotted upstairs.

The walk to the bathroom was plagued by Trend's constant gabbing. He seemed to be listing every fashion trend in the past decade. By the time they made it to the guest bathroom (which was just down the hall) Applejack knew more about liposuctions and powdered wigs than she ever wanted to.

"Thank ya Trenderhoof. I can take it from here," said Applejack

"O- ok. Supper is in an hour and it is wonderful to have Rarity's most beauti-"Slam! "Ok, see you later."

Applejack stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. She was never so happy to be clean in her life. She actually looked like her old self again minus a certain cowpony hat. Suddenly, her ears perked up to a beautiful voice echoing through the main hall. The earth pony eagerly followed the silvery voice.

There is a castle in the clouds
It is a beautiful place to be
There is a room there for you and me
up in the castle in the clouds

AJ slowly walked up the stairs toward a room that looked like a study.

There is a room that's full of toys
and enough cake for a hundred foals
nopony's mean or shouts aloud
Not in the castle in the clouds

There's a lady with a coat of white
She comes out and shields us all
warm as the sun and soft as wool
We are blessed under her fine rule

Applejack entered the study to find a young white unicorn with a light pink and purple mane.

There is a place to guide the lost
It is a place where none may cry
Crying is simply not allowed
Not in her castle in the clouds

"That was mighty nice Sweetie Bell."

The young mare turned around and gave a wide grin, "Applejack!" Sweetie Bell gave the orange mare a big hug.

"Howdy little filly. Looks like yer all grown up."

"Yes, ma'am," Sweetie replied showing off her silver bell cutie mark.

Rarity entered the room, "Sweetie Bell dinner is ready. Oh Applejack, I suppose you heard Sweetie's rehearsal for the Summer Sun Festival. Isn't she just wonderful. My little sister has become quite the music sensation. She was even the headliner for the hit musical Princess Promenade."

Sweetie Belle blushed, "It wasn't that good. The costumes were the best part."

"Nonsense darling, now come along. Our dinner is getting cold."

Over dinner Rarity brought Applejack up to speed on the past ten years of events. The Princesses have been working full time to maintain harmony in the wake of the Civil War. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Discord have apparently created a traveling circus. Spike has been taking increasingly long naps as he's started dragon puberty again.

"This ain't another case of dragon greed gone haywire again is it?" AJ inquired.

"No, nothing like that. Little Spiky- Wiky is just growing up is all," Rarity assured her. A silence fell upon the table.

Applejack finally asked the only question left that mattered, "What about Rainbow Dash?"

Rarity sighed, "I don't know. She disappeared after Luna's surrender. Her name is still listed on the wanted lists, but her whereabouts are nothing more than rumors."

Rainbow was always the most avid Republican in their circle. No doubt she fled to avoid imprisonment or worse, execution.

"Scootaloo is gone too," chimed in Sweetie Bell. That made sense. Scootaloo worshiped Rainbow and would follow her anywhere.

"Enough about the past. Lets talk about your future. Applejack would you like a job in this household?"

Trenderhoof looked astonished, "My gem, do you mean to hire your friend?"

"Why of course. We have plenty of room. I would also be more than happy to pay the "debts" you have accumulated since your release."

Applejack considered the offer, "dock it outa my pay and make it double the price and ya got yourself a deal."

Rarity smiled, "only Applejack would alter a deal out of her favor. I missed you."

Applejack returned the smile, "I missed ya too."

Author's Note

Oh boy was this one difficult to write. In my initial idea, AJ getting hired was only the halfway mark, but I've got plenty of material for another chapter. Castle on a Cloud was remarkably easy to write. It's like the song was made for mlp. Please comment, critique and like. I hope you enjoyed it.