Rainbow Dash wasn't a morning person. That being said, it probably didn't help that Applejack showed up at her house, dragged her out of bed, and threw her into the front passenger seat blanket and all. No amount of loud and vocal indignation at AJ's man-handling seemed to affect the farm girl and by the time she remembered it was Saturday (they met at AJ's farm every weekend), Rainbow Dash had forsaken any hope of escape.

The ride up to the farm was mostly uneventful. Applejack was all too cheerful this time of day; she regaled Rainbow Dash with her list of to-dos and and the occasional forceful rousing of her passenger. Rainbow Dash attempted to suffocate herself in her blanket-- anything to escape the apple demon shackling her to the waking world. Rainbow Dash gave her upbeat friend the stink eye and made sure in no uncertain terms to share her annoyance through occasional grunts and groans.

Applejack parked her pickup in front of large barn and pulled her keys from the ignition. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Rainbow sat for a while blinking. Finally she untangled herself and rolled out of her seat.

"What's the big deal?" Rainbow Dash muttered and was firmly herded into Applejack's family barn.

From what Rainbow could tell, the rest of the girls were already inside. Sunset Shimmer noticed the newest and final member of the group to arrive and turned to face her.

"I'm so glad you could make it Rainbow!"

Rainbow Dash yawned and rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Yeah, yeah... If you're going to wake me up this early, it better be important," she grumbled.

Applejack chuckled from behind Rainbow. "We jus' got a new addition to our stables."

Rainbow Dash felt a twinge in the back of her mind and grimaced. The pieces fell together. "Are you still upset over that thing a couple weeks back--," but was abruptly interrupted before she could finish. Sunset grabbed her hand and tugged her over to one of the new enclosures.

"Isn't she adorable?" asked Sunset with beaming smile on her face.

It wasn't unexpected. To be honest, Rainbow wasn't sure what she was expecting -- perhaps the usual fare -- a lamb, calf, or piglet, which were all par for the course on AJ's farm. Rather, she found herself in clear view of a chestnut filly who nickered halfheartedly and otherwise resisted Fluttershy's attempts at brushing her mane.

Rainbow Dash whipped around to Applejack and stared at her squinting. Applejack guffawed and shook her head. "Now don't get your feathers in a bunch, we don't sell our horses to slaughterhouses. This one here's thoroughbred for racing."

Rainbow Dash felt a nervous knot in her chest she didn't know existed dissipate. "Heh, of course... I knew that."

Turning slowly back to the scene, she caught the horse's bored expression as it attempted to resist Flutteryshy's fussing. Pinkie joined the fun and busied herself sprinkling glitter onto the poor animal's tail. Rarity chose to sit on, quite possibly, the cleanest hay bale in the barn and observed Fluttershy's and Pinkie's antics. Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow picked out Applejack who tidied equipment near the barn entrance.

Sunset stretched her arms and leaned in close. Rainbow Dash's felt soft breath tickle her left ear as Sunset whispered. "Applejack said I should name her... it's so strange to name pon -- I mean, horses as if they were pets...".

She paused. Rainbow continued to watch Pinkie chase the filly, but imagined Sunset frowning and biting her lower lip deep in thought.

"You know, I never really returned your favor for helping me try meat that one time, Rainbow Dash." Sunset paused again and after some time continued.

"Rainbow Dash." said Sunset Shimmer, quietly.

"Yeah that's my name, don't wear it out."

She turned toward the chestnut filly in the enclosure; Rainbow Dash was no longer able to see her face.

"I wasn't speaking to you," said Sunset Shimmer.

Rainbow Dash couldn't be sure, but something sounding suspiciously like a giggle made its way from Sunset's general direction.

Sunset Shimmer sat on a hay bale and chewed pensively on her pen. She watched the scene unfolding in front of her.

Rainbow Dash stood in the enclosure hand outstretched with sugar cubes beckoning the filly. Fluttershy, having given up on mane combing, instead re-focused her efforts on introducing Rainbow Dash to their new friend. Glitter and sequins covered the filly's flank and what looked like the beginning of dye appeared on the its tail. Beyond the steel fencing, Pinkie and Rarity stood arguing. Sunset could only pick up pieces of their exchange, something about "fashion travesty" and "worst possible thing". She settled back on her soft hay bundle and brought the pen to the paper.

Dear Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that sometimes your friends push you to try new things because they care for you. Sometimes things don't turn out the way you expect, --

Sunset paused and watched Pinkie laugh, smearing sequins and sparkle dust over Rarity's cheek to the recipient's horror.

-- and other times, unexpected wonderful things happen that you never expected.

Sunset looked over to an embarrassed Rainbow Dash who had been backed into a corner of the pen, as the chestnut filly continued to lick her fingers. Fluttershy giggled and observed quietly from the side. Applejack had taken a brief respite from carrying a box of equipment, and had propped herself up against the railing with a full-blown laugh at Rainbow's predicament. Rainbow Dash looked pleadingly at Fluttershy and glanced curiously beyond at Sunset, whom she saw seated with a look of concentration on her face.

I... never had the chance to thank you for coming into my life Twilight. If it wasn't for you, I might never have experienced... friendship. Everyday I am learning this world isn't devoid of magic, it's still everywhere around us.

Sunset smiled and a curious light shined in her eyes.

Because after all, friendship is magic.

Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer

Setting down the closed book, Sunset Shimmer walked to join her friends and the growing cacophony of laughter surrounding them.

Author's Note

I think the 1000 word limit is stupid.