Shining Feather

Applejack, a orange girl with blonde long hair that was tied back, she was wearing a white tee-shirt with a denim jacket and some brown jeans, was running through the Everfree forest, on her side was a bag attached to her belt, she quickly slide under a large trunk from a tree as howling creatures came up from behind her.

“Ah my goodness!” Applejack said running as fast as she could, things had changed for the six friends, they all had moved on after Twilight became princess, she had so many royal duties that they couldn't hang out like they all used to.

Applejack stopped and grabbed onto a nearby rock forcing it down on the ground with a thud and quickly went back to running, it wasn't much but it would slow them down enough for her to get out of the forest.

Applejack looked back as large wolves made out of tree parts came rushing at her. “Leave me alone!”

Applejack made her way to the edge of the forest, the timber wolves jumped at her, but she quickly ducked making it go past her. She then jumped on it's back and kicked it's head clean off, it was made of wood so it wasn't like she killed it.

Applejack then jumped off the body and ran out of the forest. “Yeah!! you timber wolves got nothing on me!!”

The wolves stopped at the edge of the forest and howled as Applejack left. She made her way to her home stretching a bit, she had a few scratches and bruises but nothing that was too bad. “Well another day in the forest that went perfectly!”

Applejack went straight home and went inside, when she got inside she saw her family Apple Bloom, and Big Mac. Apple Bloom was her younger sister, she was a yellow girl with red hair and orange eyes, she wore a red bow in her hair and she was wearing a red shirt with a yellow school ruffled skirt. “Hey”

“Hey? Hey!? Is that all you have to say!?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Uh, yeah?” Applejack looked at them confused. “So what?”

“We-” Big Mac tried to speak but Apple Bloom cut him off.

“We've been worried about you, you haven't been doing your chores, taking care of the farm, you've been going to the Everfree Forest for months now, always coming back with bruises and cuts” Apple Bloom said.

“My chores? I'll get to them, just not right now, give me so slack kiddo” Applejack said putting her hands behind her head. “You need to relax”

“But without you, who's going to tend the apples?” Apple Bloom asked.

“That ain't my problem Apple Bloom, I'm not the only apple in the family maybe you should do something around here for once!” Applejack snapped at her.

“Applejack...” Apple Bloom backed up shocked that she yelled at her.

“Now hold-” Big Mac tried to speak but Applejack spoke over him.

“Just leave me alone!” Applejack said before leaving up to her room.

“What are we going to do big brother?” Apple Bloom asked as she turned her head to Big Mac.

He just shrugged not sure what to say. Applejack went into her room and placed the bag on her belt on her bed. “They wouldn't understand, why do I have to be the only worker on the stupid farm?”

Applejack sighed and sat down in front of the mirror in her room, she opened her jacket and looked down at her chest, her breast size had grown quite a bit as of late and she didn't know what to do, it was causing all sorts of problems for her.

Most of which was how she looked at guys. “Gosh darn it, if my chest grows any larger I won't be able to walk straight”

Applejack laid back on her bed and thought about the past, she remembered when those strange bug things invaded, it was hard and without Twilight they would all be mindless drones to the forgotten ones. But what she was thinking about the most was the thrill of the adventure, there were problems sure but it was fun.

And ever since Twilight became a princess they stopped their adventures, it's been months since they all talked even, the last thing she saw Twilight do was get into a fight with Melody for some promise she broke, after that everyone had been busier then ever before and Applejack herself was going through some changes and on top of that she wanted the thrills again.

Two very different feelings mixing into her wasn't good and she knew it, but what else could she do? Granny Smith said that she was going through a phase and maybe she was, it didn't matter though she just wanted to be left alone to deal with her problems.

She looked over at her bedside table and saw a picture of her and her family, however she didn't have a picture of her parents. She didn't even know what they looked like anymore, just blurry images. Applejack laid there and grabbed her bag, she opened it and reached in pulling out a diamond rose.

“You sure were a handful to get, I wonder why those darn timber wolves had ya?” Applejack said to herself trying not to think about her parents.

It didn't really work, the rose was beautiful it's petals were crafted perfectly, but she kept thinking about her folks, the big question going through her head was why? (Why would my folks leave me in charge of every single person in ponyville? Why do I have to live my life to their standards? Why can't I be a child again, no work no worries)

Applejack put the rose down on the bedside table as well as the picture and put a pillow over her face, she was so tired of being responsible, she had to grow up fast because her parents were gone, sure she liked to help others out and all but she wasn't planning on this farm to be her life.

She didn't want to abandon her family or anything, she was just tired of all the responsibility on her shoulders. She sat up and looked out her window, the sun was covered mostly by clouds so it wasn't to hot, she decided that going to town might be a good chance to get away from all this farm business.

Applejack got up and walked out of her room, shaking the thoughts of her parents out of her head she made her way downstairs and out of the door.

Applejack smiled as she made her way to town, she rather enjoyed the scenery as she walked, but then a voice called out.

“Hey! Would you please not move!” The voice yelled at her.

“Huh?” Applejack looked over and saw A purplish blue girl with blue hair with black highlights sitting in front of a painting. “Wait, Nightwish?”

“Who else would it be?” Nightwish said smiling. “Now don't move from that spot!”

Nightwish was a dark blue girl with purple eyes, her hair was blue with a mix of black it was was a good length as well, she was wearing a goth style shirt and a skirt that had lace trim.

“Why?” Applejack asked looking confused.

“Because now your in the painting, it was just fine until you had to walk right in!” Nightwish said annoyed. “Now please stay still!”

Applejack did what she asked and stood there, Nightwish was a fast painter, so she took out the colors needed and quickly added Applejack to the painting, she smiled as she got to work finishing her art piece.

“Do ah have to stand here all day?” Applejack asked.

“No just give me a couple minutes and you'll be free to go” Nightwish said focused on her art. “What brings you out here anyway?”

“I was going into town to get my mind off things, I've been a little stressed lately” Applejack admitted.

“That sucks, hey did you hear what happened in the crystal empire?” Nightwish said enjoying their little chat.

“Crystal empire? What happened?” Applejack asked keeping as still as she could.

“They removed the Spike statues” Nightwish said with a bit of a laugh. “The princess there found out they were worshiping him to the point they were forming cults, she had to slap some ponies around to snap them back to normal”

“Well they were all slaves for a thousand years or so, trying to live a normal life without looking for someone to give them meaning would be hard” Applejack pointed out.

“Yeah, but they were worshiping a baby, what's that about?” Nightwish asked as she put down her brush and looked over the painting for anything needed.

“Spike is a hard worker, and a good boy at heart even though he can be a little weird at times” Applejack said.

“I guess so, come here” Nightwish asked as she motioned her over to her.

Applejack went over to her and looked at the painting, it was a beautiful landscape with cherry blossoms flowing through the wind and Applejack was in the picture watching the petals go by. “Oh my...it's amazing”

“Thanks, You weren't planned in the picture, but I'm glad your in it” Nightwish said with a smile.

“Say, you want to go into town with me?” Nightwish asked, putting away her tools.

“Sure, I was heading there myself” Applejack said as Nightwish got up.

“Let's go” Nightwish said as they headed to Ponyville.

Above the clouds was a blue mare with medium length rainbow hair, her pink eyes staring at some clouds above her as she laid back, she was wearing a white tee shirt under a purple jacket that had rainbow lightning bolt designs on the sides, she had on a black skirt on that went rather well with her outfit, her boots matched her jacket as well.

She yawned as she sat up, she enjoyed her naps on the clouds, it was just like every other day, she slept most of the time. She got up and stretched before she jumped off the cloud and flew down to the ground, she went over to a lone mailbox and opened it taking out the mail.

There was nothing but bills really but there was one that was in a pink envelope. She took the letter and opened it more curious then anything and read it out loud. “Dear Rainbow Dash, I've been thinking about you for sometime now and I'd like to meet you at Townville's fountain as soon as you read this, signed Sorin”

“What the? This is more like a love letter” Rainbow Dash said to herself. She wasn't into the mushy stuff like letters and poems, but what caught her attention was it was signed by Soarin. She had no idea that he felt that way about her. “Soarin...likes me?”

Rainbow Dash felt odd about this, she had always seen him as a role model and friend, not someone she could be with, she couldn't help but think about her friend Derpy, she managed to get a lover, Derpy for crying out loud lost her virginity before she did. “Maybe I should check this out?”

Rainbow Dash took to the air once again and noticed Twilight's castle in the distance, she figured Twilight was busy, as she normally was so she decided not to tell anyone else about this and got ready to leave.

She thought about it and looked at her attire. “Maybe if I go with a dress?”

She didn't really own any dresses and she hadn't seen Rarity in a long time, maybe it was a good time to visit? She shook her head at the idea, she could just go as she was, and if he didn't like it, that was fine.

“Oh well let's get going” Rainbow Dash said to herself and headed into the square where the fountain was.

She looked around and didn't see anyone there, it was just her. “That's odd, he asked to meet me today, did I read it wrong?”

Rainbow Dash sat down on the edge of the fountain and waited, she waited for quite sometime and watched the sun move across the sky, she couldn't stand waiting and was beginning to think this was a stupid idea. “Ugh, I'm not the type to wait around”

Rainbow Dash stood up and felt something pull against her leg. “Huh?”

She saw a tripwire bend just in time to see a bucket come from a the top of the fountain, she had no idea where it came from but it splashed something wet all over her. “Gaahhh!!”

Rainbow Dash tripped and fell back hitting her head against the ground hard as the rainbow liquid went into her eyes. “Ahhhhhhhh!!!”

Two figures jumped out and laughed as they walked over to her. “Hahaha!! That was great! You totally fell for it Rainbow Dash!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!?” Rainbow Dash held her face in pain the the rainbow liquid blinded and burned her.

“Oh relax Rainbow Dash, it was just a prank” Fleetfoot said, she was a blue mare with white hair and fuchsia eyes, she was wearing a wonderbolts blue and yellow uniform. “Don't get your panties in a bunch”

“Yeah relax” Spitfire said, she was a gold mare with light orange hair and amber, her eyes were a darker orange and she had on the same uniform. “It's just rainbow liquid”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! it's in my eyes! I can't see!” Rainbow Dash screamed out in pain.

“Oh no, this isn't good, we blinded her!” Spitfire said realizing what they did.

“Ah crud, it was just a joke! I'm out of here!” Fleetfoot said and flew off as fast as she could.

“Wait! We can't just leave her like this!” Spitfire tried to say but she was long gone.

“Help me! I can't see!” Rainbow Dash called out to anyone that was there.

“Dang it...sorry Rainbow Dash” Spitfire said before she bolted off.

“Anyone!? Is anyone there!?” Rainbow Dash cried out in pain. “Hello!?”

A blue unicorn mare was walking by when she heard Rainbow Dash scream, she had light green hair that was tied back into a bun and she wore a white hairband, her eyes were purple and she was wearing a green petal print dress that had no back and there was a cut on the left side of it showing some leg, if also showed off her perky cleavage.

“Huh?” The mare looked around and saw Rainbow Dash on the ground. “What the heck!?”

She rushed over to her and noticed the rainbow liquid all over her, she could tell this was a prank gone to far. “Let me see your face”

She moved Rainbow's hands and took a better look into her eyes. “Oh Celestia...rainbow liquid isn't meant for the eyes, you need a hospital!”

She picked her up and quickly made her way to the hospital, it wasn't long before she managed to get Rainbow to the hospital, she rushed into the building and went straight into the front desk. “Nurse redheart, this girl is in trouble!”

The nurse looked at Rainbow Dash and gasped, she hadn't seen something like that in a long time. “Oh dear, bring her here!”

The girl gave Rainbow Dash over to the nurse and she went straight into a room and got to cleaning the rainbow fluids off her.

The girl waited for quite some time wondering if Rainbow Dash was going to be okay, eventually the nurse came back outside. “It's a good thing you got her here when you did, who are you?”

“Me? Nobody really, my name is Sharp Petal” She said. “Is she okay?”

“She'll....you'd best ask her yourself” Nurse Redheart said and moved to the side to let her in.

Sharp Petal walked into the room and saw Rainbow Dash on a bed cleaned up with bandages around her eyes. “Hello?”

“Hey, it's uh..the one that got you here, Sharp Petals is my name” Sharp Petal said walking over to her. “You okay?”

“Thanks for getting me here, if you hadn't...I'd rather not think about it” Rainbow Dash said trying to look at her but all she saw was darkness.

“I couldn't just leave you there” Sharp Petal said.

“They say I'll never be able to see again...” Rainbow Dash said as tears fell from her eyes. “All because of a stupid prank...”

“I don't know who would do that to a girl like you...I'm so sorry..” Sharp Petal hung her head.

“Hey, it wasn't you who did this to me...” Rainbow Dash reached out and Sharp Petal took her hand to show her, her support. “My name is Rainbow Dash by the way”

“It's nice to meet you, I just wish we could have met under better circumstances” Sharp Petal said with a smile.

“Yeah, me too” Rainbow Dash said and sighed, she couldn't believe this happened, how could she fly now? “It's worse knowing who did this”

“You know who it was that did that to you?” Sharp Petal asked.

“Spitfire and Fleetfoot, I heard their voices after I got hit with the stuff” Rainbow Dash hung her head as she spoke. “My idols toyed with my feelings and then blinded me...why is it that when I think the wonderbolts are so great they prove me wrong?”

“What do you mean?” Sharp Petal asked as she sat down beside the bed to listen to her.

“Well one time I was about to get into the wonderbolt academy, but I got partnered up with this girl Lightning Dust and she was the leader because she pushed herself more then I did, it didn't matter who got in her way as long as she got ahead and they rewarded her all the time for putting my friends in danger, hurting her own team and cutting off the other teams” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Wow” Sharp Petal knew pegasi were competitive, but that was really bad.

“Another time, I went to the Equestia games tryouts with my friends, and then the wonderbolts saw how good I was...so when Soarin hurt himself they asked me to join them, they were my dream come true, I couldn't say no, but then I found out they were lying to him to keep him out of the team so I would stay” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Uh...Rainbow Dash, forgive me for saying this, but the 'Wonderbolts' sound like a bunch of bullies and jerks, why would you idolize that?” Sharp Petal looked at her confused. “Only people who call their friends none winners or sell their friends for a book would-would even think about idolizing those people, their horrible, they even blinded you over a prank, even if you got to become a wonderbolt now, you couldn't, you probably can't even fly now”

“Your right, and I was that kind of person, I do insult my friends and I did sell my best friend for a book I already owned, but I learned my lesson and I made it up to them” Rainbow Dash said feeling worse now.

Sharp Petal took out a lollipop and unwrapped it before putting it into her mouth. “I see...”

“Am I really that bad of a person?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Your not a bad person Rainbow Dash, you just lack something, maybe it's love, maybe it's friendship, maybe it's only stress, I can't give you the answers” Sharp Petal said leaning back on her chair.

“Maybe this is for the best? Who wants to be friends with a blind girl anyway?” Rainbow Dash laid down and felt even worse then before.

“Is that so? You don't have one friend that would drop everything to help you? Someone that wouldn't go to any lengths to be there for you?” Sharp Petal asked.

“I...I do have those friends, and I would abuse them because I wanted to be cool...and look where that got me” Rainbow Dash then suddenly realized what she was missing. “I've only ever thought about how good I looked in front of jerks and bullies, I never even thought about my friends ahead of myself”

“Maybe I could help you get to your friends so you can tell them what you need to say?” Sharp Petal said and stood up.

“Could you track them down? I can't leave the hospital yet” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“Sure thing Rainbow Dash, got a list of who I'm looking for?” Sharp Petal took a piece of paper and a quill and got ready to write.

“Your looking for Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity” Rainbow Dash told her about them and what they looked like.

“Okay...got it! I'll go see if I can find them, you relax okay?” Sharp Petal put away her notes and walked off.

“I can't even read now...so all I can do is rest and relax” Rainbow Dash turned to her side and went to sleep as Sharp Petal left her room.

Meanwhile in front of Sugarcube corner a pink earth mare, her hair was puffed up and sort of messy, it was colored a brilliant raspberry and her eyes were a light cerulean, she was wearing a light blue long sleeved shirt that went past her hands so it was overly long and over it was a blue vest, she had candy gold frilly skirt, she had blue mini boots with long socks on.

She was working her third job as a baker for the Cakes that gave her room and board. “Let's see, I need more sugar!”

“Pinkie, how are the cupcakes coming?” A light blue earth mare walked in holding a bowl of cookie dough. “And can I get some chocolate chips?”

“Their almost done! And sure!” Pinkie said giving her a bag of chocolate chips. “It's been a long day huh?”

“It has?” The mare asked, she hair was a silvery white, her eyes were a a light purple and she wore a purple sunhat with a white sleeveless top and a purple puffy skirt. “It's a normal day for me”

“Well sure, all you do is bake sweets all day and baby sit for the Cakes, you have it easy Winter Sugar!” Pinkie said exhausted and annoyed. “I have three jobs that I have to work overtime to keep up with all the parties!”

“I'm sorry...” Winter Sugar backed up, she didn't like it when Pinkie was in a bad mood, and she had been like that for awhile now, ever since those strange nightmares started.

“Wait, Winter, I'm sorry...” Pinkie said rubbing her tired eyes. “I just haven't slept well and working three jobs doesn't give me a lot of time to sleep, I really don't need anything else on my plate, if I do, I'll snap!”

“I understand Pinkie, I wish I could help you, I want to, but I'm not a party pony like you” Winter said still uncomfortable with her shouting.

“Please don't be scared of me Winter, I'm sorry I yelled” Pinkie said smiling at her hoping that would calm her down.

Winter smiled back and nodded. “Okay then, I'm glad your not angry anymore”

As they were talking they heard a knock on the front door of the shop. Pinkie looked confused and went over to the door. “Hello?”

Pinkie opened the door and saw a Maud Pie, her sister smiling with a blank look on her face. “Hey sis...”

“Maud!? Wowy wow! I didn't expect to see you anytime soon!” Pinkie jumped excitedly.

“I was just...passing through, did you get the news from mom and dad?” Maud said blinking only a little. She was a bluish gray earth girl with violet straight hair that only went down to her shoulders and her eyes were turquoise, she was wearing a blue one piece dress that looked rather plain and a black belt around her waist. “It's quite exciting..”

“Oh boy! What is it!?” Pinkie asked moving to the side to let Maud in.

Maud walked inside and Pinkie sat down at a table to listen to what she had to say. “Okay before I start, can I get your friend to make some of her sugar cookies? The last ones you sent me were really good”

“Sure! Do you mind Winter Sugar?” Pinkie asked her friend, Winter was well known for her cookies and Pinkie made sure every one of her friends and family got some at one point or another.

“I don't mind! Winter cookies coming up!” Winter said with a big smile and got to cooking.

Maud sat down across from Pinkie and looked at her with a blank stare. “How have you been lately Pinkie? You look tired...”

“I am tired Maud, I have three jobs and lately I've been having nightmares that make it so I can't sleep!” Pinkie complained.

“Three jobs? That's a lot of work even for you Pinkie, why do so much?” Maud asked as she leaned forward and rested her head on her hand.

“Because unlike Twilight who gets free cash from just being royalty or Applejack who runs a business, I have to work to earn money and parties aren't cheep at all, and with all the new birthday's due to all the little babies being born I have to buy more and more party stuff all the time, so much in fact I'm starting to not be able to pay rent!” Pinkie explained.

“Haven't you gone to one of your friends for help? I'm sure Twilight can lend you some money, or at least a place you don't have to pay for, she is a princess after all” Maud looked at her confused.

“She's having a hard time as it is, she doesn't have time to even notice her friends anymore, I honestly don't envy her job” Pinkie said and then let out a yawn. “Haaaa....I haven't heard from Twilight or my other friends for months now, ever since Twilight became the princess of friendship we haven't had time to hang out”

“Sounds like what you need is some good news and some hot chocolate” Maud said sounding bored, she really wasn't she was worried about her sister more then ever, it was just how she sounded that made it out as if she was bored.

“I would LOVE those!” Pinkie said smiling.

“Well then here you go Pinkie!” Winter Sugar said as she came out with a tray of cookies and hot chocolate. “Enjoy!”

“Thank you” Maud said as before they both started to eat the snacks.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Pinkie asked, she was excited to know what she had to say.

“Well mom and dad have been busy, after the terrasects invaded the rock farm was all but destroyed, it took them several months to get everything back to normal, but that also livened up things for them” Maud explained.

“I'm not following” Pinkie said looking confused.

“What I mean to say is....mom's having another kid, and she'll be born in a few weeks” Maud said chewing on a cookie.

Pinkie looked at her with wide eyes, she froze still registering what was said, Winter looked at her concerned and Maud gave her a blank stare as always. Pinkie suddenly jumped out of her seat and shouted excitedly. “ANOTHER SISTER!!!!!!!!”

“It's really exciting news, they wanted to tell you in person, but you've been so busy with your jobs lately they couldn't reach you” Maud said as excited as she could sound.

Pinkie gasped and slammed her hand onto the table. “I don't have time for my jobs! I'm getting another sister for Celestia's sake!”

“Well then you had best get going then” Maud said flatly and ate another cookie. “They decided they were going to have her at the Crystal Empire's hospital”

“Why there?” Winter asked.

“Something to do with Crystal Empire's good luck or something like that, I've been hearing about a lot of things going on there lately” Maud said before she took a drink of her chocolate.

“Wow, that's going to be interesting” Winter said with a smile.

As they were talking the door opened up and Melody Bloom walked in. “Hello?”

“Melody!?” Pinkie perked up and grinned seeing a friend she hadn't seen in awhile. “It's been a long time!”

“Hey Pinkie! Hey Winter! Hey...uh...” Melody stopped and looked at Maud. “I don't know you, my name is Melody Bloom and you are?”

“Oh, this is my sister Maud, she came all this way to tell me about my soon to be born sister!” Pinkie said.

“Hello...I heard about a Melody Bloom once before, the girl that was frozen for around four thousand years correct?” Maud asked looking her over.

“Wow! That's wonderful news Pinkie, and yes I'm the weird girl from the past” Melody said walking over to them.

Winter blushed seeing Melody in her revealing clothes. “Melody! What are you wearing!?”

“Modern clothes, why?” Melody looked at her confused for a bit and then turned her attention back to Pinkie. “Say Pinkie? You know a lot of people in this town, do you know of any single ones?”

“Singles? Hmm...nope! Most people in this town have been taken, why?” Pinkie asked.

“I'm doing a favor for Twilight and I only found one guy in this entire town that was still single, mainy due to the fact he is married to his job” Melody said.

“Whoa! You and Twilight are talking again!? This is great news!” Pinkie jumped up and hugged Melody excitedly.

“Oh dear!” Melody barely managed to keep herself up with Pinkie on her. She hadn't seen the girls in several months and was happy to see them as she went around town. “It's nice to see you again Pinkie”

“We all missed you, still having a hard time adjusting to our time?” Pinkie asked.

“A little, but I've been doing my research, things sure are different in this age” Melody said but with a smile.

“You want to have some cookies with us? We're talking about my soon to be little sister!” Pinkie said excited.

“Oh? Your getting another sister? That's wonderful news! Sure I'll join in” Melody came over and sat down with Maud. “How are you Maud?”

“I've never felt better..” Maud said quietly.

“I can tell your going to be fun” Melody said and took a cookie.

Pinkie was happy to see things finally pick up after the months that they all stopped talking to each other, she could tell that things were going to get exciting again and she couldn't help but grin with joy.