Daybreak
She closed the wooden door gently, sealing her home. A faint breeze tugged at her hair, already rough and untamed. She fumbled with her keys for a moment before locking the door. The air was cool, but not cold, and she pulled her scarf just a bit tighter, relishing its passive warmth. She smoothed her jacket, a sapphire piece that both fit and suited her: she had made it herself, after all. Her boots adorned with amber leaves, she took a step forward, then one more. 'A promise is a promise, Rarity.'
"I'm not sure why she needs me this early, though. The sun isn't even up yet," she muttered. She wasn't annoyed, though. She put her keys away and took a few steps out to the road.
The street was silent, save for the rustling of a bag caught on an old fence's post. The buildings were sleepy, their eyes shut and unaware of their surveyor. The pavement was uneven and discoloured by age. She walked, occasionally shaking her head to clear the fog, until the road became a path that itself became a track. She wandered on, her cares left at her door. The trees, small and supple, swayed, dancing together, though scattered and distant. They waved at the seamstress, as though hoping to catch her eye. They, too, were cold. A tattered leaf soared past, free from its past owner, yet doomed to be alone for the foreseeable future. 'Still,' she thought, 'It seems cheery enough. It's free.' She strolled down the trail, sending pebbles skittering as she scuffed the soles of her heavy boots. She sighed, content and relaxed, not unhappy to be out in the open, letting nature tangle her hair and send chills through her body. The cool air was energising, and she felt an excitement build up in her, an anticipation of something nice, yet not extravagant. She thought of the work ahead of her, up the path, on the farm, yet did not shy away. A warmth filled her when she thought of working with her friend. She walked slightly faster.
She tilted her head back, letting her long hair flow in the breeze, and opened wide her eyes. There, far above, was a cloud, wispy and insignificant, letting the changing air take it where it wished. It was carefree, yet not careless. She glanced around the sky, still dark, to look for others. It was carefree, but lonely. She spun on her heel and brought her head down slightly, burrowing into her soft scarf once more. There, directly in front of her, was a bank of clouds, huddled together and cheery in company. The small one would miss them, she noticed, and her sigh brought her focus back to the track in front of her. She had turned herself around.
Righting her course, she set out once more to Sweet Apple Acres, to honour a promise to a friend. The trees grew more dense and the space between them grew smaller, sheltering her from the wind now picking up. The songs sung by the waking birds and the chattering of the squirrels filled her ears, replacing the silence of the past journey. She felt their energy, rested and ready for the day, and envied their boundless happiness. She came to the bottom of a hill. Her gaze wandered towards the peak, and her eyes came to rest on the simple entrance. A wooden board swung on its binding ropes, slightly lower on the left side, and the whole structure seemed to let out a groan. The hill wasn't steep, yet it held a significance to the woman.
"The farm is up there. Applejack's up there."
'What if she's waiting for me? Am I late?' Once again she took longer strides, but she didn't feel the difference. She was making her ascent, and and she rose, she felt lighter and lighter. Turning, she came to rest, and looked around. From her vantage, she could see the tops of most trees, though some still surpassed her, and in the distance, the small town, not much more than a village. She sat, and there she remained, tracing the route back to her home.
"What're you doing, Rares?" asked a voice, just behind her. It was Applejack, come to ask her why she was late.
"I, ah, was enjoying the view. This hill makes a good place to sit," came the response. She remained focused on her task, not lifting her head. A soft 'thump' told her that the farmer had decided to sit beside her. That and the head resting on her neck. She felt a shoulder poke her side and a weight settled against her. She felt that warmth again, filling her with a unique happiness. Still she watched the world in front of her, eyes wide as she watched the sky. Its purple was streaked with orange.
"Sun's about to rise," stated Applejack. It wasn't meant to inform her, for it was clear to both what was happening. It was just a simple fact. Rarity became acutely aware of how cold it was, and folded her arms, shivering. Applejack was still beside her, and she could feel her warmth through her layers.
She let her head fall and re-positioned herself accordingly, now leaning on the farmer. She waited for her friend's protests, but did not fear them. After all, she was less cold now. Applejack shifted slightly, but showed no sign of annoyance. 'She'd say something if it bothered her, right? She's very honest with us.'
"...with me."
"What was that, Rarity?" Applejack had heard her. She must have been thinking out loud. She pulled herself upright, off her friend's shoulder, and opened her eyes. The sky was glowing a fantastic orange, dark above her and shining brighter at the horizon, over Ponyville. She heard a cockerel crow behind her, on the farm, and knew beyond doubt that it was dawn.
"Time to work, Applejack. Thank you for the sunrise, though. It was splendid." She stood up, straightened her jacket and clapped her hands enthusiastically.
"Nonsense. We've got a few more minutes. The sun hasn't risen yet." Applejack didn't see the frown come across her face. She did, indeed, want to sit beside the farmer for a while more - a long while, in fact - but she was saddened when she thought of doing so in silence. She did want to see the sunrise with her friend by her side, but she couldn't do it without admitting it. Her heart beat quicker with her near, and that warmth coming from her wasn't natural. She just couldn't think of what to say. She sat down again.
The sky got brighter and the town was a silhouette against the golden sky. There, in front of her, was the little cloud, but now it had a partner. They were both far from the cluster, but seemed happy and warm together.
She still had no words. Looking over at her friend for the first time that morning, she saw bright, sparkling eyes and the faintest hint of a smile. She leaned in and brushed her lips on cheek. The smile grew.
She pulled her friend's face around, took off her hat, and kissed her lips.
When she pulled away, Applejack beamed.
