Priorities

Crisp Cleaner was not a pony liable to being spooked. Nor was he a pony that had a habit of jumping to conclusions. He had a reputation of being a cautiously sceptical, if simple, pony, not at all prone to believing in wild fantasies and urban legends.

But when he looked at his trampled crops, the only crops he had, kept safe in a small allotment just outside Kathmanedu, his potatoes squashed and his carrots ruined, he was shaken just enough to be ready to believe in anything. And the first thing he saw were a set of giant, misshapen, hoofprints imprinted in the snow and upturned mud.

Crisp suppressed a shiver. "The Abominable Snowpony..."

Applejack woke up, as she always did, just after dawn. Outside by the barn, the rooster had just finished crowing, and if the farm animals were up and about, so was she.

But for the first time in months, she couldn't hear the sound of loud, obnoxious snoring, rattling her eardrums like bricks on cement. Neither could she feel the soft prickle of feathers, or smelly morning breath on the back of her neck.

It felt strange, and lonely.

"Rainbow?" she asked, quietly. Had she just fallen out of bed?

The pegasus wasn't exactly known for being good at staying in one place. This wouldn't be the first time she had tossed and turned in the middle of the night, Applejack reflected. She leant over the edge of the mattress, hoping to find Rainbow sprawled out on the floor, but no. Nothing. There was no sign of her marefriend anywhere.

"Huh."

She rolled out of bed, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Rainbow never got up early. Never.

She flattened her mane against her neck as she trotted out of the bedroom, not caring to brush it. She thought she could smell something... a slightly burnt smell, she thought, rich and acidic.

Coffee?

Applejack cantered to the kitchen, where she found, to her amazement, no less than four empty mugs, stained brown from the coffee they had previously contained, and a mess of papers covered in scribbles and numbers. Her business documents.

"Oh, sweet Celestia!" Applejack exclaimed. "Has she gone and ruined 'em?"

She rifled through the charts and tables, and she was relieved to see that all the things she had previously done were unchanged... no, wait. There were a few red markings near the side...

Has Rainbow been... correcting me?!

As she investigated further, she realized that the scribbles were in fact poorly drawn charts. She's gone and done everything... messily, but still...

A small, yellow scrap of paper caught her attention. Applejack reached out and found it was a tiny memo stuck to the side of the table.

"Got bored, did maths," she read. "Gone flying, back for lunch."

What is this? It's barely seven o'clock!

Applejack heard Big Macintosh's lumbering hoofsteps from behind her. She looked back and saw him peer through the doorway, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Somethin' up?"

"I don't know, Mac'."

I have no idea.

Four thousand feet above Ponyville, in a small hotel room, Twilight awoke to the sound of commotion on the other side of her door.

It took her a few seconds to remember where she was: the unfamiliar walls and distinctly chilly breeze made her slightly uncomfortable. Oh, right... Kathmanedu.

She could swear she heard shouting from outside: shouting, and the sounds of a scuffle. Twilight took a moment to think, before realizing that without Applejack or Rainbow, she was the one best suited to go and investigate.

Especially since I'm a princess now...

She cautiously crept towards the door, unsure if this was an argument... or a fight. Please let it just be an argument...

If she listened hard enough, she could just about make out the sounds of voices on the other side.

"...let me go... crazy... Vector, help!"

Help... danger!

Twilight was about to spring into action, but before she could even move, the door imploded inwards, knocking her to the ground. Dazed, all she could make out was the colour pink.

"Look who I found!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, thrusting a confused and battered stallion towards the battered princess. "I found the expedition, I found the expedition!" she sang joyfully.

"Wh-who is this? Oh, are you Princess Sparkle?" the stallion asked. Twilight appraised him as quickly as she could: he was a well built, slightly boring looking earth pony stallion, looking at her with pleading eyes. "Tell your bodyguard to let me go, please... my name is Globe Trotter."

Twilight groaned and got to her hooves, realizing that more ponies were on their way in. She recognized Fluttershy, that was for sure, and Spike... but there was also a tall, lanky looking pegasus.

"You must be the Princess. Thanks for answering my distress call. Do you want breakfast? I could use another drink."

Applejack ambled towards the centre of town, humming softly to herself. Not the chipper humming she'd do whenever she was in a good mood, but instead the thoughtful drone she'd make that irritated everypony around her as she worked through the day's events in her mind.

She had a very good idea who to turn to for advice, although she was almost certain that Rarity wouldn't appreciate being treated as a relationship counsellor. But Applejack had nowhere else to turn: on any other day, she'd have buried herself in work, but Rainbow had kindly removed that distraction for her. And though her family would help her through thick and thin, there was one thing they knew nothing about.

Being an Element of Harmony. Feeling like the entire world rested on your shoulders was alien to them.

There was so much being an Element forced on Applejack. Sometimes she wondered if it was fate that had decided she wear that necklace, or instead a quirk of circumstance.

If I had said anything else to Twilight as she hung from that cliff, would I be who I am today?

But she was stuck with it now. Bound to be the best friend she possibly could, and bound to the fate of Equestria. No, there was no way even Granny Smith, with her years of experience, would understand quite what that felt like, and the strain that put on a relationship, no matter how important it made Applejack feel.

But Rarity would. Even though she never showed it, Rarity would know what Applejack was going through. All she had to do was ask her for advice, right?

Maybe. Rarity was an odd bird, sometimes.

It was almost noon. Applejack wouldn't have long before Rainbow would get back to the acres, like she had told her in her message. Applejack intended to be back by then: she didn't intend for Rainbow to learn about her worries just yet.

The Carousel Boutique had just appeared around the corner. She braced herself for the conversation to come.

She trotted up to the colourful double doors and turned the door-handle. It was a shop, after all: no sense knocking politely.

Ding!

"Rares'?" she called. The shop was empty, much to Applejack's relief.

"Yes?" Rarity shouted back from someplace invisible, probably one of the many back rooms. "Is that you, Applejack?"

"Yup'." Applejack trotted through row upon row of clothes that made up most of the boutique.

"An Applejack visit? Is it hat season already?" Rarity called back jokingly. "I'm in the back, darling, just give me a minute. I'm a bit tangled up here."

Applejack stopped dead in her tracks. She knew better than to interfere with Rarity's fashion problems.

She couldn't help but admire the colours and lines of Rarity's creations, dazzling even her. I'm surrounded by athletes and artists and princesses. How do I compete with that?

It took a moment, but eventually Rarity emerged from her 'workshop', picking out the odd strand of thread from her otherwise flawless mane. Her spectacles were precariously balanced on top of her nose, as they always were when she was working.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked. "You normally never visit outside of our carefully scheduled play-dates."

"It's about relationships," Applejack told her. Rarity's face suddenly fell.

"Oh, no. You can't go and treat me like some sort of marriage counsellor!" she exclaimed, backing away. "I've not had the best track record with romantic endeavours..."

Applejack sighed. I expected as much. She hasn't quite been the same since Trenderhoof...

"Rarity, I got nopony else to talk to. You're the only one here who's also an Element of Harmony. You know what I'm goin' through."

Rarity quietened down, but remained suspicious, eyeing Applejack cautiously. "From what I know, Rainbow is still in town. Can't you please do me a favour and ask her instead?" Rarity grumbled. "I know you wouldn't think so, but I swear she's got herself a coltfriend. I caught her buying flowers two weeks ago, and she even came here to buy some items from the back room..."

Right... I remember those.

"Well... I can't ask Rainbow. She's... sorta' the pony I need to ask about."

Rarity hesitated, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as Applejack bit her lip.

"You didn't... do anything I'd regret, did you, dear?"

The small hotel restaurant was barely large enough for the five ponies (and dragon) that were sat around a round wooden table, each with cups of hot, steaming coffee, tea, or in Pinkie's case, hot chocolate. Vector Velocity's cup gave off a distinctly chemical odour, and made Twilight gag when she tried to identify it.

So, this is the research expedition?

The didn't look like much. Globe Trotter was plain: brown mane, brown coat, brown eyes. If it wasn't for his rather colourful cutie mark of a map and compass, he might have had nothing interesting about him.

Vector Velocity was more interesting, but not in a good way. His breath felt like chemical warfare, and his pale coat was stained with oil grease. Some of his fur was burnt black around his hooves. But the most distinctive thing about him was his head. Protruding from his skull was a large, metal gear, the kind you'd find on an old factory machine. It couldn't be natural: if Twilight was correct, it was going through several critical cerebral areas.

"So, how are you finding Neighpal?" Globe asked her, breaking the silence as innocently as possible.

"Cold," Spike grumbled. "I miss Ponyville."

Fluttershy coughed nervously.

"Um, can I ask about the... Abominable Snowpony?" she asked. Fear flashed across Globe Trotter's face. How can an explorer be put off so easily? Twilight wondered.

"Sure thing," Vector replied, taking a swig from his mug, like it was toxic. Then again, it might be. "That said, we don't know much. We saw footprints, and our ship got knocked around a bit."

"And we heard it roar!" Globe added, suppressing a shudder. "It was inequine!"

"Just like ninety-nine percent of things that aren't ponies," Vector pointed out.

Twilight put her cup down, silencing their bickering before it began... again. "And what about the broken property we've been hearing so much about?"

Vector shrugged. "I have no idea. I generally keep my airship well above Kathmanedu, so we don't get much trouble."

"Well, we need to start somewhere," Twilight explained. "Can you remember where it was you got ambushed by the Snowpony? Approximately?"

Globe nodded. "Not that I'd ever want to go there again, but... I can get you there."

That gives us two leads. It'd be best to follow up on both.

"Well, count me out," Spike declared. "If flying ends up taking me even higher, I'll get so cold my tail will fall off."

"Well, then you can stay here," Twilight said. "We should check out the damaged property for clues. You could handle that."

Spike narrowed his eyes, suspiciously. "And in the meantime..."

"I'll head up in the airship with Vector and Globe Trotter. We should be able to work twice as fast."

Fluttershy shuddered, as did Globe Trotter. Neither seemed too thrilled with the plan. Vector and Pinkie, however, broke into wild grins at the prospect of getting closer to the Spowpony.

"Are you sure splitting up is... safe?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sure it is!" Vector exclaimed. "It's just a little snowpony, after all!"

"Plus, we'll be in an airship! Unless it can fly—"

"Or unless we crash again," Vector interjected. Pinkie nodded enthusiastically.

"Or if we crash," Pinkie corrected, "then we'll be safe!"

Twiight leant back, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "And you can make sure we don't crash, right?"

"Last time was not my fault," Vector exclaimed defensively. "That mountain came out of nowhere."

"On a clear day... without any clouds..." Globe mumbled under his breath.

"Then that settles it," Twilight declared. "Pinkie and Spike can say here and look for clues. If things go wrong, I have a short-range communication spell I can use to contact Spike. You remember the mind-melding spell?"

Spike nodded. "Sure thing, but I'd rather things don't go wrong."

You and me both, Spike.

"And in the meantime, me, Fluttershy... and you two, of course... will head up to the mountains to look for any sign of this 'Snowpony'."

Vector adjusted his gear, smiling viciously. "I'll fix up my tranquillizer gun."

"And I'll hide the rum," Globe added, eyeing his colleague suspiciously.

Applejack nursed her tea anxiously as she explained everything to Rarity. The unicorn listened, attentively, only ever interrupting to ask the occasional question if she didn't understand.

Applejack felt very, very awkward. She had expected to feel awkward, though. She wasn't accustomed to laying her personal life before her like an open book: it made her feel vulnerable, more vulnerable than she liked to feel.

Eventually, Rarity nodded, satisfied. "I can't imagine you'd have just come over to tell me for no reason," she pointed out. "You said you had a problem, didn't you?

Applejack tilted her head, confused. "Ya'll ain't mad I didn't tell you sooner?"

Rarity smiled, and shook her head. "Not especially. I imagine you had your reasons, yes? Not everypony can be as forthright as moi."

Oh, good, Applejack thought. She's speaking foreign' now.

"Well... recently, me an' Rainbow had been talkin'. 'Bout where we were goin', that sort of thing. We kept comin' back to the same problem: we spend so much of our time gettin' chased by hydra's, fightin' monsters, travellin'... it's not really the sort of lifestyle you want for a stable relationship," Applejack explained, sadly. "So, she quit."

That elicited a reaction from Rarity. "She what? She quit being an element?"

Applejack peered down into her drink gloomily. "I think she tried. I'm not so sure. And it's more'n that."

Rarity raised her eyebrow, sceptical. "How is there more? Rainbow's going to have a hard time just 'quitting' being an element, you know. We don't exactly get given a choice."

Applejack nodded. "I know! I don't know how Rainbow is goin' to last. She needs adrenaline... this mornin', she weren't even in bed. She never gets up early."

"Rainbow got up early? Is that all?" Rarity chuckled, shaking her head. "I think you may be panicking a bit soon, darling."

"Rarity, I'm worried 'bout her." Applejack shifted her weight, defensively. "Rainbow quit because she thought I were worth it. Well, I never agreed with her on that lil' point. My priority is RD, an' always has been."

Rarity hesitated for a second. "So... let me just organize things in my mind a bit. Rainbow wants to stop adventuring because she wants to be with you, and you want Rainbow to keep adventuring because she'll enjoy it more?"

Applejack opened her mouth, ready with a witty retort, but it didn't come. Instead she  sighed. "No, not quite. I'm also worried that I want Rainbow to keep adventurin' 'cause I'll enjoy it more."

I've spent most of my life as a farmer... but with Rainbow, with Twilight and the others... I can be exciting!

Rarity stared at Applejack. Finally, she ran her hoof through her mane.

"Oh, dear. This is why I dislike counselling."

Dear Mom Rapidfire,

Hello! It's me. I'm just writing because I'm still in Ponyville How are things in Cloudsdale? Ponyville is doing great: the weather is stable and I'm on the fast track to becoming a Wonderbolt again.

I know that you were never really happy about me being an Element not having a steady lifestyle, but I'm in love with in a relationship with somepony, and I was wondering if we could meet at some point in the near-ish future.

I'm really serious about her, and I'm also really serious about us patching things up. I'm tired of being on my own and I don't know how our family drifted apart like this, although I get that the way I live my life probably hasn't helped. But I've changed, or am trying to change, so can we please try to sort something out?

I'm sure Applejack would be really exited excited to meet you.

RD

Rainbow Dash leant back in her chair, distancing herself from her letter. Her mouth twisted into a scowl.

This has to be one of the worst letters I've written.

Rainbow let her head slump down to the table. "This is why I hate communication."

Everything was coming together at last... she had taken the first step towards getting her family back. She had walked away (or so she had hoped) from being constantly on the move. Sure, she imagined that if Equestria was in serious peril, she'd have to step up... but only as a last resort. Twilight could find herself another element of loyalty.

Why did she get stuck with Loyalty, anyhow? Sure, she wouldn't give up on a friend... but neither would Applejack. That wasn't how they rolled.

Rainbow heard hoofsteps behind her, interrupting her thoughts. Applejack! It's lunch!

Rainbow panicked, and quickly grabbed the letter in her hooves and crumpled it up, trying to destroy any possible trace of her failed letter.

She swivelled around in her chair, desperately trying to appear innocent. I don't need her knowing I want to have my parents over right now... it's too soon!

Applejack trotted into the room, a serious look on her face. Mere moments after Rainbow noticed, she gave Rainbow a happy smile, masking her previous concern flawlessly. "Heya'! You got up early today."

Don't remind me... I need another coffee... and some oats...

"Yeah, I did. I dunno' why. Felt really cold, too."

Weird. I feel better now, though...

"You doin' okay?"

Rainbow shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah. Guess I must have eaten something weird last night, or something."

Rainbow noticed Applejack's eye flicker towards the bundle of paper in her hoof, but she said nothing. Rainbow sighed with relief. She didn't need to explain that to Applejack just yet. It could wait.

"So..." Rainbow began. "Lunch?"

Applejack smiled. "Sure thing. If you ever feel weird, be sure to tell me, 'right?"

She trotted up to Rainbow, nuzzling her mane. Rainbow frowned, confused. What was Applejack playing at? She was acting weird. Then again, Rainbow reflected, so was she.

"Sure thing, AJ." Rainbow returned the affection, leaving her doubts forgotten. She was just concerned for her, right?

"Sure thing."

Fluttershy was shivering, despite standing right next to the engines and being wrapped in three layers of heavily insulated clothing. Twilight hypothesized that she might not be cold: there was more than one thing up at this altitude that would cause a pony to shudder.

Night hadn't quite fallen yet, but the sun was setting over Equestria, bathing the mountainsides in mesmerizing pink light.

"Why do I have to come on this dangerous trip again?" Fluttershy asked, as if expecting the Snowpony to jump at her from every shadow. Twilight sighed.

"Because you're the one who's an expert on animals. If we do encounter the Snowpony, we'll need you more than anyone!"

"That or my tranquillizer gun!" Vector countered.

"Both," declared Globe Trotter. His hooves were blue from the cold, but he still held the wheel with an expert grip. He didn't even seem to mind the icy winds all that much. Not as much as Vector, that is. The pegasus scientist kept on adjusting his head-gear and rubbing his hooves together, expelling fog out of his mouth with every halted breath.

Twilight didn't feel much warmer.

"Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Like footprints!" she replied. "You said you didn't actually see this Abominable Snowpony, did you?"

Globe nodded. "Yeah, but what else could it have been?"

"Freak wind?" Fluttershy suggested hopefully. Vector laughed.

"Wind that leaves behind giant hoof-prints? That would be a bit fat no."

"Speaking of wind, we're going to get a bit of a breeze up here," Globe warned. Twilight groaned: he was right. The wind was picking up, and it chilled her to the bone.

"I was actually wondering if it might have been some other creature. There are a lot of them that are rumoured to live up in the mountains, like dragons, beastponies, phoenixes..."

"Ain't no beastponies up here," Globe replied. "They're tribes moved north after Kathmanedu was built."

"Besides, we'd have dragons from this altitude. They aren't exactly subtle, you know."

It could still be anything. Spike was right... it's highly unlikely that it is an Abominable Snowpony, even though it is a possibility.

The wind continued to pick up, whistling through the pipes and devices on the airship.

"Where did this ship come from?" she asked. "I can't figure out how it works. Does it use magic?"

It makes a lot more noise than most magical machines. And I don't recognize the circuits, either.

"This is a Cloudsdale Airship," Vector explained. "They're designed for high altitudes. You probably know this, but the higher up you get, the harder it is to cast magic, unless you're a pegasus."

He tapped the side of the ship. "This isn't a pegasus, so we made them to run on lightning and wind instead. They're louder, slower, and uglier... but they work."

Interesting. I really should read up on this...

"They're also perfect for high altitude research..." Vector went on, but they were all suddenly jostled by another blast of wind.

"Ponyfeathers! Hold onto your hats!" Globe exclaimed. "We're experiencing unexpected turbulence! Please remain calm and don't—"

The vessel shook once again, interrupting him in the middle of his speech.

I have a bad feeling about this...

"Are we losing height?" Vector asked.

As if in answer to the pegasi's question, the ship hit the side of the mountain with a soft, but loud crash, gliding through the snow like a knife through butter.

"Oh, Celestia's shiny buttocks, not again!" Vector roared. "This wind isn't natural!"

We crashed... but how can wind make us crash? Something isn't right...

Twilight's horn flared. I need to tell Spike... this isn't some big furry pony up here... this is something else entirely.

"Oi, princess!" Vector shouted. "Thaumaturgic readings are going beserk! Whatever spell you're casting, do it quickly!"

Just a message... that's all I need...

Just a cry for help...

Letters, Rainbow thought. How do I write one to somepony I haven't talked to in over a year?

The evening was slow, and pleasant. Applejack was finishing her business speech... she'd be ready for Mr. Pants' arrival the next day. Rainbow was lying next to her, a fun and engaging book in her hooves. A small pair of glasses sat on her nose: a secret she had only shared with Applejack.

I guess it doesn't matter... I have all the time in the world, right?

All the time in the world...

Rainbow had to admit, she found the prospect of having a calmer, less eventful life a bit scary... strange, unnatural. She was always so used to getting everything done in under five seconds. Even though nothing that day was really all that different to her usual daily routine, it felt different. Emptier, but more fulfilling.

Did that make sense?

All the time in the world. Plenty of time to reconnect with her family, and maybe even have her own with Applejack, if she wanted. The thought gave Rainbow goosebumps: it scared her more than any stunt or monster. That's why it was exactly what she wanted.

It occurred to her that she was the fastest pony in Equestria... and that speed was a function of both distance and time. Now that she didn't have any immediate deadlines, was she destined to be the slowest pony of all?

And more importantly, did she even care?

"Hey, AJ..." she began, about to share her thoughts with her partner. She had promised, after all... but before she could begin properly, there was a flash of green light.

Both her and Applejack sat up with a start: this was magic. A small flare of green fire ignited the air in front of them. Fire they had seen before, many times.

Spike?

The fire burned away, revealing a letter that hit Rainbow square on the nose.

"Ow! What the hay, Spike!"

"A letter?" Applejack asked. "Why'd Spike send a message to us?"

Rainbow shrugged, and unrolled the parchment, reading it quickly. The more she read, the graver she became.

"There's trouble in Neighpal," she said, darkly.

Dear Rainbow Dash.

Twilight has run into trouble! Her airship (there's an airship now) crashed on the mountainside, and magic is going crazy up there. She asked me to call Celestia, and I have, but she can't get there as fast as you can.

I know you wanted to sit this one out, but I don't think that's an option any more. Before everything went quiet (magic nonsense) she hinted that this wasn't 'what she thought it was'. I don't know what that means, but I'm guessing that it's not some big pooffy Snowpony up there.

Please help!

Spike the Dragon

Rainbow passed the message over to Applejack.

Letters, she thought. They could come at the worst of times.

"AJ..."

"I know," Applejack replied. "You need to go. You ain't breakin' no promise if you do."

The pair looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds: Applejack's were hard and tough, ready for whatever the world threw at her. Rainbow's eyes, by contrast, were softer, almost tearful.

"Yes I am," she replied, and with a single flap of her wings, took to the sky.