Born to be friends

Chapters

The Apple, the Flower and the Diamond
Farewell and the Butterfly
Three colorful balloons
A Dash of hope

The Apple, the Flower and the Diamond

“Applejack, Cheerilee! Stop your chatting or you’re both getting detention!” the teacher yelled at the two mentioned fillies.

Both went silent right away, sat upright in their chairs and smiled like two innocent angels.

“What’s going to become of you two?” sighed the teacher.

“Please, please. I’d like to be a teacher, just like you,” exclaimed Cheerilee comically at what the teacher just shook her head unbelievingly.

“And I will work on our farm with mommy and daddy,” grinned Applejack.

“Then you’ll both write me a homework on this topic for today’s constant interrupting,” the teacher punished the two.

Both fillies made somewhat disgusted faces, but said nothing. They knew the teacher enough to know they’d just get punished worse the other way.

Moreover they both loved the teacher. She could be very stern, but all the while she deeply cared for her pupils.

Once she managed to calm the two lively fillies the teacher returned to her lecturing.

Applejack listened to her carefully, but soon the lecture began to bore her and her eyes began to shut little by little, until they shut completely at last.

• • •

“Hey, Applejack. Wake up,” whispered Cheerilee and poked her with her hoof. “The school will be over soon.”

And really just a few minutes later the clock on a nearby tower rang and the teacher released the class, wishing everypony a nice day. She frowned briefly at Applejack and Cheerilee, but then she waved and smiled at the two as well as they were leaving the school building side by side.

“So what are we going to do today, Applejack?” asked Cheerilee.

“How about we try again to get our Cutie Marks. Half of the ponies in class have them already and I don’t want to be the last one.”

“I’m sorry, Cheer,” Applejack shook her head. “I have to be home early today. Mommy has returned from the hospital and she said I’d have a surprise waiting for me there.”

“Aww yeea,” Cheerilee grinned wide and comically prolonged the last syllable.

“See you tomorrow then,” she smiled and hoof-bumped Applejack.

“Take care, Cheer,” Applejack said goodbye and galloped home, tremendously excited for whatever was waiting for her there.

• • •

“Hi mom, hi dad,” shouted Applejack at the top of her lungs when she finally arrived, but Granny Smith didn’t budge an inch.

“Silent, sweetie. Mom is resting,” dad peeked from the kitchen and calmed the excited daughter.

“You can go have a look at her. You’ll find her in the bedroom. And there will be somepony else waiting for you with her,” dad smiled at her happily and vanished in the kitchen again.

Applejack made a confused face, but listened to his advice and headed towards the bedroom. She opened the door very carefully, not to wake up mom, and stepped inside.

Mom was lying on the bed, covered by sheets, and was resting. Her face looked somewhat tired, but immensely happy. And right next to the bed, in a small crib, there was a beautiful little foal, asleep as well.

Applejack approached the foal, surprised. It was all yellow with a beautiful red mane. And so tiny-weeny.

She bent over it carefully and held its hoof. “How can they be so tiny?” the thought flashed through her mind and she eyed the foal for a long while.

“She’s beautiful, right?” said mom suddenly and Applejack flinched in shock. “This is your sister. Her name is Apple Bloom,” mom smiled at her. “Feel free to take care of her now, but be gentle.”

Applejack took the little creature carefully in her hooves and placed her, though a little clumsily, in embrace.

Little Apple Bloom growled quietly and pressed herself on Applejack’s chest. Applejack smiled at her with pride and sighed quietly. She had never been happier in her life. Finally, she’d be a big sister to somepony.

At the same day, somewhere on the outskirts of Ponyville

“But dad, why here of all places? Why Ponyville? Why not something different, bigger. Say Canterlot,” little Rarity started daydreaming for a moment.

“You know that mommy needs calm when we’re expecting a foal. Aren’t you happy that you’re going to have a little sister or brother?”

“Well yea!” snapped Rarity and rather looked out of the window of the stagecoach that was just arriving in Ponyville.

“Is this supposed to be a city?” Rarity was horrified. “There is like nothing here. Just a few houses, a farm and two measly stores.” Rarity indeed didn’t imagine her new home this way. She expected it to be classy, not this half-forgotten one-horse town in the middle of nowhere. “What have I gotten myself into again?” she sighed quietly so that none of her parents could hear it.

Several days later

“Dear class, today a new pupil has joined our school,” the teacher greeted them and introduced a little filly standing beside her. She had a snow white coat and a dark violet mane.

“Her name is Rarity and she moved in to Ponyville just a few days ago. Be kind to her and if need be, lend her a helping hoof till she accommodates herself among us”

Then she turned back to Rarity and continued: “I hope you’ll like it here,” she smiled at her. “And where shall we seat you?” the teacher inspected the class closely.

“I think you could sit there, next to Applejack,” she said and pointed to an empty desk.

When Applejack heard this she waved her hoof happily at the new filly, but she ignored her completely and trotted to her desk, holding her head up proudly. She couldn’t resist though at last and gave her new orange neighbor a wink. She looked nice though somewhat unmaintained.

“Hi, I’m some Applejack,” whispered the neighbor and offered her a hoof. Rarity eyed it with critique, as it was a bit dirty, but in the end, though with a bit of a grin, she gladly accepted it and gave it a shake.

“I am Rarity,” she introduced herself proudly.

“Alright, calm down, dear foals,” exclaimed the teacher. “It’s time to start the lecturing,” she told them and then got to it.

• • •

“Hey, Rarity, wait for us!” shouted Applejack. The school ended a while ago, but Applejack with Cheerilee had somewhat different plans than just head straight home. They wanted to join in with their new friend.

“What is it you want?” Rarity asked with dignity in her voice when Applejack caught up with her.

Applejack was somewhat abashed by her voice. She acted rather “snobbish”, but all the while seemed to be a nice filly. In the end she just shrugged and started: “You know, me and Cheer couldn’t help noticing that…”

“Cheerilee. It’s Cheerilee. How many times do I have to remind you?” her plum-colored friend mocked her. Both started to laugh heartily at that moment. Applejack rolled on the grass and wriggled in wild laughing fits.

“Y-you w-would re-really be a great t-teacher, Ch-cheer. Y-you’re really g-good at this,” Applejack managed to say between hiccups and thus got Cheerilee into another laughing fit.

Rarity had to try really hard not to lose her dignity and give in to their contagious giggling. Although she finally regained control even she made a smile at times, but always decently covered her mouth with her hoof.

When Applejack calmed down and wept away the tears of laughter she managed to stand again on her hooves and continued where she stopped a while ago.

“I wanted to say that Cheer and I noticed,” she said and leered at her friend mischievously. This time she didn’t interrupt her and just grinned back at Applejack, “that you don’t have your Cutie Mark either, just like us. And so we thought, how about we try to get it together? We even have our own clubhouse down in the orchard.”

Rarity looked at them surprised. She didn’t expect anything like that. Even more so she was surprised by her own reaction. The two were one of the dirtiest and unmaintained fillies she’d ever met, but Rarity felt that she was growing fond of them. They seemed very nice. And so she finally agreed with glee and her prior superior tone was now gone like the wind. Just a few minutes later all the three were trotting down to the apple orchard.

Several weeks later

“The pegasi have planned a huge storm for this evening, so please go home right after school,” mom was bothering about Applejack and cradling little Apple Bloom in her embrace.

“Sure, mom,” Applejack nodded, took the snack her mom made for her off the table and put it in her school bag that she already had on her back. She said goodbye and with a light gallop set off to school.

On the way she picked up Cheerilee and Rarity and they moved on slowly together. They weren’t very excited about going to school, so to speak.

In the few weeks these three fillies became best friends. Their Cutie Mark crusades, although unsuccessful, became legendary throughout Ponyville.

“So Rarity, do you know if you’re about to have a sister or a brother yet?” Cheerilee asked.

“No, I don’t, but daddy said it would happen soon,” answered Rarity, but she didn’t seem overly happy about it, so Cheerilee let it be.

Shortly all three got to school and took their seats.

“Late again,” warned the teacher with a stern gaze. “I would be interested in knowing where do you keep wandering all the time?”

However, instead of answers, she only got three angel looks, so she just sighed and got to lecturing.

• • •

“Hey Applejack, will you go to the clubhouse with us? Rarity has again some ideas for its improvement,” Cheerilee called to her friend once the school was over.

“I can’t today, I promised to be home early. Because of the storm,” Applejack shook her head.

“Oh come on AJ, don’t be a scaredy-pony,” mocked Cheerilee. “What could possibly happen to us over there? We’ll be dry and warm after all.”

“Well, I don’t know,” frowned Applejack. “I got a bad feeling about this.”

“Aww come ooooon,” nagged Cheerilee together with Rarity.

“Well then, alright,” exhaled Applejack and all three started towards their clubhouse.

The first pitch-dark clouds began to gather on the horizon. And there was something evil in their shape, something foreboding.

Since Rarity became their friend their tree clubhouse was changed beyond recognition. It was now painted fresh, had the doors and windows changed and there were even little flower pots hanging from the windows.

The change inside was even more substantial. Rarity somehow managed to get a carpet that was now laid on the floor. They had a table, where they planned their crusades, and several couches for sitting and, situationally, even sleeping. There were various sketches and diagrams of their Cutie Mark crusades on the walls. Also posters that Applejack brought here, mainly from various rodeos.

Under the strict oversight of Rarity, Applejack and Cheerilee cleaned their hooves on the door mat and only then headed in.

“So what did you come up with, Rarity?” asked Cheerilee. Applejack was somewhat subdued and kept eyeing the roof of their farm, hidden behind a hill, through the window.

“I was thinking we could hang wallpapers in here,” smiled Rarity. “Those planks don’t look exactly appealing,” she explained and reached in her handbag, drawing out a few wallpaper rolls and a bit of glue.

All three got down to work, but Applejack was growing more and more anxious over time. Everything kept falling from her hooves and she kept staring more through the window as the sky became fully overcast. The first rain drummed against the windows. There was a lightning and soon a thundering roar reached their ears.

“What’s up with you?” asked Rarity at last. “Are you OK?”

“I don’t know. I keep getting that funny feeling,” answered Applejack and meekly lowered her head. Another flash lit the sky. The thunder was now audible much nearer.

“Then better run home,” both looked at her compassionately. “You might make it before the worst comes.”

“Thanks, you’re…” began Applejack, but the sky was suddenly set alight by an unbearably bright flare, followed by a terrifyingly loud thunder that shook the whole clubhouse.

At this point Applejack went pale as a ghost. Something in her heart suddenly violently and mercilessly blacked out. Something she believed she could never lose. She didn’t even look around and rushed out from the door right into the terrifying storm that was rampaging outside.

Her friends exchanged confused looks and ran out after her.

Applejack ran as fast as her tiny legs could manage. Wind and rain whipped her face mercilessly. On the dark sky above her head the lightning was flashing one after another, but nothing would stop her. She ran further and further back to home and hoped that the darkness she felt in her heart was just a deceit.

And then she saw them. Her parents. They were lying on the trail leading to their clubhouse, crushed by a massive old trunk that was still smoking from a recent lightning strike. They weren’t moving.

“Mommy, daddy!” she howled in despair and ran up to them. Tears were flowing down her face, mixing with raindrops.

She caressed and shook them with her hooves, cried out loud in despair, but all in vain, neither of them woke up. Both of her parents were dead.

She collapsed to the grass besides them and heartbreakingly cried with her muzzle pressed against the side of her mommy.

That’s where Rarity and Cheerilee found her when they arrived.

“Dear Celestia!” exclaimed Rarity, terrified. “Cheerilee, quickly reach out for help in the town!” she commanded harshly. Cheerilee obeyed immediately and galloped off;

In the meanwhile Rarity turned to Applejack and tried to comfort her, but all of her efforts were vain. Nevertheless she hugged the poor filly tight. The dirty mud around her didn’t matter at all now.

• • •

“It’s your fault. Yours! You should have listened to them. You shouldn’t have gone to the clubhouse,” Applejack was haunted by her consciousness.

Applejack knew that her parents went to pick her up on that day. They were worried about her and wanted to bring her home. And so she blamed their death on herself. If only she’d listened back then and gone home right away.

She couldn’t sleep and when she finally managed to, she was haunted by terrifying nightmares. She couldn’t smile nor cry. She was like a soulless body.

Granny Smith and Big Mac cared for her and Apple Bloom, but what was it worth if all the fire in her heart had been doused.

She wasn’t the former jolly filly anymore. She even stopped talking to her best friends. With Rarity and Cheerilee. Every day she tottered to school as if in a dream and then right back home, where she collapsed onto her bed and wouldn’t talk to anypony.

• • •

“I can’t take it anymore, Cheerilee. We must do something!” proposed Rarity one day, when the two met again after a long while in their clubhouse.

“Well, sure, but what?” sighed Cheerilee. “She won’t even talk to us anymore.”

“I know,” added Rarity sadly. “But we must think of something as soon as possible. Otherwise Applejack will be doomed by her suffering.

“Maybe we could give her something, but it would need to be something special,” proposed Cheerilee. “Something she’s always wished for.”

“That’s a great idea,” agreed Rarity. “And what if each of us gave her a different thing? We’d get a higher chance to hit the right one that way.”

Cheerilee nodded: “Perfect, we’ll meet right here once we have both come up with an idea, alright?”

The two fillies shortly parted and on the way home kept trying to come up with something to cheer up their friend.

• • •

There was a quiet knock and someone opened the door to her room. Applejack just rolled over and stared to the ceiling.

“Applejack? We came to visit you,” began Cheerilee.

“And we brought you something,” added Rarity.

“Go away. I want to be alone,” sighed Applejack and there was just so much bitterness in her voice. Cheerilee with Rarity wouldn’t budge though.

“We brought you a present,” Cheerilee smiled at her, “that could make you happy”.

Applejack didn’t even bother answering and just turned her back to them. She kept quiet.

“We’ll leave it here for you. You’ve got it in this box,” informed Rarity and put the box next to Applejack on the bed. Then they both left and carefully shut the door.

Applejack sighed and kept looking out of the window when suddenly something rustled in the room.

“Huh?” she was surprised and looked around the room. There was no one there.

Suddenly the rustle sounded again, right from the box her friends brought there.

“What could it be?” her curiosity got awakened and for a short while shadowed her sadness. Carefully she bent to the box and opened it by the hoof. Her eyes opened wide in shock. There was a different pair of eyes looking at her from the box. A dog pair of eyes.

It was a little dog, still a puppy, and it had a farmer’s hat on its head, fit just for a pony. It looked somewhat comical with it. On its collar there was a name tag. It said “Winona”.

That instant the puppy jumped out of the box and licked her muzzle. Applejack caught the puppy in her hooves and gave it a long stare.

That innocent and happy face broke something in her and Applejack felt the first tears flowing down her face.

She set the puppy on the floor carefully, picked the hat, slammed it onto her head and ran out of the room. Winona followed right after.

She caught up with her friends right on the road leading from the farm. She jumped on them, knocked them to the ground and hugged them in tight embrace.

Her lips were shaking and floods of tears were flowing down her face. In spite of that she managed to whisper: “Thank you.” Then she cried even more.

Her friends smiled at each other and then returned her hugs. After a while they helped her stand up, held her firmly in between them and led her back home.

When they were laying her with the puppy back to her bed, Applejack smiled at them even though her eyes were still filled with tears.

“I love you,” she whispered and hugged them once again.

Rarity with Cheerilee stayed with her the whole night and knew that their good friend had returned again.

Farewell and the Butterfly

Applejack sighed quietly and slid down her back in exhaustion, leaning against one of the apple trees. She moved her hat to the side and stared up through the rich crowns of the tree, overgrown with ripening apples. Applejack didn’t mind those at all though and traversed her past instead.

It was that almost a year had passed since that unfortunate day when their parents died, and ever since they were alone for everything. Just her, Big Mac and Granny Smith. Until that fateful moment Applejack had never realized how much work there is hidden on the farm and in the orchard, but now, after her parents’ death, the reality hit her hard in the face.

While they were still alive, Applejack considered a warm dinner, made bed and tender goodnight kiss a matter of course, and now there was nothing left from that. She had to take care of everything herself. About the farm, the orchard, and also about her just one-year-old sister Apple Bloom.

Thankfully there was Granny, who’d had her best years long behind, but still tried her best to help out on the farm wherever possible. And then there was, of course, Big Mac, who took care of the most demanding work.

It was hard at first, but somehow they miraculously managed. However, Applejack started feeling it was too much for her. It was that she didn’t only have the farm to manage, she also had to go to school.
She still sat right next to her best friends, but she rarely hanged out with them after school now. There was no time for that.

Every morning she woke up before dawn and went to feed the animals with Big Mac. Then she made breakfast for everypony and right after that she went to school. Most of this time she was so tired that she snoozed through half of the lessons.

After school she had to run back to the farm again and start caring for the orchard. There was always so much work there. Was it not for Granny, she and Big Mac would have no clue what all was there to be done and no apples would grow, what would mean the end of their food supply.

Before she thought the apples were somewhat growing on their own, but it showed that she was terribly wrong. In order for the crops to be worth anything, there was so much to be done.

It began already in spring, soon after the last snow melted. The trees had to be carefully trimmed and fertilized. They were barely finished with that and the first trees began to blossom, so they had to watch whether the bees were pollinating the flowers properly, and if not, they had to help them a little.

Once even this was done and the trees began to lose the flowers and the first tiny apples appeared, Applejack had to watch the orchard day and night, fending off birds and other potential thieves attracted by the rich crops. Which was what she was doing right now.

Thankfully she had Winona, who helped her a lot with the watching, so she could lie down and take a rest from time to time. All the while Applejack began to feel that she was getting fed up with such life.

She wanted to be again that ordinary filly, who plays with her friends, but deep inside she felt that these times would never come back again. She missed their clubhouse that was now deserted for months and was slowly deteriorating just like her friendship with Rarity and Cheerilee.

Her two friends would love to help her out on the farm, but their parents weren’t too excited about that, so she got their help very scarcely. That’s when they managed to exceptionally persuade them. They both felt deeply sorry about that.

Applejack felt that if this would carry on for any longer she’d go crazy. She had to leave, away from the farm, away from Ponyville, and most importantly, away from the apples that she couldn’t even see anymore.

She’d love to talk to somepony about this suffering of hers, but she didn’t know with who. She was afraid that her family or friends would think she didn’t love them anymore and that was most certainly not the truth. She just needed a change.

And there, under the flower-dropping tree, she made the decision. She would leave to her auntie and uncle in Manehattan, try to find some job, and if she’d make enough money, she would return here and finally they’d hire some proper helping hooves. After that everything would be better again for sure and she would have time for her friends again.

Several weeks later

“Come on, Cheer, stop moving or I’ll never finished that costume,” complained Rarity and with the expression of utter focus with a stuck-out tongue she pinned another pair of pins that had until then been hovering in the blueish aura of her magic.

“But I’m standing here like for hours,” complained Cheerilee. “Can’t we have a break for a moment? My legs are all stiffened. And anyways, this costume is not for me, but for Applejack. Why don’t you try it on her? It’s too large for me anyway.”

Rarity suddenly froze and put all the tailoring tools she was using until then somewhat hesitantly back on the table. Then she spoke: “You know how hard it is for AJ now. And moreover it’s supposed to be a surprise for her. She’ll definitely be glad when she finds out we didn’t forget and signed up for the talent competition. At least we’ll be doing something together after a long time.

“Well yeah, I know,” sighed Cheerilee and drooped her ears. “I miss her so much.”

“I miss her too, Cheer,” nodded Rarity sadly. “That’s why I’d love to make her happy at least with this costume if we can’t be together so often. And because the performance is already in a week we’ve got to hurry a bit. Plus I can’t get rid of the impression that the costumes are missing something. I just can’t put my hoof on what it is.”

“Okay then. A bit more,” agreed Cheerilee at last. “But then we’ll have a break and go to the pastry shop for chocolate. Deal?”

Rarity smiled happily at her friend. “Deal! But the bill’s on me.”

Two days later

Applejack was standing in front of the school, digging into the ground nervously with her hoof. She was delaying the moment as long as she could, but her time had run out. Tomorrow she would embark on the journey to Manehattan and she couldn’t just leave her best friends without saying goodbye.

“Applejack!” the sudden enthusiastic call echoed from the school door and Applejack had to hold her will not to turn around and flee that instant.

“What are you doing here?” asked Cheerilee. “I thought you had to…” she stopped when she noticed her serious face. “Has something happened?”

“Hi Applejack. Hi Cheerilee,” echoed the voice of another filly right after. It was Rarity this time. “What’s the matter?” she asked, when she noticed the awkward mood in the air.

Applejack took a deep breath and spoke: “I h-have to tell you something.” Then she trailed off again, losing her courage once more.

“Are you okay, AJ?” asked Rarity caringly. “You don’t look the best.”

“Applejack closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. This was harder than she thought. When she spoke again, her eyes were still closed. What she was about to tell her friends, she couldn’t tell them in the eyes. “I-I’d like you to know that I have to leave.”

“What? Leave? Where?” asked Cheerilee, somewhat surprised, and Rarity just stood there with a surprised look and gaping mouth.

“Away from Ponyville. To a family in Manehattan,” explained Applejack fast, while she still had any will to continue. “I don’t know when and if I will come back.”

“W-what?” stuttered Rarity. “B-but we have the performance in a week. You promised to be there. I counted with you. I even have a costume for you. Did you forget by any chance?”

Applejack hanged her head. Rarity was right. She did forget. For all the work on the farm and troubles with the planned route away she completely forgot about her promise. She was terribly sorry, but she had everything arranged. There was no turning back.

“You really did forget!” said Rarity quietly with a shaking voice when she noticed the look in her face. She cared about the performance so much and now such a blow arrived.

Applejack managed just a silent apologetic nod.

“B-but…I…” Rarity started and a tear was rolling down her face. She felt alone and betrayed. And then her facial expression suddenly changed. It turned into stone. Suddenly there was no hint of any emotion. “Run away!” she said quietly. “Run wherever you want!”

This time it was Applejack, who opened her eyes wide in surprise. She didn’t imagine their parting like this even in the worst nightmares. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Not like this.

“Farewell!” she snapped in such a way that she surprised herself. She didn’t wait for a response. Instead she turned around and ran back towards the farm. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Cheerilee leaned towards Rarity and told her in a judging voice: “You shouldn’t have told her that.”

Rarity didn’t respond. Somewhere deep inside she knew Cheerilee was right, but the proud part of her “self” refused to accept it.

A week later

Applejack ran as fast as she could. She was returning home. She’d never have thought she’d be missing this place so much. However, now she knew that it was the only place in the world she belonged to. She wouldn’t exchange it for the world. She loved it here and she was incredibly stupid to ever doubt it before.

She missed Big Mac, Granny Smith and little Apple Bloom. She missed the life of a farmer even though it meant hard, sometimes even unbearable labor. But from all the things, she missed the apple trees the most. She missed how sweet they smelled and how the red apples glinted in the tree crowns in summer.

She was running and her heart was beating with glee. She could see them already. There in the turn, there were the first apple trees and the orchard was starting. She knew that in just a few hundred meters she’d be home again.

Looking around, all happy from being home again, she paid no attention to the road, so she only noticed the canary-yellow pegasus filly that suddenly appeared from a nearby bush and crossed her road, when it was too late.

Using her front legs she braked with all her strength, but it didn’t have the effect she expected. Instead of stopping, her entire body was propelled in the air at that speed and Applejack did a somersault against her will. She would normally bruise herself decently on impact, not being it for the poor filly, whom she landed on the back and knocked her down with her.

Once the whirred-up dust settled and Applejack recovered from that pretty unexpected acrobatic stunt, she noticed she was lying on something soft and canary-yellow. Her face was dug in a slightly pinkish mane and just a bit further she noticed her Cutie Mark in the form of three little butterflies.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to hurt you in any way,” a soft and quiet voice sounded from somewhere below.

Applejack shook the dust from herself and stood up. Then she helped the other filly stand up, too. “It was me who should have paid closer attention,” she apologized. “Are you okay?”

The filly laid her two blue-green and ocean-deep eyes. Instead of answering she just shook her head and then she lowered her look and dug her hoof nervously into the ground.

“I’m Applejack. And who are you? I’ve never seen you here before,” asked Applejack the other filly.

“F-Fluttershy,” peeped the filly almost inaudibly and kept looking to the ground.

“Well,” said Applejack after a while of thinking and scratched her head. “Glad to meet you. But now I’ve got to go. They’re waiting for me at home.”

The yellow filly just gave her such sad stare, but said nothing.

“So, bye for now, Fluttershy. I hope we meet each other soon,” Applejack parted from her and ran off further down the road.

“Hi, Applejack. Glad to meet you too,” muttered Fluttershy, when Applejack had already disappeared behind the turn and so quietly that nopony could hear her anyway.

Several hours later

“So that’s four carrots, a salad and five tomatoes. That will be five bits,” smiled at Rarity the mare, who always used to sell on the square in the vegetable stand.

Rarity counted five bits and finally added one extra. With a smile and a thank you she gave them to the mare.

“It’s been a pleasure, miss Rarity,” smiled at her the filly from the stand. “See you soon.”

“Goodbye,” parted and aimed towards home. However, then she noticed a scene at the bakery stand that caught her attention.

“I’m telling you, miss, that we sell bread for two bits. For one bit I can sell you just a half.

“B-but then I won’t have enough for me and my animals,” peeped the little canary-yellow creature that was guiltily crouching in front of the salespony. She was a young pegasus filly although likely older than Rarity.

“One bit for half a bread. That’s my last offer,” insisted the salespony.

“Okay then,” finally agreed the filly quietly and kind of sadly. She reached in her pouch for her last bit. I will have to somehow make do without food today.

“I will pay the rest for you,” smiled Rarity at the yellow filly.

“Eh? T-there’s no need to do that. I…I don’t want to be a bother to anypony,” stuttered the little filly nervously.

“Oh come on. It’s really nothing,” Rarity kept smiling, added a bit to the one lying on the table and watched as the salespony wrapped in paper a large loaf of bread that the yellow filly then stuffed in her bag.

“T-thank you very much,” whispered the filly and guiltily lowered her head to the ground.

“You’re really welcome,” said Rarity. “Are you new around here?”

“Y-yes,” she muttered shyly and kept looking at the ground. “I’m here j-just a few days.”

“And what’s your name?” asked Rarity.

“F-Fluttershy,” came the barely audible answer.

“Nice to meet you, Fluttershy. I am Rarity. Well, I won’t be bothering you anymore. The animals of yours are definitely hungry by now. And I also have to carry these goods home or mommy will get mad. It was a pleasure to get to know you. So take care now.”

“Bye,” smiled Fluttershy shyly and started off out of the town. Rarity kept watching her for a while and wondered. Where does this little filly live? And where did she come from anyway? She’d have to find out one day, but now she had to deliver the goods.

The evening that day

The sun was setting already and Applejack just stood silently and watched that house ahead. The house where, as she knew, lived with her parents and her little sister, her best friend Rarity.

She stood like this for hours, unable to move at all. She had so much to tell her about. About all she experienced in Manehattan and how she got her Cutie Mark, but first of all she wanted to apologize.

But it didn’t work somehow. Somehow she lacked the strength to make the last few steps and knock on the front door. No matter what she tried, she couldn’t overcome that strange fear in her.

Finally she just hung her head, turned around and ran off crying towards the farm. She felt terribly about herself.

The curtain that was slightly pulled aside all the time Applejack was standing there suddenly moved back in place and the little white blue-eyed filly that was hiding behind it all the time just sighed quietly: “Oh Applejack.”

• • •

Applejack was just running through the quickly darkening forest, when she heard quiet sobbing coming from somewhere in its depths. She stopped immediately, dried her own tears and slowly aimed in the direction of that sound.

It wasn’t long before she spotted the yellow filly she met on the road today, hiding in a bush. She was just lying there, shivering with cold and crying. Suddenly a flock of birds raised to the sky, scared by the newcomer.

“Wait, don’t go,” sobbed Fluttershy. Then, however, she spotted the two green eyes gleaming in the dark. She squeaked out in terror and hid her head between her hooves.

“Easy, sugarcube,” AJ started to comfort her. “It’s just me.”

“Applejack?” sobbed the poor pile, surprised.

“What are you doing here alone so late?” asked Applejack the question that anyone could come up with in that situation.

“I…I got lost,” started Fluttershy and stood up carefully. Now that she wasn’t alone she felt much better.

“Come with me then. I will lead you home,” Applejack smiled kindly at her. “And where do you live anyway?”

“There, behind the farm, at the stream, close to Everfree forest,” whispered Fluttershy, so quietly that Applejack could barely hear her.

“Really?” wondered Applejack. “I didn’t know there was a building over there.”

The yellow filly answered her with solemn silence.

“Come then, I will lead you there,” encouraged her Applejack and together they set off on the road. For all the time, despite Applejack’s efforts, Fluttershy wouldn’t manage a single word. Instead, every time she spoke to her, she just nervously looked at the ground and drooped her ears.

Fifteen minutes barely passed and they reached the place. Applejack was just looking around to spot some lights of the building, when Fluttershy stopped her.

“It’s here,” whispered Fluttershy nervously and pointed to a nearby hillock with a den dug in it. Her shyness was well visible.

Applejack was terrified. “This is where you live?!” It’s just an old bear den. Do you live her alone?”

Fluttershy stayed silent and with drooped ears and tail just stared to the ground.

Applejack sighed. “Okay then, you don’t need to tell me, but I won’t let you live alone in this hole. Come with me. There’s always spare space at our farm.”

“But…” tried protesting Fluttershy.

“No but, sugarcube! You’re coming with me and that’s it!” Applejack looked at her harshly and Fluttershy obeyed despite weighing it a bit.

Back at the farm with a plate of hot soup and a bit of apple cider, Fluttershy finally started talking about her fate.

“It all started when I first got on the ground,” started Fluttershy. “Actually, I kind of fell down.”

“It’s just that I spent my entire past life above in the clouds with the other pegasi, so I’d always seen the ground only from a really huge distance. I’d always wanted to have a look down, but you know, I’m not very good at flying,” blushed Fluttershy a bit, but resumed her story right away. “And when I finally got here a few days ago I couldn’t believe how beautiful it is over here. It was so awesome. So many colors, sounds and smells. It was blowing my senses. It wasn’t long before I fell in love with this place.”

Applejack smiled at her. She too loved the ground, nature, and all there was to it and she was really glad she met a soul mate.

“When they came to search for me then, I knew I couldn’t leave this place, that I wouldn’t want to leave and that I’d stay here. They persuaded me, but then, when they noticed my new Cutie Mark, they realized that this is how it’s really meant to be. And so I remained here and started caring for myself.”

“I don’t even miss it up there, maybe except Rainbow Dash,” sighed Fluttershy at last.

“Rainbow Dash?” wondered Applejack. “Who is that?”

“One filly I’ve befriended recently. She was very nice,” recalled Fluttershy.

Applejack didn’t ask her anymore. She just sat there quietly and gave Fluttershy a long, wondering stare. She hadn’t met a lot of pegasi in her life, so her story sounded somehow unbelievable to her ears. In spite of that, she felt she was telling the truth.

“Something should be done with that den of yours, though,” said AJ suddenly and even surprised herself a bit. “You can’t really live like this. If you help me here at the farm a bit, I could have a look at what could be done with that shelter of yours. You wouldn’t even survive winter like that. You would live here in the meanwhile. We have enough space and the rest of the family will also be glad to have a guest once again.”

Fluttershy looked at Applejack with her kind, deep eyes. She wanted to say something, but she felt that it would have no effect on the stubborn Applejack anyway, so finally she nodded lightly.

Applejack grinned and with the words “Very well, sugarcube,” she shook her hoof.

Two days later

“So that’s how she got here,” ended Cheerilee her version of the story of the events that brought Fluttershy to Ponyville that she learned from Applejack.

“Poor filly. Living in such a dirty hole,” pitied her Rarity. “We should help her out. I believe that Applejack will take care of here, but she won’t make it alone.”

“Maybe you should go apologize to her first,” interrupted her Cheerilee and her face had a strict look. She kind of reminded Rarity of their teacher by that.

Rarity was silent for a long time and just looked at the ground. Then she sighed. “I wanted to, but I’m afraid I can’t make it. I saw her as she stood here in front of our house that evening she returned. I knew she wanted to talk to me, but I could see how scared she was. In the end she fled and I didn’t even attempt to stop her.”

“I’m so stupid, Cheer,” she cried suddenly and tears burst from her eyes. “So stupid. And miss her so much, too.”

Cheerilee smiled kindly at her and nuzzled her face. “You just made a mistake, Rarity, and so did Applejack. Trust me that she misses you terribly, too, even though she doesn’t want to talk about it with me. Don’t you think it would be better if you made up again, so the three of us could be together? Just like before.”

Rarity looked at her surprised through her watery eyes. She didn’t expect these words from her. She always considered her to be the kind of filly who just makes jokes of all life situations. She looked at her a while longer and then she nodded.

Cheerilee smiled. “I will help you then, if it’s so hard for you, but you two have to take care about the main part.”

The next day

Applejack was just fully occupied by nailing two wooden beams together, when she was interrupted by knocking on the door. On the door that weren’t there yet that morning and that separated the new and just forming Fluttershy’s home from the rest of the world.

“Hey Fluttershy, can you go open it? I can’t right now,” she called back.

Fluttershy didn’t reply, but she put down the paintbrush and bucket with color and aimed to the door. That sufficed as an answer for Applejack and she returned to nailing. So she heard nothing of what Fluttershy talked about with the newcomer.

“Hi, Fluttershy,” greeted Cheerilee her just a few days old friend.

Fluttershy was just about to say hi when she noticed the other filly standing right next. Instead of greeting she managed just a nervous whisper. Then, however, she recognized her as the one who was so kind to her back then at the market, and at least smiled at her.

“This is Rarity,” started Cheerilee, “but as I’ve heard you already know each other.”

Fluttershy just nodded her head lightly and looked down.

“We came to help you out,” continued Cheerilee, “but first Rarity would like to talk to AJ.”

“Alone,” added Cheerilee, when she noticed that Fluttershy was about to rather shyly invite the in. “In the meanwhile we’ll go for a walk around to see what could be improved. What do you say?”

“Okay,” whispered Fluttershy, who felt that complying would be the best option, and together with Cheerilee she set off for a walking round. Rarity, who stayed alone in front of the open door gulped aloud and after a great hesitation she walked in.

“Hey Fluttershy, where’s the rest of the nails?” asked Applejack when she heard the snap of the door. She barely finished the sentence and the nails were there. Just instead of being held by a hoof, they were floating in a blueish magic glow.

She turned around slowly and looked in the well-known blue eyes. “R-Rarity?” she stuttered and the hammer she had been holding fell off her hoof out of surprise. With a thud it hit the ground, but neither of the fillies looked at it.

“I…I’d like to apologize to you, Applejack…” Rarity started with a trembling voice, tears glistening in her eyes. She didn’t manage to say anything more.

Applejack charged forward and embraced her friend in a crushing hug. She cried, too. Rarity still hesitated out of sheer surprise, but then she returned her embrace.

Neither of the fillies spoke. Not that there was anything needed to be said anyway. In that single beautiful hug, everything was forgiven forever.

After several long minutes they finally let go of each other and their young faces shone with smiles. It was so wonderful to be together again.

When Cheerilee and Fluttershy returned, they found the two indulged in conversation and continuing the work. Cheerilee smiled and wiped off with her hoof a tear of happiness, flowing down her face. She was glad that the three of them were together again. Actually, now it was four.

Three colorful balloons

It was evening already and Celestia’s sun was leaning towards the horizon to make way for the upcoming night, when a young filly appeared at the very edge of Ponyville.

It was clear at the first sight what pitiful state she was in. Her coat was so dusty and muddy that its true color couldn’t be distinguished. Just at a few spots, pink was visible through the layers of dirt. Her mane and tail weren’t doing much better as they drooped to the ground in messed and cemented streams.

On her back she carried two old saddlebags. They were ripped, torn and totally empty. Her once beautiful blue eyes were now looking at the world with a blank stare and only sadness and fatigue were reflecting in them. On her flank there was her Cutie Mark, distinguishable with great effort. They were three colorful balloons and also the reason for her suffering.

She’d been born on a small rock farm. At least that’s what her parents called the place. The sky there was always covered by grey clouds and the ground didn’t look much different either. Everywhere the eye could see there were just the boring rocks that prevented any greenery from growing. The few plants that managed to sprout anyway didn’t use to last long.

Here’s where she lived almost all her fillyhood, shut inside herself and her best friends were just piles of pebbles. Nopony else talked to her except family. That is, nopony else lived here. She’d likely have spent the rest of her life there, be it not for the queer wind that blew all the clouds away and brought a beautiful sparkly rainbow with it.

That’s when she felt happy for the first time in her life and she made the first smile ever coming from her heart. She felt compelled to share that happiness with somepony and so she arranged a party to cheer up her family. And they indeed were happy all together for a while. And that’s when she discovered her true talent and her Cutie Mark appeared.

Unfortunately the happiness didn’t last for long. The rainbow disappeared, the sky was overcast by grey cloud again and the hearts of all the ponies from her family were shut in again.

Our filly did her best to get them to smile at her once more, but she couldn’t succeed anymore. It was as if the place where she lived prevented that. And even though it seemed that the other ponies had accepted their fate, it wasn’t her case.

She wanted to smile and share happiness with others, but instead only despair and pity were growing in her heart. That was until she ran away one night under the shroud of darkness. She only left a goodbye letter on the kitchen table.

She travelled very long. Maybe a year or two. The days of her journey were blending together. She experienced a lot, but nowhere could she find her happiness. Instead some ponies laughed at her for trying to make them smile. Some even beat her and some attempted even worse things.

And so her journey continued through the borders of Equestria and finally into the center of it to the village known as Ponyville. The filly was now standing at the edge of it, hesitating to enter.

She was afraid that again there would be somepony, who’d want to hurt her, but the horrible hunger that had tortured her for several days forced her to proceed. Moreover she noticed in the last sunbeams of the setting sun that the local pegasi were getting the clouds ready for rain, so she knew she’d have to find a shelter in time.

She waited for most of the ponies to hit the hay and then she carefully started towards the town. She sneaked through the unlit alleys from corner to corner and sought at least something edible.

But the only thing she found was an old, moist, and partly moldy bread. She was so hungry, however, that she took no notice and gobbled it up right away.

The first drops hit the ground, so she quickly set off to find some shelter.

Near the square there was a strange building that attracted her by its scent. She peeked carefully into the showcases and she noticed it was a sort of pastry shop. It was dark inside, and so it seemed that nopony was here anymore. From under the door trailed a wonderfully sweet aroma that brought her here. And because the entrance was also roofed, she decided to wait the stormy night here.
It wasn’t long before she fell asleep, affected by that intoxicating scent, and dreamt about better times, when she’d be a happy filly again.

• • •

She was awakened by a horrible feeling in her stomach.

She lifted herself, but couldn’t even make a few steps and she started vomiting.

For a moment she felt horribly weak and her head was swimming. And so she didn’t notice the wooden crates she tripped over, making a loud mess.

In a nearby house lights turned on and someone looked out. The terrified filly ran off to the deep and rainy night.

She was still horribly sick, so she didn’t make it very far. Terribly tired and exhausted she found shelter under a nearby tree. This didn’t provide as good a cover as the porch by the pastry shop and so her mane was soaked by large drops that slipped through the leaves and at least washed down a bit of the dust and dirt from her mane and coat.

She was shivering with cold and awaiting the morning.

• • •

A cock-a-doodle-doo roused her from the light sleep she’d fallen to, when the rain finally stopped short before morning. She was still horribly cold and didn’t feel much better though. She actually felt even worse. Shivers were running all the way down her freezing body.

Slowly and unsurely she got up and stepped into the sunbeams to warm up a bit. That instant she spotted something she wouldn’t have even dreamt about before. Everywhere the eye could see there, in all directions there was a vast apple orchard. On the trees there were beautiful colorful apples covered with raindrops and glistening in the morning sun.

She watched them for a while and her mouth was quickly watering. But even though her stomach was convulsing of hunger and even though many ponies treated her badly, she didn’t want to harm anypony by stealing the fruits of their hard work.

In the end, however, it was hunger that prevailed and she slowly approached the nearest tree, shook down a few apples and started to collect them hastily in her saddlebags.

She had them nearly full when the orchard echoed with a cry: “Cut it out right now, you thief!”

The filly looked terrified in the cry’s direction and spotted another filly charging at her in full sprint. Her coat was orange and her hay-colored mane was waving wildly in the wind. She had a brown hat set on her head.

The pink filly didn’t inspect that running pony further and started running away. She raced wildly between the trees, jumped across fences and it seemed that she would escape her pursuer when she suddenly lost balance, she tripped and fell over. The old saddlebags didn’t survive the strain, they snapped and the apples rolled all over the place.

She attempted to stand up, but she couldn’t. Her head was still spinning wildly and her front leg was killing her.

• • •

Applejack was mad, when she noticed the other filly, who was stealing her apples. She put so much time to caring for them and now somepony tried to steal them. She took after her immediately and cried out. The filly noticed her and started escaping and Applejack followed right after.

Applejack knew she was the fastest pony in Ponyville and there was nopony able to outrun her. To her amazement though, she found out to be no match for the other filly. Slowly meter by meter the thief was getting away.

Then, however, to her luck, she tripped and fell to the grass and before she could get up, Applejack was there.

Full of anger she raised her front hoof overhead and was about to hit the thief under her, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t hurt anyone, not even from anger. And moreover, after looking carefully, she noticed a mere little, scared, and terribly dirty filly. Furthermore nearly as old as herself.

She noticed how horribly undernourished was that filly, up to the point of her ribs standing out. Around the blue tired eyes looking terrified at Applejack, the first tears started forming.

“Please don’t hurt me,” sobbed the caught filly and she tried protecting her face with her front hooves.

Applejack realized she was still threating her with the front hoof, so she put it carefully back down.

“I’m sorry, sugarcube. Didn’t intend that. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt ya. I’m some Applejack. And what’s your name?” started Applejack with the most friendly tone she could manage.

The filly under her hesitated, then said quietly: “Pinkamena Diane Pie.”

“You’re not from around here, eh?” asked Applejack.

The filly just shook her head for answer.

“Come then, I will get you something to eat and everything will be alright,” said Applejack caringly and helped her get back on her hooves.

The dirty filly leaned against her with all her weight and stayed that way. Applejack didn’t mind at all and so she led her, supporting her, back to her farm.

They walked just a few hundred meters, when the filly besides her suddenly staggered and sank to the ground. Applejack immediately gave her a caring look, she seemed to be asleep. She nudged her with the muzzle, but the little filly didn’t react at all. So she put her muzzle on her forehead and it was burning hot.

“Now that’s all I needed,” grumbled Applejack and put the filly on her back. She was even lighter than she expected. Almost like a feather or a balloon.

Applejack picked up pace. She walked past the farm and continued towards Everfree forest to the place, where a little cottage was hidden at the bank of the stream.

• • •

Pinkamena had a beautiful dream. She dreamt about being a pegasus filly who is just lying in the clouds and birds are flying and singing all around her.

Slowly she began to wake up, but the pleasant feeling of comfort and birds singing didn’t stop to her surprise. So she slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

She was lying on a soft sofa buried in duvets and cushions. On the walls and the ceiling there were various boxes and openings disappearing in the walls with all sorts of birds flying around them, whose voices she heard. Occasionally a different animal showed up.

She hadn’t lied in a soft bed for a very long time and because it seemed that nopony was around, she decided to properly enjoy the feeling. Even though just for a short while, a happy and satisfied smile appeared on her face.

It was only then that she noticed she wasn’t dirty anymore, but beautifully bathed and combed, even her mane. Moreover she smelt wonderfully like some wildflowers.

She hadn’t felt this comfortable since the time, when she ran away from home. Something inside told her, though, that perfect never lasts forever.

Suddenly the door opened and a pegasus filly she’d never seen before walked in. She was canary yellow and not much older than herself. Her almost unbelievably long mane and tail were pinkish. In her mouth she had a basket with protruding various pieces of fruits and vegetables. She put it on a table next to the door and walked towards her.

Pinkamena was anxious. What did the pony want from her? Could she want to hurt her like the others?

Her heart started beating fast and she didn’t know what to do, so she rather pretended to be asleep.

The yellow filly approached her in the meantime and put her muzzle on her forehead. “It’s much better now. You’ll be alright soon, Pinkamena,” she whispered and caressed her mane with her hoof.

Pinkamena couldn’t take it anymore. She had an immense fear. Nopony had cared for her like this for years and she didn’t even recall the last time anyone caressed her.

She jumped off the sofa sharply and cried: “How do you know my name? What do you want from me? Everyone, just let me be.” And with tears in her eyes she ran away.

When she was almost out of the door, a quiet sob sounded behind her, and that made her stop. She turned around and looked at the yellow filly she was running away from. However, she, instead of following her, just laid there, leaning against the sofa, and looked after her sadly.

Pinkamena didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run away, but at the same time she felt sorry for that filly and she felt the need to apologize to her and cheer her up a bit. She hesitated for a while, and then, as always, fear prevailed inside her. She turned around and fled.

Just as she left the door she noticed the massive wall of the forest ahead and so she aimed towards it to hide. She barely reached the first trees and she collapsed again. Her heart was pounding like crazy with fear and strain and her head was swimming again.

“What have you done?” a strange voice sounded, but when she looked around, there was nopony in sight.

“Why did you do that? Why did you hurt her?” that strange voice continued and to her horror she realized she was hearing it inside her head.

“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered for an answer.

“So you didn’t mean to? Why didn’t you turn back and help her then?” growled the voice at her.

“I was afraid,” whispered Pinkamena again.

“You’re a naughty, bad pony!” the voice began to grow in strength. “Your talent is to make other ponies happy and you’re just hurting them instead. You don’t deserve your Cutie Mark! You should get rid of it! Burn it! Cut it off!”

“No! No! No!” cried out Pinkamena and she started weeping.

“Pinkamena Diane Pie! Cut the weeping right away and look at me!” another voice echoed in the forest. This voice, however, conveyed an almost incredible strength and Pinkamena found herself having stood up involuntarily and she looked into the eyes of the pony standing in front of her.

It was a plum-violet filly with green eyes that Pinkamena couldn’t look away from. They radiated with immense authority as well as compassion and understanding. She felt the stare of the green eyes penetrate her deeper and deeper in her soul and suddenly she didn’t feel any fear anymore. Just the opposite, she felt her mind calming down.

“Come then. We should go back to Fluttershy’s house,” said the violet filly with a stern, but caring voice. “You don’t look so good yet.”

Pinkamena said nothing, but followed the filly obediently back to the cottage she’d run away from a while ago and where the yellow filly was waiting for them already. Her eyes still had tears in them, but a beautiful smile began to grow on her face.

They were almost at the door when Pinkamena gathered enough courage to speak. “I want to apologize to you two, for running away. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright,” smiled the violet one at her. “Nothing terrible happened after all. By the way my name is Cheerilee and this is Fluttershy,” she said and pointed at the yellow filly.

Pinkamena just lowered her head guiltily before the other filly and said nothing. She felt sorry for making her cry.

Fluttershy wasn’t even thinking about that anymore. She took Pinkamena home and laid her back to bed. Then she took the basket that was still standing on the table by the door and together with Cheerilee she aimed to the kitchen. Soon enough a wonderful scent was wafting from there.

Fluttershy appeared soon and put a plate of still steaming and amazingly smelling vegetable soup on the table by the sofa.

“Just dig in,” encouraged her Fluttershy, when she noticed her hesitating look.

Pinkamena hadn’t eaten anything so good for years and so the soup plate was gone soon. She was still starving, though, but was shy to ask for seconds.

Fluttershy just smiled at her and as if she could read her thoughts, she took the plate to the kitchen and soon she was back with another portion.

Pinkamena gobbled that one up, too. And so it repeated several times until her tummy was filled up with the tasty warm soup.

“Alright, now lie down and tell us what’s bothering you, little one,” asked her Cheerilee, who joined them again in the meantime, when Pinkamena put the plate, this time unfinished, down on the table.

Pinkamena was silent at first. She felt the growing fear again, but somewhere deep inside she felt she could trust these two fillies. And so she finally overcame the fear and started talking.

She talked about everything. From running away from home, through the adventures she experienced on her journey, up to her short stay in Ponyville. With every spoken word the talking was easier and easier and Pinkamena felt a weight falling off her heart she’d had no idea about before.

Fluttershy was sitting right next to her and listened carefully. Just occasionally she pet her mane or hugged her. That’s when she was talking about the unpleasant or nasty things.

Cheerilee also listened to her story although it seemed she was thinking about something intently.

When she finished it was night already. Cheerilee parted with the two fillies and aimed to her own home. Fluttershy then said goodnight to Pinkamena and was about to leave upstairs to her bedroom.

“C-could you stay here with me, p-please,” stuttered Pinkamena shyly.

“But of course,” smiled Fluttershy kindly at her and lied on the sofa besides her. Pinkamena snuggled her up and buried her face in her mane. She hadn’t felt the warmth of another pony on her for so long and she knew right away that she was indeed missing it so much.

The last thing she remembered was the lullaby Fluttershy was singing to her and soon she was sound asleep.

That night the wounds on her heart finally started healing.

• • •

Pinkamena slowly woke up and opened her eyes.

Celestia’s sun was already shining through the window and Fluttershy was gone somewhere. Instead the orange filly that had chased her yesterday was looking at her through her green eyes.

“Umm… Hello,” began Applejack nervously. “I wanted to apologize. I’m mighty sorry for what happened. I shouldn’t have chased you.”

“It’s alright. I’m not mad at you. And what’s more, you brought me here, right?” smiled Pinkamena and she surprised herself a little by that.

“You got that right. I told you you’d be alright after all,” said Applejack with pride in her voice. “Yea and here you got’em apples,” she added and pointed at a basket full of juicy red fruits laid on a nearby table.

“Thanks,” peeped Pinkamena rather unsurely. It had been so long that anypony cared for her this much and now she met a whole bunch of amazing ponies that helped her, that cared about her, even though they didn’t even know her. In her heart she felt that soothing feeling that hadn’t been there for a very long time.

A sudden knocking on the door interrupted their beginning conversation and a white unicorn filly stepped inside.

Pinkamena had never seen such a beautiful creature. Her alabaster white coat was shining in the sunbeams and her dark violet mane was flowing freely to the ground. Next to her there was a somewhat larger package, floating in the blueish glow of her magic.

When she noticed the awoken Pinkamena, she smiled and began:

“So it is you, who my friends talked so much about. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rarity. And you must be Pinkamena, right?”

Pinkamena managed just a slight nod and Rarity continued.

“What an unfit name for a beautiful filly like you. A name should fit, shouldn’t you think? How about we call you say…Pinkie?”

Pinkamena’s usually pink face flushed red. She liked the name, though. That’s how her granny called her on the rare occasions, when she smiled at her.

“And not to forget,” continued Rarity again “I brought her something.” And she levitated the package in front of Pinkie.

“Oh come on, just unwrap it and don’t be afraid,” encouraged her Rarity impatiently, when Pinkie hesitated with acting.

Pinkie thus opened the package and carefully brought its package to light.

They were her own old saddlebags, but changed beyond recognition. All the holes were so diligently patched that the bags looked completely new. Moreover they now had new balloon-shaped clips, decorated with beautiful blue sapphires.

“Do you like them?” asked Rarity nervously. “I fixed them for you a little bit and added some improvements.”

Pinkie just stared surprised at the bags she held in her hooves, too shocked to speak. She’d never received any gift in her life. Tears of happiness started flowing down her face.

“Are you okay, my dear?” asked Rarity again, this time noticeably more nervously.
“Maybe I just somewhat overdid it with the sapphires, or…”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” stopped her Applejack. “Maybe we should leave Pinkie alone for a while. Come, we’ll join Fluttershy in the kitchen.”

• • •

Several days passed before Pinkie fully recovered and regained all her strength. She spent the whole time at Fluttershy’s in her house and the nearby surroundings. Every day she was also visited by her other three friends. Rarity, Applejack and Cheerilee.

By the time she made friends with all of them and she felt really happy. However, deep inside, she was still touched by uncertainty. She was afraid that this would all end one day and she’d have to go. And everything would be like before.

Then, however, one morning Rarity took her for a walk around Ponyville. She showed her the house at the lake shore, where she lived with her parents and her little sister Sweetie Belle. She also took her to the spa and finally they aimed to the place that Pinkie immediately recognized.

It was that pastry shop, whose entrance Pinkie had used as a shelter from the rain a few days ago.

“Good morning, miss Rarity and you, young lady. Welcome to Sugarcube Corner,” greeted them an older and plump mare. “What can I bring you?”

“I’d like a cup of hot chocolate and this piece of this wonderfully looking strawberry pie,” ordered Rarity. “And what about you, Pinkie?”

Pinkie wasn’t listening to her, though. She felt like in heaven. All the smells, the colors and the piles of yummy goodies. She just stood there and looked at all the stock with gaping mouth.

Rarity smiled. “Choose anything you like.”

Pinkie slowly recovered and started inspecting the displayed sweets and especially their contents. Soon she got a plate with a bit of almost everything.

She didn’t wait for anypony to tell her twice and dug in. “Mhmm, delicious,” she mumbled for herself.

Rarity, who noticed that Pinkie had her hooves busy, turned to the older mare. “Mrs. Cake, we need to talk. But it would be best in private.”

“Of course, miss Rarity,” replied Mrs. Cake and led Rarity to the kitchen.

“I heard you were looking for someone to help you in the bakery. And that you are also offering accommodation to it.”

“You’re right, miss. My husband and I would be glad if somepony could stay in the shop overnight and helped us with baking before we open. It’s becoming too much for the two of us and we even have one nice free room upstairs in the attic.”

“I think I have a suiting pony for you then,” announced Rarity, satisfied.

“I’m sure you mean the friend of yours you came here with today. I’d like to know who she is. I’ve never seen her in Ponyville.”

Rarity hesitated shortly and then got to talking about what she head from Fluttershy and Cheerilee.

“I still have the feeling that Fluttershy kept some things she told her secret. Just please don’t share the things I told you today with anypony. Especially not with Pinkie. Hopefully she will tell you one day by herself.”

“Poor filly,” uttered Mrs. Cake caringly. “We’ll gladly keep her with us. After all she’d gone through, I couldn’t let her roam like that again.” Afterwards they both returned from the kitchen.

“Pinkie, Mrs. Cake here wants to talk with you,” said Rarity and smiled.

• • •

A month passed since the time, when Pinkie first arrived in Ponyville. And during that month she changed a lot. She was no longer skinny and day by day she kept smiling at the world more often.

She also learned a lot. Every day she helped Mrs. Cake in the bakery and she could already bake lots of various goodies. What’s more, Rarity with Applejack helped her arrange the attic room and so she now slept in the pastry shop, too.

Every day she found some time to go check out on Fluttershy and the rest of her friends, though, and sometimes, when it was needed, she helped them out, too. She even got to know more ponies around.

She kept thinking about all the things the four did for her, and she knew she’d have to pay them back some way. So she saved every bit of her salary and finally one day she threw a party for all four of them in her new home.

One couldn’t say the party was especially rich in any way, but the five enjoyed it immensely. They danced, played games, ate and drank.

When they were finished, Pinkie led their friends to their homes and was on her way back.

It was late night, but her path was beautifully lit by the moon. The sky was without clouds, so all the stars were clearly visible. Just the wind was lightly blowing.

She felt like the happiest pony in the world and so she began to sing. Soon enough she started hopping in the rhythm and she didn’t even notice that her mane got all tousled in the wind.

A Dash of hope

“And make sure to send us letters, Cheerilee,” reminded Rarity to her friend for like the twentieth time with tears in her eyes.

“You know I will, as long as you all send letters to me,” said Cheerilee and tried smiling to lift the low spirits of her friends here, on the rail station. She wasn’t very convincing, though. It was no wonder as she didn’t feel exactly happy either.

That is, the moment she talked to her friends so much about had come at last. The moment none of them had been looking forward to. The moment Cheerilee and her family were moving away.

She felt so sorry, but she knew there was nothing she could do. She’d much rather stay, but it wasn’t so easy, especially as the whole moving away was being done for her. So to speak, not even her parents felt like leaving the good old Ponyville, but they were ready to do anything for their daughter.

Ever since she finally earned her Cutie Mark, she knew she was meant to be a teacher. Who would have thought that the jokes they made on this topic with Applejack as little fillies would become true in the end. Anyway, becoming a teacher wasn’t that easy. First she had to study, and because the nearest suitable school was located all the way in Manehattan, the family ultimately decided to move in together.

And so, after several months of preparations and arrangements, she was standing here among her best friends, who came to say goodbye.

A sudden whistle of the engine and call of the conductor let them know the train to Manehattan was ready to depart. For the last time the five fillies hugged with tears in their eyes. Neither uttered a word this time.

“Have a nice time,” sighed Cheerilee sadly at last and with slow and weighing pace she followed her parents, who waited for her in the train.

Soon after there was a loud whistle, a cloud of steam raised from the engine and the train was set in motion. Cheerilee was standing with her muzzle glued to the window and waved with all might at the four fillies, who ran along the train until they couldn’t keep up anymore.

They were soon completely out of sight. “Farewell,” Cheerilee whispered with tears in her eyes. She knew that nothing would stay the way it had been until then. Yet she knew she’d gladly come back to Ponyville once she’d have finished the school.

Several years later

“Applejack! Can you tell me what for Celestia’s sake are you doing right now?” exclaimed Rarity in horror, changed beyond recognition. Her make-up was gone, and so was her beautiful dress she loved to wear so much. Instead she was wearing something that resembled a work attire, even though just very distantly, because Rarity decided to spiff it up as much as she could anyway. Besides that she was also terribly dirty.

“Wawity,” slurred her orange friend, who was even dirtier than she was. In her muzzle she held a hammer that she rather spit out on the ground to be able to speak properly. “I build more things than you could ever imagine with these hooves, so I know better than you, where to put a beam.”

“But here wasn’t supposed to be any. You were supposed to put it over there,” Rarity tried to complain and she pointed her hoof a little sideways.

“That’s all very nice, sugarcube,” smiled Applejack at her understandingly. “However, if we place it here, this whole house…”

“Boutique,” corrected her Rarity in a flash.

“This whole boutique more stable,” finished Applejack with a sigh. “I don’t want it to fall down on your head one day.”

“Alright then,” frowned Rarity and she knew she’d lost. Before long her face was beaming with smile again. “I will manage somehow. And thanks for warning me,” she said to her friend. “I wouldn’t notice it without you.”

“It’s alright,” smiled Applejack. “And enough of this chattering. This thing won’t build itself and there’s a whole lotta work to do,” she claimed after a while and got ready to get back to work.

However, suddenly there was a blinding flash outside and from the upper unfinished floor of Rarity’s future boutique echoed a terrifying blow, followed by several dull thuds.

“What was that for Celestia’s sake?” exclaimed Rarity, horrified, and she was about to run towards the yet unfinished, but already usable stairs.

“Wait!” stopped her Applejack with her shout. “I’d better go first. We don’t know what happened over there.”

Rarity surprisingly didn’t object. She knew very well, that Applejack was the kind of mare to always keep a cool head in any situation. So she let her lead by a couple of steps.

Applejack slowly stepped up the stairs and carefully opened the recently installed door. Sunbeams coming in through the unfinished roof slipped inside.

Just when their eyes finally adjusted to the light, both our mares noticed the surprise waiting for them over there. Nearly half of the already fixed beams were smashed and scattered on the floor as tiny splinters.

In the very center of this mess there lied a sky blue pegasus mare. Her mane and tail had a strange color Applejack had never seen before on anypony. They were rainbow-colored.

“What the pony happened here?!” cursed Applejack and ran towards the blue mare that was all bruised, battered and moreover she seemed to be unconscious.

“Are you okay, girl?” she nudged her softly with her muzzle and watched if the mare would come to senses. Fortunately it worked.

The blue mare first blinked her eyes lazily, but then she shot them open in shock and jumped on all fours. She seemed to have taken no serious injuries, what was, according to Applejack, a sort of a miracle.

“Um… Hi,” she grinned at them. “I see it didn’t work so well, eh?” she said plainly and looked around at the damage she’d caused.

Applejack was the first to break the ice and get a few words out. “What for Celestia’s sake were you doing? You could have gotten yourself killed. And just look at the mess you caused.”

“Look, I’m really sorry. I didn’t do that on purpose,” the blue mare guiltily hung her head. She didn’t keep that attitude for long, though. “Did you see me?” she hurdled out. “I almost did it. Another trick I’m going to show the Wonderbolts one day. I call it the Corsair’s flash, but I think I should work a bit on the braking part, right?” she smiled at them innocently.

Applejack felt she should feel angry at her, but she somehow couldn’t. Even Rarity was surprisingly calm considering the fact that the mare had just destroyed a piece of their work. Instead she was glad nothing serious happened to her.

“Unfortunately no, we were just down on the ground floor,” Rarity shook her head.

“Damn it,” cursed the blue mare.

Rarity gave her a freezing stare, just as if she wanted to reprimand her without words. She didn’t like it, when ponies used harsh language, even though she gave up on that with Applejack long ago. “And what’s your name, sweetie?” she asked her at last. “And what are you doing here?”

“I am Rainbow Dash,” answered the mare proudly and puffed up her chest. “And I’m looking for someone here in Ponyville.”

“Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash,” mumbled Applejack for herself. “I’ve got the feeling that I’ve heard that name before.”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash looked at her in surprise. It seemed that it really lifted her spirits. Then, however, she just made a smug smile and added: “There’s really no wonder, though. One day I will be the most famous pony in all Equestria, right after Princess Celestia.”

Rarity gave her another of her reprimanding looks, which silenced her for a short while. “You should really start thinking about your manners, young lady,” she scolded her. “You fly in here like a storm and destroy half of my house. And then you boast uncouthly like that. No well-mannered mare should behave that way.”

“Well yeah,” Rainbow Dash drooped her ears with guilt. “But I’ve told you I’m sorry.” Then her expression brightened up with a smile again. “Look, what if I helped you two then? I wanted to stay anyway. But first I need to find one of my friends.”

Rarity smiled at her, satisfied with the fact that despite her apparent stubbornness, she managed to teach the blue mare at least a bit of good manners. “And what’s the name of that friend of yours?” she asked her. “We can tell you where to look for her. And by the way I am Rarity and this is my friend Applejack.”

“It’s a pleasure,” smiled Rainbow Dash. “Well, I don’t know if you know her. She’s always been very timid and she doesn’t like meeting other ponies. She’s called Fluttershy.”

“Of course, Rainbow Dash!” yelled suddenly Applejack, who was still wondering about that name. “Now I know where I’ve heard about you from. It was Fluttershy who told me about you.”

“Do you know her?” wondered Rainbow Da.sh.

“Of course,” smiled Rarity. “She is one of our best friends and your description fits perfectly on her.”

“That’s just awesome,” cheered up Rainbow Dash. “Can you show me where she lives? I haven’t seen her for like ages.”

“Hmm,” Rarity thought about it. “Maybe it would be better if we went with you. We still have to come up with something to do about this mess before we continue the construction works.

“Yup, that’s a good idea,” agreed Applejack. “I should go check up on the farm anyway and see if everything is alright. This way I’ll at least have some company on the way.”

“Amazing,” beamed Rainbow Dash. “I won’t ever forget this to you two,” she added with a smile.

“I’m glad to hear that,” smiled Rarity and soon all the three mares walked towards the farm and Fluttershy’s cottage, hiding just a tiny bit behind it.

• • •

Before long, Applejack’s farm appeared in front of their eyes from behind a small hill. Smoke was coming lightly out of its chimney and the surrounding trees were swaying in the wind. The only one from her family that Applejack spotted was Apple Bloom, who was playing at the entrance road. As soon as she spotted her big sister, she started running towards them. Applejack didn’t hesitate a second and accelerated towards her.

They met somewhere halfway. Apple Bloom happily jumped up to embrace her by the neck and Applejack nuzzled her softly.

“Hi Applejack,” greeted her little Apple Bloom.

“Hello, sugarcube,” welcomed her Applejack with a smile. “So how did you do the whole day?”

“It’s okay,” said little Apple Bloom. “I played with Big Mac, but then he had to go to the animals.”

“What’s up? Something happened?” asked her Applejack, concerned.

“Big Mac told me to tell you to go see him right after you come by,” passed Apple Bloom her instructions.

“Hmm,” growled Applejack. It was clear that something wasn’t completely alright. “I’m sorry, girls,” she turned at the two remaining mares, who caught up in the meanwhile, “but I’ll have to stay here.”

“It’s alright, Applejack,” smiled Rarity understandingly. “I will lead Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy.”

“Thanks and send her my regards,” Applejack returned her smile. Then she turned to Rainbow Dash. “Take care, Rainbow, and I hope to meet again sometimes,” she grinned at her.

“Sure thing,” ensured her Rainbow Dash. “You take care, too, Applejack.”

Applejack gave her the last smile and ran off towards the farm. Apple Bloom stayed a while, though, and curiously inspected both of the mares. She sort of reminded Rarity of her own little sister.

“You are colored like rainbow!” cried out Apple Bloom suddenly with her head turned to Rainbow Dash.

“I sure am, kid,” smiled Rainbow.

“Cool,” grinned Apple Bloom and ran off after Applejack towards the farm. The two stayed watching her amusedly for a while and then they set off towards Fluttershy’s small cottage, which was close by.

• • •

“Fluttershy?” called Rarity and knocked on the door of the tiny cottage she’d helped building just a few years ago. “I brought you somepony.”

Nothing happened for a while, but then the door opened a little bit and through the tiny gap the blue-green eye of her friend was looking at her. Rainbow Dash was standing aside, so Fluttershy couldn’t see her.

“Umm, hi Rarity,” whispered Fluttershy shyly. “W-ho is it?” she asked, when she noticed no one besides Rarity.

“I think it’s somepony you know very well,” smiled Rarity and encouraged Rainbow Dash to step a little closer.

“R-rainbow?” a surprised gasp sounded, when Fluttershy spotted her old friend. Then the door busted open and a canary-yellow smear jumped from inside, landing around Rainbow Dash’s neck.

“I missed you so much, Rainbow,” began Fluttershy.

“I missed you too, Fluttershy. So much,” her rainbow friend smiled at her and had great difficulties suppressing the tears of happiness.

“And where have you been all the time? And how did you do?” continued Fluttershy, who was suddenly so talkative in her friend’s company.

“In Cloudsdale, of course,” said Rainbow Dash, but smile quickly disappeared from her face. “But it started to be pretty boring already. Still the same pegasi and just clouds and clouds. You know it after all. So I thought it would be better to have a look somewhere else and I remembered you and the letters you sent me. You’ve always talked about Ponyville so nicely, so I decided to move in after you.”

Fluttershy didn’t take notice of the mood change, she was too excited about the encounter, but Rarity did. She was certain that Rainbow Dash was hiding something. And she also felt that it wasn’t meant for her ears.

“Well, I’ve got to run,” she smiled at them. “Have fun together.” Then she turned to Rainbow Dash. “If you’ll feel like helping us with the construction tomorrow, meet me in the morning.”

“I’ll be there,” nodded Rainbow Dash and Rarity suddenly had the feeling the mare would be there no matter what would happen.

Rarity said goodbye to the two once again and set off towards the town. Fluttershy waved goodbye after her for a while and then invited Rainbow Dash inside, where she made drinks for both of them and together with her old friend they started talking about their experiences in the last few years.

• • •

The last few hours till evening went past like the wind. In the meantime they managed to tell each other so much and yet so much still remained untold. Yet even Fluttershy got the feeling that her friend was avoiding something, but she wasn’t mad at her for that. She knew that when the time would be right, Rainbow Dash would tell her by herself.

“Well, look at how dark it is outside,” started Rainbow Dash, when she looked out of the window. “I think I should fly now, hopefully they will still have a free room in the hotel.”

“What?” Fluttershy was horrified, not even counting with anything like that. “What’s gotten into you? You can sleep here, after all, with me. I’ll be really glad to have you here and at least I won’t be afraid alone. It can get really scary here at the edge of Everfree forest.”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash looked her, surprised by that offer. She didn’t even expect Fluttershy to give her such a warm welcome, so she didn’t really consider this option. Especially not after all those years they’d just been writing each other letters.

“Really,” smiled Fluttershy.

“Well, thank you then,” mumbled Rainbow Dash nervously.

“You can sleep in my bed. I will lie down here on the sofa. I just need to prepare it here for a bit,” started Fluttershy.

“Whoa, easy, girl!” stopped her Rainbow Dash. “Be so kind and keep your bed for yourself. This sofa is more than enough for me.”

“But,” Fluttershy tried protesting, she would do anything for her friend.

“No, as I said,” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “But you’re very nice,” she added kindly to calm down her friend a bit.

“Okay then,” sighed Fluttershy. “But I’ll bring you some sheets, pillows and duvets,” she tried something else.

“I can’t say no to that,” grinned Rainbow Dash and despite Fluttershy’s protests she joined her on the way upstairs to help her prepare all that.

• • •

Fluttershy suddenly sharply sat up in her bed and listened in the silence that filled the house. It was pitch dark outside. Just the moon sent a weak glow. In spite of that she thought she could hear something. It sounded almost like some kind of sobbing.

“Rainbow Dash,” the thought flashed across her mind. Immediately she jumped off her bed and aimed to the door leading down. She opened them and perked her ears. Yes, it was just as she feared. A quiet, yet persistent sobbing was coming from downstairs.

Quietly and slowly she made it down the stairs, so as to not disturb her friend. She had a hunch in the evening that she was bothered by something, and she’d love to know more and try to help her if she could. But this was Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy knew that she’d try to hide her weaknesses no matter the cost.

Carefully she made it all the way to the sofa, where her friend was sleeping, covered in duvets, and from where the sobbing was coming. It seemed that she hadn’t noticed Fluttershy.

“Rainbow Dash?” she called her name softly. “What’s the matter?”

The mare hidden under the duvets suddenly froze amidst a sob and then, in a somewhat unsure and slightly husky voice, she said: “Fluttershy? What are you doing here? I thought you were sleeping?”

“I thought I heard something,” tried to dodge it Fluttershy and climbed at the sofa next to her old friend. “Are you okay?”

A long silence ensued, interrupted just by the breathing of both mares. In the end Rainbow Dash’s face emerged from the duvets, framed by drops of tears, reflecting the moonlight.

“I’m sorry, Fluttershy,” began Rainbow Dash humbly. She knew she had to tell the truth. Fluttershy didn’t know this side of her yet. “I should have told you right away.”

“What is it?” smiled Fluttershy and scooted up closer to her friend.

Rainbow Dash sighed deeply, what Fluttershy used as an opportunity and soothingly hugged her friend. Surprisingly Rainbow Dash didn’t mind at all.

“It began a quarter a year ago, when my dad died,” Rainbow Dash started telling her story.

“I’m so sorry about that,” sympathized Fluttershy with her and slightly and soothingly swayed with her friend from side to side in embrace. Now she finally realized why Rainbow Dash stopped sending her letters all of a sudden.

“It’s true that I still miss him, but it doesn’t hurt like that anymore,” admitted Rainbow Dash and thus calmed her compassionate friend down a bit. “The reason for leaving Cloudsdale came after that,” she continued her story. “I felt really down at the funeral, so I sought support among my friends. But suddenly all those, who claimed to be my best friends, turned their backs on me. Suddenly I was no longer the ‘cool’ pony like before and nopony cared about that hurt and sad mare that I’d become. It took me a few months to realize I shouldn’t expect any help from such friends. So I ditched them all at once and went looking for you. For the only friend, who stayed with me through thick and thin.”

Fluttershy hugged her friend even tighter and felt the otherwise almost too self-confident mare bursting into tears again. It no longer mattered to Rainbow Dashed that Fluttershy could see her crying. The only thing she needed was to get it all out.

Fluttershy, on the other hoof, knew that she wouldn’t ever tell anyone what happened here that night and kept softly comforting her friend. She stayed with her until Rainbow Dash felt asleep with exhaustion. Then she laid her back to the duvets and she lied right next, ready to watch her till the morning cockcrow.

“Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to my friends,” she whispered in her ears. “I’m sure you’ll like them.”

Rainbow Dash, lost somewhere in her dreams, suddenly smiled and that look warmed Fluttershy at the heart. She felt that this friend wouldn’t ever leave her, no matter what.

• • •

“Good morning, Rainbow Dash. Good morning, Fluttershy,” greeted them Rarity, when the two mares reached the boutique under construction. “So how did you sleep?”

Rainbow Dash blushed for a moment, but she didn’t comment on that and rather changed the topic. “I came to help you, like I promised.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” smiled Rarity. “That’s very nice of you. Unfortunately, Applejack won’t be here today. One of her sheep had a difficult birth tonight, so she spent the whole night with her. Fortunately it ended well, but when I heard about that, I better sent Applejack back to get some sleep. You don’t need to be afraid we’d be alone, though. Pinkie Pie should help us today. She is also one of my friends.”

Before she could finish that, wind whizzed by and a hopping pink mare seemingly materialized out of nowhere right in front of the eyes of Rainbow Dash. She was kind of shocked by that, but the other present mares didn’t even take notice, so she better kept comments to herself.

“Hi Rarity, hi Fluttershy,” started Pinkie Pie. “Hi…” she froze in the middle of the sentence, when she realized she hadn’t yet met that next mare. A short pause followed, when the pink mare was evidently processing what that fact meant. A moment later her face suddenly made a huge smile and she started talking again. “Hi. I am Pinkie and if you want I will be your friend. Where are you from? How did you get here? Do you prefer muffins or cupcakes?” Pinkie Pie flooded the new mare with tons of questions.

“Pinkie!” scolded her Rarity. You can’t attack everypony like that from the very beginning. Can’t you see they are all nervous afterwards?”

“Really?” wondered Pinkie and smiled innocently.

“Really!” frowned Rarity. “By the way this is Rainbow Dash. She’ll be helping us out today.”

Pinkie grinned and started hopping around happily. “I’m so looking forward to that already,” she started again. “And then I have to throw Rainbow Dash a bash, if she’s new around here. That’s going to be awesome. What are you doing this evening? I hope nothing, because I have no idea how would you make it if you’ll be at my party…”

Rarity just sighed and ignored her pink friend. “So what, Rainbow Dash? Are we getting to it?”

“Sure thing,” smiled Rainbow Dash confidently.

“Hope you’re finished soon,” parted Fluttershy. “I still have to go buy some food for my animals.”

“Look, Fluttershy,” stopped her Rainbow Dash before she could leave. “I’d like to ask if you could help me, once I’m done here, gather some clouds. I’d like to build a home somewhere around here.”

“I’ll gladly help you, Rainbow,” smiled Fluttershy, happily said goodbye to everypony and set off to town.

“Come on, so what we’re gonna do?” Rainbow Dash nudged Rarity, who was staring at her with gaping mouth. Even Pinkie went surprisingly silent. “Can’t a pony even choose where she wants to live?” she added with a smile.

• • •

The party that followed that evening in Sugarcube Corner was a small one, but all the same it was the best thing Rainbow Dash had experienced in the last years. She hadn’t had such a blast for a very long time. What’s more, she found out that instead of one friend, she now suddenly had three more.

And so they were five again. Although not for long, as a few months later, on the Summer Sun Celebration day, Pinkie stumbled upon a certain purple unicorn mare, who arrived on that day all the way from Canterlot itself. But that’s a little different story.