Chapter one: The Beginning
It was another bright and sunny day in ponyville and all the ponies where out playing and enjoying the weather. The sun was glistening off the water in a nearby pond and the sound of birds chirping filled the early afternoon air.
"This sucks"
"Oh relax darling this will only take a minute"
Rarity had asked her if she wanted to help with some of her chores. She said yes, after all she wasn't doing anything and she enjoyed spending time with her friend. Had she known this is what she meant by chores, she would have said no.
"You said that twenty minutes ago" Rainbow Dash said in annoyance
"You cannot simply rush fashion dear" replied Rarity with her usual superior sounding attitude.
She has been stuck here in the same freaking position for what seemed like forever. This isn't the first time she's helped Rarity with her dresses but she was hoping it would be her last time.
"There all done!" Rarity said excitedly staring at the dress she had just finished.
Rainbow Dash looked at the dress examining it. It had a similar look to the dress she made for her to wear at the gala but it had a sleeker look like it was made to be more aerodynamic. The cape in the back had been shortened and it had a tighter fit. She admittedly liked it, dresses where never her thing but she had to admit. She thought this dress looked pretty cool.
"Not bad" Rainbow dash said with a smirk admiring the cool new look.
"I'm glad you like it dear now if you'll excuse me I have to get started on the others dresses"
At that rarity instantly started to move stuff around. Once Rarity got started on a dress there was nothing that could stop her getting it done. A trait Rainbow Dash always admired about her. She knew that Rarity would be too busy and distracted to have time to talk. She said bye but she knew that Rarity was far too distracted to notice. Rainbow Dash made her outside.
"Well I have nothing to do might as well get some practice in" Rainbow Dash said flying high into the air within seconds.
She had an idea for a new trick that she was going to use to perform at the annual Wonderbolt tournament and if she could get it down she would blow away the competition for sure. The trick was simple enough; her idea was to dodge through a bunch of clouds then spin around one fast enough that when she shot out it would create another sonic rainboom. It was very close to the same trick she had performed the time she saved rarity but it was a tweaked a bit to add more style.
She looked around ponyville trying to decide the best possible location to practice at. There weren't enough trees anywhere to use as obstacles and she was starting to get frustrated. She looked over and saw the outskirts of the everfree forest and a thought struck her. She remembered there being a small tree out close to the outskirt of the forest. She could fly down into the forest dodge the trees and use that tree to finish her trick with.
That way she would be able to fully practice her trick and be more than ready when the tournament began. She decided that's what she was going to do. She looked down at ponyville one last time before flying off towards the everfree forest. Completely unaware of the storm clouds lurking off in the distance.
***
Twilight was doing what she usually did doing a beautiful day such as this. She was lying down in her usual spot, a bench out near the big fountain studying. She enjoyed hearing the sounds of ponies having fun and really enjoyed the nice weather. As she was reading the book she was studying "The Odd Occurrences of the Everfree Forest" she heard the faint sound of what sounded like distant thunder.
"Huh? Was that thunder?" Twilight looked up from her book. She didn't remember Cloudsdale calling for any storms or rain.
She stood up and placed her book back in her saddlebag before calling for spike, who was sleeping next to a tree. He jumped at the sound of his name and looked up at twilight who had a slightly confused look on her face.
"Why did you have to wake me" Spike said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "I was having a really awesome dream about Rarity"
Twilight blinked a few times before quickly dispersing the images trying to enter her mind.
"Ok too much information" She said looking at spike who still looked really sleepy.
"You going to tell me why you woke me up?" Spike said with a grumpy tone in his voice
"Yes I need you to send a letter to the princess involving the strange storm that's appearing off in the distance"
She quickly wrote the letter and had spike send it off to Celestia. She hoped for a quick response but you never could be sure when you would get one when it came to the Princess.
She looked back towards the storm off in the distance and noticed it was getting closer. She didn't know much about weather other than what she read about in books but from what it seemed like. The storm would be right on top of ponyville within an hour at best. She didn't like this, she knew that the occasional small little storm would come from the Everfree forest every once in a while but they were small and easy to deal with. This however, was way bigger than any others she has ever seen or read about.
She decided she should go inside now while it's safe. She did not want to be caught out in a storm like this. She grabbed Spike and quickly made her way back towards the library. Hoping that her friends where all safe before the storm arrived.
***
"Ah such a lovely day for a walk, don't you agree opal?" The cat opened its eyes and looked at her before closely her eyes and going back to sleep.
"I swear opal you're always sleeping" Rarity said before turning around and continuing her walk.
She was working on dresses for her friends for the off chance that a big event or something formal came up that she wasn't aware of. It never hurts to be prepared and besides she couldn't have her friends wear the same old dresses they wore to the gala, that would be rude of her. She found herself lost in her own thoughts, thinking about how her friends' dresses would look and what improvements she would have to make and so on.
"Well fancy meetin you here!" Applejack said causing Rarity, who was still lost in her own thoughts to jump.
"Oh Apple Jack you startled me" Rarity said with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Oh my apologizes" Applejack Said trying not to chuckle "So whatcha up to?"
"Just working on a new project" Rarity said still trying to regain her composure from being startled. "Speaking of which I need you to come stop by my shop some time, I'm working on new dresses for everyone and need to know what you think"
"Oh well uh sure I guess but I'm kinda busy at the moment, I came to town to deliver some of these here apples and I need to get back to sweet apple acres to help make sure everything secure before the storm hits"
At the mention of a storm Rarity instantly had flashbacks of the last time she had been out in a storm with Applejack. She was never very fond of Applejack but since that night her feelings for her have changed quite a bit. In fact her feelings had changed so dramatically that she was confused by it. She had always like stallions, in fact her dream was to marry a prince but since the night of the gala where she realized her prince charming was a stuck up snob she hasn't been sure what she wants.
"Umm Rarity you alright?"
At the sound of Applejacks voice Rarity snapped out of her thoughts and quickly realized she had been lost in her own mind and must have looked like an idiot in front of Apple Jack.
"Oh yeah darling I'm fine I just….have a lot on my mind is all" Rarity said
"You sure sugurcube?" Apple Jack asked looking at Rarity with a worried expression on her face
"Yes I'm fine darling don't worry about me, like I said I just have a lot on my mind is all" Rarity said looking away from Applejack, hiding her face behind her mane. She was about to say she had more work to do but before she could a loud blast of thunder shook what seemed like all of ponyville making opal and rarity both jump. Opal jumped into a nearby tree and Rarity fell backwards
Applejack caught Rarity as she stumble backwards stopping her from falling "Whoa easy there sugar cube it's just thunder"
Rarity quickly stood back up, brushed herself off, and turned around to face Applejack. "Thanks" Rarity said trying to hid the blush that was quickly growing on her face
"Don't mention it" Applejack said with a smile.
Rarity looked around most of the ponies had all went inside after hearing the thunder. As far as Rarity could tell, her and Applejack where the only ones in ponyville who weren't inside. "You might want to go back home now darling that storm you mentioned appears to be closer then you thought" Rarity said looking at the storm that was now about to cover ponyville.
"Oh hayseeds" Applejack said stomping her hoof on the ground and shaking her head.
"What's the problem Applejack?" Rarity asked walking a little closer to see if she was alright.
"I won't be able to make it back to Sweet Apple Acres before that storm starts gettin real nasty" She sighed and kicked the ground with her hoof. "I hope everything's alright back at the farm" Applejack said with sadness and worry in her voice.
Rarity didn't know what to do but she had to help her somehow she couldn't take seeing Applejack like this. So she did the only thing she could think of.
"Well why don't you stay at the shop with me?" Rarity asked putting a hoof on Applejacks shoulder "Besides darling while you there I might be able to teach you a thing or two about fashion" she said jokingly.
Applejack smiled and lifted her head a little higher then started to walk towards Rarity.
"Well shucks I guess I could do that" Applejack said with a slight laugh and at that they both started walking back towards Rarity's shop.
***
The sound of thunder was deafening and it didn't help that the sound of rain and wind beating up against the house made it even harder to hear. Applejack was looking out of the window watching the storm wreak havoc on ponyville. It was one of the worst storms she has ever seen. Debris was flying through the air and lightning was striking very often. The trees looked like they were about to snap in half and where practically touching the ground.
"I'm sure Applebloom and Big Mac are fine" Rarity said trying to help comfort her friend "besides you were with me and twilight doing that one storm awhile back and nothing bad happened" mentioning that brought back the memories again and Rarity quickly sucked them up to keep herself from thinking about her feelings towards Applejack.
Applejack sighed and looked away from the window "yah but that storm was a scheduled one, we knew it was gona happen." Applejack started walking around the store nervously "this one we had no warnin it just came outa nowhere"
Rarity walked over to Applejack and laid a hoof on her back "Listen I'm sure they are all fine darling, you keep worrying yourself out like this" Applejack walked back towards the window an looked out again. The storm had gotten even worse now and the rain was coming down so hard you couldn't see two feet past the window. Rarity came up behind her and looked out as well. The storm was pretty nasty she thought to herself as she watched a piece of a tree fly past the window. She hoped all her friends were alright.
"I hate this…..we can't just stay here and do nothing" Applejack said with determination in her voice as she made her way to the front door.
"Applejack you can't seriously think going out in this storm is a good idea?" Rarity said moving towards the door and blocking her path.
"Well it beats staying hearing and hoping for the best" Applejack said as she tried to move past Rarity.
"I'm sorry darling but I simply can't let you go out in a storm like this" Rarity looked at Applejack with a worried look on her face. "Think about it….you would have to make it from here all the way to Sweet Apple Acres in this mess, that's a good three or four mile walk"
"So...I'm not afraid of no storm and I'm sure as hay not gona let some stubborn storm keep me from my sis and my big brother." At that Applejack pushed past Rarity and opened the door, taking a deep breath before walking out into the storm.