Bringing Harmony

Applejack flew up behind Storm Chaser and Rainbow Dash.  The first thing she noticed was the silence.  “What’s goin’ on guys?”  She asked, thoroughly puzzled.  She was managing to keep herself aloft.

Applejack took in Rainbow Dash’s shocked expression.  She was wide eyed with her mouth open.  “What’s wrong sugarcube?”  she asked.  Slowly Applejack turned to take in the pale yellow guard with the rainbow mane.

Applejack’s mouth dropped open.  With all her focus directed at Prism, Applejack’s wings folded and she fell from view.

Dash was too shocked at the new development to notice that Applejack was quickly losing altitude, until Prism dropped from his post.  The pale yellow Pegasus controlled his fall, and quickly managed to catch up with Applejack.  Prism scooped Applejack up, and returned to Rainbow Dash and Storm Chaser with the orange mare safely in his hooves.

Applejack’s eyes rolled around in her head and she groaned.  The former earth pony slowly managed to regain her composure.  “Ah beg yer pardon”  She apologized to Prism weakly.  “The wings are still new n’ Ah’m not quite used to em’ yet.”

Once Applejack managed to steady herself enough to focus, her eyes landed on Prism’s mane.

“What the hay?  There really can’t be two Rainbow’s runnin’ around, can there?”

Prism returned to his post, still carrying Applejack.  He gently set her down on a nearby cloud.

“It was nothing really.”  Prism replied.  “And by ‘Two Rainbow’s running around’ I’m guessing you noticed my mane.”  He lifted a hoof to his mane while Applejack nodded.  “It’s a family trait from our father’s side of the family.  It dates back pretty far, all the way to-”

“Wait!”  Rainbow Dash interrupted after locating her voice.  “You can’t seriously expect me to believe that you’re my brother, that ridiculous!”

“Of course I expect you to believe it.  Why the hay would I lie about that?”  Prism asked.  “And besides, if I wasn’t your brother, and you’ve lived in Equestria all your life, how do I know your name?”

Rainbow dash thought for a moment.  “Well, I don’t know why you would lie, but Storm Chaser could have told you my name.”  She shot an accusatory look at Storm Chaser.

Storm Chaser held up his forehooves in defense.  “Hey, I’m just as surprised as you are, although I did find the Rainbow mane ironic.”

“Okay then, if you’re really my brother, why weren’t you abandoned with me?”

“They didn’t mean to abandon you.  I was actually supposed to go live with our grandparents too, but...”  Prism bit his lip.  “I can’t tell you what happened.  Mom and Dad will want to tell you that.

“Mom and Dad?”  Rainbow scrunched up her face in concentration, trying to remember her parents.  “Are they okay?”

Prism glanced at the cloud they were standing on.  “I’m not going to lie.  They aren’t in the best shape, and things aren’t getting better.  You might remember our house-“

“Yeah I do.”  Rainbow Dash seemed relieved to have remembered something.  “It was huge!  Way too big for just four ponies.  Mom and Dad always seemed to be smiling and laughing.”  Rainbow’s smile fell when she asked what Prism had dreaded.  “What happened?”

“Mom and Dad…they…they supported the old King.  They did everything that they could to keep him in power, but it wasn’t enough, and now…”

“What.”  Rainbow demanded.

“They’re some of the poorest ponies in Gardenia.”

Just as Prism finished his sentence, another guard flew over.  The grey Pegasus did a double-take when he saw Rainbow Dash’s mane.  “Hey, 2212!  Morning shift is over.  You’re dismissed.”

“Thank you 2184.”  Prism waved, and flew from his post while motioned for the trio to follow him.  “Stay close.  If you get questioned, say that I’m escorting you to a meeting, but only if they ask you.  Otherwise just stay quiet.”

“Um, scuse’ me, but why did that other guard call you 2212?”  Applejack asked.

Prism held up his hoof, and showed the orange mare a white tracking bracelet.  “When guards are on duty, we are known by our ID numbers rather than our names.”  When Applejack took a closer look at the hoof, she saw 2212 engraved on the surface of the bracelet.  “It makes it easier for Gardenia’s workers to know where each guard is.  Funny thing Dash, if you were still in Pegasopalis when Gardenia had taken over, you would have been 2222.”

“Awesome.”  Rainbow’s face dropped.

“What’s wrong Dash?”  Storm Chaser asked.

Equestria’s fastest flyer stopped and landed on a nearby cloud.  The rest of the group followed her lead, and landed as well, all of them looking concerned.  “If I had stayed here, I would have grown up with my brother and parents, but I never would have seen the Wonderbolts perform, and I never would have met all my friends in Ponyville.

“Who are the Wonderbolts?”  Storm Chaser asked.

`Applejack ignored the white pony, and looked Rainbow Dash in the eye.  “Sugarcube, ya’ can’t think like that.  Ya’ can’t change the past anyways, so think on the positive, n’ look to the future.  When we finish here, ya’ ain’t gonna’ have to choose between friends and family.  You’ll have both.  I promise.”

“Thank’s AJ.  I feel a lot better.”  Dash replied, giving a small smile.  “We’ll get all this sorted out, and I’ll have it all.  My friends, and my family.”  Rainbow’s smile grew with each word as her confidence increased.

“Seriously, who are the Wonderbolts?”  Storm asked again.

“Rainbow launched into a detailed description of her idols, while she and Storm Chaser fell behind Prism and Applejack, allowing Prism to lead the way.

After a couple minutes of silence, Prism spoke up.  “So, Applejack.  It is Applejack, right?”

“Eyup.  Ah’m Applejack alright,”  She answered.

“I’m Prism.  Did you grow up in Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash?”  He asked.

“Nah, Ah grew up on Sweet Apple Acres with Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Applebloom.”  Applejack replied proudly.

“Wasn’t that an apple farm run by earth ponies?”

           “That’s right.  How’d ya’ know?”

           “Well, fifteen years ago, my family would always stop by during cider season.  We always visited my grandparents in Cloudsdale around then.”  Prism licked his lips at the memory.  “But how did a Pegasus come to live there?”

           “Oh, Ah’m not a Pegasus.”  Applejack answered.

           Prism inspected her wings from a distance.  “Your wings say otherwise.”

           “Really?”  Applejack strained to get a look at her wings.  “Twilight did a great job.”  Applejack took a deep breath before launching into an explanation.  “Ah live on Sweet Apple Acres because my Great Granddaddy built it when my Granny Smith was young.  Ah’m an earth pony.

           “But your wings look real to me.”  Prism looked confused.

           Applejack blushed a bit.  “Ah have Twilight Sparkle to thank for that.  She’s a friend of ours from Ponyville.  She studies magic under Princess Celestia, and is very good for a unicorn her age.

           “You girls are amazing.”  Prism said in awe, subsequently making Applejack’s blush deepen.  “Well, here we are.”  Prism said, stopping in front of a small shelter made of clouds.

           Rarity inspected two bolts of pink fabric.  “Twilight, do you think that Pinkie Pie is more of a cupcake pink or a cotton candy pink?”

           Twilight rolled her eyes, but looked at the two bolts of fabric anyways.  “Probably cotton candy.  Cupcake is more like her hair color.”

           “That’s exactly what I was thinking!”  Rarity nodded.  “I’m glad that you agree.  Besides, cotton candy will also go well with Fluttershy’s hair.”

           Rarity paid for the fabric and returned to Twilight.  “I am just glad they take bits here.”  Twilight said.  “I have no clue how we would make an exchange.”  She laughed.  “I feel bad for leaving Fluttershy at Julius’ house alone, so we should get going.”

           “I agree completely.”  Rarity answered.  “I do hope she isn’t too terribly lonely.”  She said guiltily as the two disguised unicorns hurried back to the Orange Farm.