Bringing Harmony

        Rarity awoke to hoof steps outside the room. She groaned and threw her pillow over her face. After a few more moments of hoof steps, she rose and approached the door. She opened it as Orange Julius walked by.

“Good morning, Rarity.” Orange Julius greeted her warmly. “You’re awake awfully early.”

“It was not my choice.” she snapped at the blue and orange Earth Pony. “Sorry.” Rarity immediately apologized, rubbing her eyes carefully with a tired hoof.  “I am not a morning pony.”

“Could of had me fooled.”  Julius laughed.

Rarity laughed along, “Why are you awake so early Julius?”

“Well when working in the orchards we start our day as early as possible. It’s best to get most of the work done before the sun gets too high in the sky.”

          “That makes sense.”

“What do you have planned for today, Rarity?”

“Well, I need to make a horn for Pinkie Pie. I also want to make a more comfortable wing cover for Fluttershy, and if I have spare time, possibly modify my hat.”

Orange Julius’ smile faltered slightly, but was quickly restored.

“It should not talk long to get those done. I will probably be bored to tears most of the afternoon.” She continued.

His smile grew, “Well we can’t have that can we?” Julius asked rhetorically, “I will do what I can to make sure you are entertained this evening.”

“That would be delightful,” Rarity replied bowing her head to hide the faint blush coloring her cheeks.

If her head had been up she would have noticed the color on Julius’ cheeks as well. “I must be going.”  He said.  “The orange trees won’t buck themselves.”

With that Orange Julius turned and left. Rarity looked up and watched him make his way down the hall, and around the corner.

Once he was out of sight, Rarity returned to bed, and snuggled into the covers with a deep and content sigh.

The six awoke around eight am. First was Applejack with a loud yaw, followed by Pinkie Pie, who sprang out of bed.

“Good morning everypony!” she shouted, ensuring everypony else was awake too.

“Yeah? What’s so good about it?” Rainbow Dash asked before rolling over and hiding her head beneath a pillow.

“Silly Dashie! You can’t hear my answer if your head is under the pillow.” Pinkie Pie went to stand at the head of Rainbow Dash’s bed, before proceeding to yell: “It’s great because the sun is up, and I’m with my five best friends in all of Equestria!”  She paused for a moment.  “And all of Gardenia too, now that I think about it.” She giggled happily, bouncing around the room.

Rarity rubbed at her eyes with her hooves. “Pinkie, Darling? Be a dear and settle down a bit. It’s still too early for such energy.”

“Oopsie! Sorry Rarity, I’ll try to be calmer.” Pinkie Pie took in a deep, exaggerated breath, and sat at the end of the bed; holding it in.

“Pinkie!” Twilight Sparkle chuckled. “Rarity didn’t say you couldn’t breathe.”

Pinkie Pie exhaled and gasped for air. “Thank goodness! That was hard to do.”

Fluttershy rose silently and stretched. First her forelegs, and then her wings, extending them careful of her surroundings. Her wings rebelled. They were stiff from being confined the day before. Once she was able to fully extend her wings, she pulled herself into the air. ‘They need the exercise.’  She thought.

Applejack stood and placed her hat back on her head. “Ah haven’t slept this long since I was just a filly.” She said, shaking her head.  “Ah’m as well rested as a bear after hibernatin’ season.”

Twilight looked around at her friend’s varying states of disarray. “Fluttershy?” Twilight asked, “Did Doc Vigor say what time he would make that house call?”

    Fluttershy shook her head, “No.”

“Rarity what do you need to make Pinkie Pie’s horn?” Twilight aimed her sights at Rarity.

“Well, mostly ribbon. Although some pink cloth would help. I’ll need a needle and some thread as well. Fabric glue would be beneficial as well. “Rarity nodded with each item she listed.

“Okay and Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash’s head was still buried under the pillow. “Rainbow?” No answer. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight hollered.

Rainbow Dash re-awoke with a start. “Wha?” she mumbled only half awake.

“You were going to take Applejack to meet Storm Chaser today. What time are you going to leave?”

          Dash rubbed at her eyes with a lazy hoof as she thought. “Uh, we didn’t set an exact time. So I guess whenever I see the other Pegasi are leaving.”

          “That will make giving Applejack wings difficult. What do you think AJ? When would you like to gain your wings” Twilight asked.

          “Uh, well Ah’d still rather not, but if Ah have ta', now would be good. Ah’d like some time ta’ get used ta’ them, Ah ‘spose.” Applejack answered, still unsure of the whole idea.

          “Ok Applejack. As soon as we get out to the orchards.” Twilight replied. “Pinkie, what are you going to do today?”  Twilight’s tone became cautious with her last question.

          “Well, you see, I was thinking I’d make my way back to Apricot’s store.  I figured I could help her bake more cupcakes before I go with Twilight. I mean, she has the most amazing kitchen, and so many pots and pans and bowls and cupcake tins! Yesterday I started banging the pots and pans together and I came up with a song! Wanna’ hear it?” Pinkie took a deep breath and began to sing.

          “Ting tang crash bang go the pots and pans!  They sing like me-”

          “Pinkie!”  Twilight stopped the pink pony mid-song.  “That song was lovely.  Did you show Apricot?”

          “Oh my goodness!  I didn’t!”  Pinkie exclaimed.  “I bet she would love it! I’ll go show her right now.”  Pinkie gave a brief wave and hopped out the door.

          Rainbow Dash giggled.  “I see what you did there.”

          “Now get out of my bathtub!”  Pinkie poked her head back into the room, and disappeared again.

          The group burst into a fit of giggles.

          “Ah sure would like to know where she gets all that energy from.”  Applejack chuckled, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

          “Hehe, have fun on your trip to Unicorn Town.”  Rainbow Dash teased Twilight.

          “Unicornocopia.”  Twilight corrected.

          “Whatever.”  Dash finally pulled herself from her bed.  She hovered in the air for a moment before slowly lowering her hooves to the floor.

          “Let’s get this over with.”  Applejack sighed, heading for the door.  Rainbow quickly threw on her dress from the day before, and followed Applejack.

          While delicately placing her hat over her horn, Twilight turned to Fluttershy and Rarity.  “Will you two be okay here alone until Doc Vigor gets here?”

          “Oh yes, I will be just fine.”  Fluttershy answered quietly.  Twilight could tell that she already missed Angel, and her other animal friends back in Ponyville.

          “We will be just fine Twilight.  I will keep Fluttershy entertained, and I welcome her companionship.”  Rarity escorted Twilight to the door.  “Do not worry.”

          “Okay, well, I’ll be back as soon as I get Applejack airborne.”  With that said, Twilight rounded the corner, and left their sight.

          Inside the Everfree Forest, Applejack and Rainbow Dash waited impatiently for Twilight.

          Applejack stood in one spot as Rainbow Dash circled her from above.  “Will you cut that out?”  Applejack snapped at Rainbow Dash.

          “You are going to love flying AJ!  I just know it.  It’s so AWESOME!”  Rainbow gushed, completely undeterred.

          Applejack nodded absently, while looking for Twilight in the dense foliage.

          As Twilight breached the entrance to the Everfree Forest, Applejack rushed over.  “Are you sure you want to do this?”  Twilight asked Applejack one last time.  “I’m sure Pinkie Pie could do it if you asked.”

          “Nah, Ah’ll do it.  Ah’m already here, let’s just get this over with sugarcube.”  Applejack answered.

          “Alright, I’m going to start now.  Here I go.”

          Rainbow Dash watched from nearby as Twilight’s horn glowed purple as Twilight removed her hat.  Applejack grimaced as the glow engulfed her.

          Applejack was lifted into the air.  She felt her limbs start to grow lighter and lighter.  There was a prodding sensation on her back, followed by a quick stabbing pain that subsided into a dull ache as her wings stretched her coat, and began to grow.

          Applejack didn’t notice that she had been grinding her teeth, until she collapsed in a heap on the leaf strewn floor of the Everfree Forest.

          Dash rushed over quickly.  “Applejack!  Are you okay?”  Rainbow looked genuinely concerned to see her rival, and friend collapse on the floor.  “Did it work alright?”

          Applejack slowly stood, and showed Rainbow Dash her new wings.  “It worked alright, but it was about as fun as apple bucking with my face.

          “I am so sorry Applejack.”  Twilight said guiltily.  “I should have warned you about the pain.  It doesn’t last long though.  They shouldn’t even ache ten minutes.”

          “Well, test them AJ.  Lets see what ya’ got!”  Dash taunted.

          Applejack leapt into the air and landed on her face.

          “Bahahaha!”  Rainbow dash erupted in laughter.

          “Hey, Dash; think you can teach Applejack to fly before you go to meet Storm Chaser?”  Twilight asked.  “I told Rarity and Fluttershy that I wouldn’t be long.”

          “Of course!”  Go ahead.  We will see ya’ around egghead.”  Rainbow Dash said confidently.

          “We’ll be fine sugarcube.  Ah trust you and Pinkie will be safe, and ah hope Julius and Doc vigor can help Rarity and Fluttershy.  Ah’m afraid we’ll all need plenty of help.

          After a short wave, Twilight left, leaving Rainbow to train Applejack in the ways of the Pegasi.