Chapter 1: The Beginning Of The Story
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were racing each other, as they had started to do every Friday morning just before sunrise. Rainbow Dash zoomed past Applejack, making her angry as she quickened her speed and caught up with her. They both had grins on their faces, speeding past each other every once in a while. Then they both decided to stop, breathing heavily as they caught their breath from the long run.
Rainbow Dash smiles. "That sure was fun, AJ! We should do this more often!" She said, patting her friend on the back. AJ smiled as well, looking up at the sky. "You sure you could handle comin' here more then every Friday?" She asked her teasingly. Rainbow laughed. "Duh, of course I could! Me and you are the fastest ponies in Equestria!" She boasted, making AJ roll her eyes and chuckle. "Yeah, sure Rainbow." She murmured. "Hey, do you think I could come and help you at the farm sometime?" Rainbow asked. "Yeah, sure, if you're up for it. A lot of my chores could be hard for ya." AJ replied.
"Naw, I can handle your chores just as well as you can. I'm sure I'll d fine." Rainbow told her, laughing quietly as she looked up at the sky with AJ. "When ah was a filly, Granny used to tell me stories about the stars. She said they'd always guide ya down the right path." AJ told Rainbow. "But ah know it's probably just an ol' ponies' tail." She continued, looking around the sky of stars. "Who knows, it may actually be true." Rainbow replied, laughing again while her and AJ continued gazing at the stars.
"Hey, Rainbow, do you know what time it is? It looks like it's about sunrise." AJ told Rainbow. "I think it's around...5:30?" Rainbow said, making AJ jump up. "I've gotta go! See ya Rainbow!" AJ told her before running off quickly. Rainbow sighed, getting up and flying onto a nearby cloud where she decided to nap in. She closed her eyes, eventually falling asleep on the comfy cloud. Meanwhile, AJ was hurrying down to Sweet Apple Acres, her eyes wide. "I can't be late!" She yells, continuing.
AJ finally reached the farm, almost ramming into the house door from stopping so suddenly. Applebloom was near her, walking up to her. "Applejack, come on! The inspector's almost here!" She told her, making them both run for the barn where Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were waiting for them. They reached the barn, running inside with them. "What are ya'll doin' here 5 minutes before the inspector gets here?!" Granny Smith yelled angrily, making them both nervous. "We're sorry Granny....At least we got here before he comes.." Applebloom said. "Well, ya'll still need to try and be on time." Big Mac said, his stern voice freightening. "We will." AJ and Applebloom said in unison.
"Excuse me, Miss...Granny Smith?" A brown stallion said. "Oh, Mr. Inspector! We've been expectin' you. Where do you wanna start lookin'?" Granny Smith said, walking up to the inspector. "I'd like to start here, and just make my way through here." He said with a more Manehattan-like voice. "Oh, alright, do as you wanna do sir." Granny Smith said respectfully, walking away with the other apples, leaving the inspector alone to do his work.
"Hey, Granny Smith, would you mind if Rainbow Dash helped me with my chores? She said she wanted to." AJ told Granny, smiling. "Well, if she really wants to, she can. But she ain't doin' any more or less then you are. Got it?" Granny said. "Yeah, ah got it Granny, don't worry. We'll make the perfect team." AJ responded, walking off to find Rainbow Dash in Ponyville. She walked along the path, looking around while calling out Rainbow's name repeatedly.
"AJ?" Rainbow yawned, looking down from her cloud to see AJ down on the ground below her. "Yeah, it's me Rainbow...Ah was gonna tell ya that Granny said you could help me with my chores." AJ had a big grin on her face, making Rainbow do the same. "Alright! Can I come over today?" Rainbow asked her. AJ shook her head. "No, we've got an inspector over at the farm right now, an' if we wanna get a good report we best leave them alone." She explained.
"Oh, okay...Well then, do you wanna go get some muffins over at Pinkie's?" Rainbow asked AJ, stretching a bit then getting up and spreading her wings out. "Yeah, that's a great idea! Let's go." AJ signaled her with her hoof, starting to walk to Sugarcube Corner with Rainbow. They soon got there, seeing Pinkie at the counter, bubbling with excitement as they trotted in. "Hey guys!" Pinkie yelled, making them both jump a bit.
"Hiya Pinks!" Rainbow smiled. "Hey Pinkie." AJ smiled as well, walking up to the counter with Rainbow. "So, what can I get ya?" Pinkie asks excitedly. "I guess we'll get two muffins." Rainbow told her, AJ nodding. Pinkie gave the muffins to them, giggling. "This one's on the house!" Pinkie whisper-yelled. "See ya guys!" She told them as they both waved and walked back outside with the muffins in their mouths. They sat down on a bench, nomming on their muffins happily.
AJ looked at Rainbow for a moment, daydreaming a bit. She saw her and Rainbow together, running together, and then they fell beside each other, cuddling. "Hey, you okay AJ?" Rainbow asks, looking back at her. AJ snapped out of it, shaking her head. "Yeah, ahm fine." AJ reassured her, looking up at the sky while she continued nomming on her muffin. Rainbow was looking down at the ground, her mind whirling around with thoughts. I wonder why AJ's been acting so weird lately... She thought.
