Aftermath: Operation Rari/jack

The sunset festival at Starlight´s old town was a nice party. Pinkie Pie had entered the baking competition what ended into a bake off between her and Sugar Belle. The great and powerful Trixie put every unicorn to shame at the firework show, and she had enjoyed the attention. Soaked it up like a sponge and stressed Twilight Sparkle out with her boasting.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike had start to notice how even after Starlight had lied and manipulated these ponies, they still put a lot of trust into her. These ponies had to have been looking for somepony to give them direction to not only end up here but staying here after their trust into Starlight had been shattered. They really have to do some research about these ponies. Where they came from. How they ended up here. And why they did not go home. Besides this unnerving feeling that something was still wrong with these ponies, it was a very nice party. A nice weeklong party... .

Eventually they had to go home. Everypony, but Pinkie Pie and Discord, were exhausted so they were more than glad Discord just teleported them straight to townsquare of Ponyville and the group just split from there to their homes.

Rarity walked her way to Carousel Boutique someponies started to wisper looking at her. Seriously the nerves someponies have. She was tired and beat up from a week long party with hardly any sleep. Because Starlight´s ex-cult members had planned events for every main solarsetting. Sunrise, Highnoon and Sunset. Also Trixie used the opportunity to perform a one mare firework show every single night for her new found fans. Of course she did not look to her usual standart, but that is no reason to gossip right away.

She opened the door to the selling area of her boutique. Her lovely door bell ring it nice soft tune. Another tune followed it. It was the voice her younger sister Sweetie Belle answering the bell. "I am sorry Carousel Boutique is closed till... Rarity?" The white little filly put on a questioning almost worried face on.

"Yes, Sweetie it´s me." said Rarity with a tired smile. How nice of her little sister to have an eye on her shop.

***

"Howdy Big Mac," yawned Applejack as she trotted past the red stallion. Unaware of the suspicious look on his face she said: "Ah be there with ya... Ah just need an hour in mah room." The stallion felt pity for his younger sister and did not stop her on her way to the barn. It sure as hell had to be hard for Applejack.

Applejack had never noticed what a nice, warm, welcoming glow bright, red wooden door had in the morning sun. Home sweet home. She is going to snuggle up her pillow for little while before going back on the field.

Granny Smith was surprised as the orange entered the kitchen: "Applejack? What in tarnation?! How do ya dare to show up here all willy-nilly after what ya hav don!"

Applejack looked at her with sleepy eyes. What was going... Oh yeah the Changeling that took her place. Starlight had told them about them, but Applejack was just to tired to deal with it right now. "Ah am... sorry for what ever ya think ah hav don wrong. Ah just really need some time for me right now." said Applejack her head hung low from the exhaustion of the last days as she trotted up to her room. The sweet, sweet hay waiting for her.

Granny Smith looked after her grandchild. "Son, yar daugther seems finally home ya know."- she sighed -"Poor thing."

***

Rarity stopped at the bottom step of the stair. Her ear flinched back as she looked back at Sweetie Belle that kept staring at her with a worried expression on her face. Rarity blushed slightly as she asked: "Beg you pardon? What was that?"

"Did something happend at your Honeymoon?" asked the concerned little filly.

"Honeymoon? Darling. You might not underst..."

"What´s with Applejack is she alright? Where is she?" Sweetie Belle came a horrifying realization. Her white hoof shut her muzzle for a second. "Oh no! You didn´t broke up already have you?" Rarity was dumbfounded. Did Sweetie Belle really just implied she and Applejack...? "Oh, I knew it, it was to nice to hold forever." Then Sweetie Belle came an idea. "Dont´t worry we can fix it. I just have to talk to Applebloom." Sweetie Belle was swooped of the floor by blue magic hold infront of Rarity´s angry face.

"What did you just said! Little Miss Gabby Gums!"

"Rarity, just because you are angry at Applejack doesn´t mean it have to end like this." Rarity looked into Sweetie Belle´s face and it came to her. The little thing was not lying to her. The changelings that were impersonating as her and...

"AAAAAPPLEJAAAAACK!" The doors of the Carousel Boutique swung wide open as Rarity rushed into the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Leaving confused ponies left and right.

***

The orange mare was cuddled up in her red blanket in her room. Granny Smith sat down by her side. Her green hoof carefully patted her blond head. "Oh dear, dear, dear." Granny Smith ruffled her mane. "Ah think Ah have been to darn hard on ya."

Applejack pulled the blanket over her head and mumbled: "Not now, Granny."

The old mare took her foreleg back and started to look around this old barnroom and let out a sad sigh. "Ya always had a lovers eye for the finer things of life. Ever since ya moved out to yar Aunt n' Uncle Orange. But Ah didn´t thought ya would... ya know... just leave us again."

Applejack sat up in her bed, looked at Granny Smith as if one of them had to much cider and asked: "Ya don´t make a lick of sense, Granny. What are ya talking about?"

***

The big red stallion blocked Raritys way to Sweet Apple Acres. She could already see the barn behind the appletrees . But Big Mac always stepped in front of her. She did not came any further on the narrow way between the fences.

"Big Mac, please. I have to talk to Applejack."

Big Mac snorted at her, breaking his usual stoic demeanor: "Ah don´t know what ya did to her, but if A.J. comes back home. Ah am sure she don´t wanna see ya! Leave or Ah am going to drag ya out by yar tail."

Rarity was outraged about this scandalous proposition. She would never thought Big Mac could mean this serious. "Ugh you wouldn´t!"

"Try me!" snorted Big Mac in her face. Rarity wanted, needed to see Applejack. She lifted her hoof just a bit as Big Mac already pushed her back with his head against hers. "Ya don´t wanna listen to kindness do ya." Rarity´s hooves found no ground to support her in her stance as she was shoven away from the barn inch by inch. Big Mac only stopped as he heared his little sister screaming from the barn.

"WHAT IN TARNATION!!!"