"What the hell happened to you guys?" Rainbow shouted out on spotting the three battered girls entered into the dorms.

Applejack and Tempest looked to each other then down to the still unconscious Twilight still in Tempest's arms. "Bear." They replied together moving past the group towards the infirmary.

"Buh? A bear did this to you guys?" Rainbow pressed, following after the three with the rest of Harmony trailed behind. "You can't expect us to believe it was something simple like that. What was it really?" She questioned only to halt in her tracks at Applejack whirling towards her, blocking the door.

Leaning in AJ growled in a tired voice "It was only a bear and you can hear more about it after Twi wakes up, got it?" Looking Rainbow in the eyes.

Spike gently tapped Dash on the shoulder signaling to drop it. "Let them rest it must have been a very...interesting bear." He said, glancing at the leaving farmer. "Besides, we should probably go collect their rewards for them as I imagine they'll be out of it for a little." He proposed.

The rest nodded in agreement, heading for the appropriate building as the other three entered the infirmary. Tempest gently laid Twilight down on a cot before slumping into a chair next to the bed. A glowing orb fluttered around Twilight's still form. "Fucken omegas. Hate the little shits with a passion. Never die easy." She groaned, sliding a hand through her dirty mohawk.

Applejack took a chair on the opposite side, leaning forward. "I don't mean to sound ruse or nothin' but... You ain't actin' like how I expected ya too." She slowly said, removing her hat to rest on her knee.

Tempest peeked between her fingers at the country girl. Silence filled the room as she seemed to study the girl across from her. "Yeah well people aren't always what they seem to be. Biggest guy around could end up the softest fellow you know. Sweetest looking girl could be psycho in pastel pink. Get what I'm saying?" She slowly replied. With a sigh she began to rise before grabbing at her lower back. "Ahhh, knew I hadn't stretched enough for a fight like that." She groaned.

"Hey now, why don't you just rest. We didn't get out of that scrap without our own hits. 'Sides not like we have classes tomorrow so no sense rushin' things." Applejack suggested, holding out a hand in a stopping motion towards the grimacing woman.

Looking the freckled girl in the face Tempest sighed before sitting back down slowly. "Tell me something. Why do you follow ol' stubborn here?" She asked, pointing with a thumb at the sleeping Twilight. "From what I understand the rest of you minus the dragon boy already had spots in the school so if anything she should have been following you guys. Yet since day one she was put as the leader. She bribe you or something?" Tempest questioned further. She wouldn't openly admit it but she was probing to see if Twilight's group was genuine in their care for her.

Applejack to the number one students surprise actually started to blush. "Well see we tried to have one of us lead but it always ended up in butting heads. One would say left but some others would rather go right. Eventually we just thought no one would lead and we'd sort of coast along. Then Twi pops up outta nowhere totting skills like no one's business, taking command immediately, and even pointing out flaws we have but also backing it with solutions on how to fix those flaws." She said, her body clearly spewing all the thoughts she held of the purple haired girl out at once. "It just felt natural. I mean heck, she even got you followin' orders with the whole ursa thing and considering she's been the longest to share the same room as ya must mean even off the battle field she has a way with ya." Applejack finished, pointing out the situation Tempest was known for.

Leaning back a small smile tugged at Tempest's lips as she listened to the farmer speak. Once AJ finished Tempest chuckled now surprising Applejack. "I won't lie, she does have my interest. She also respects my boundaries which was one of the main problems I had with past rommies. Course that doesn't mean I push hers every now and then." She said with a content sigh. "I won't lie to you since you are clearly a good person. I'm not as cold and aloft as people think I am. I like girly things. I like to play games. But being number one means you have to keep a certain image although for some reason I can't explain Twilight just made me feel like I can drop it and be myself." Tempest said before blinking. Jabbing a finger at AJ she scowled deeply warning "Don't tell anyone what I just said ok! Twilight already promised and you better be able to keep the same thing."

Shaking her hands in front of her Applejack nervously laughed. "Already forgotten swears." She said, leaning back and taking in the environment. A soft yellow glow filled their little section of an empty room. Twilight's breathing had steadied into a clear sign of resting and Tempest sat fidgeting with a loose lock of hair from her mohawk. Smiling gently AJ said "I know what you mean though. She has a way of disarming you and feeling safe acting yourself around her." Looking once more at the rest Twilight Applejack turned to Tempest. Sticking out her hand she said "The names Applejack. My family runs some apple orchards and I plan to become a Jaeger. Want to be friends?"

Blinking slowly at the extended hand Tempest felt a twinge in her heart like a string being plucked. She cast a glance to her sleeping roommate before looking back at the girl in front of her. Reaching forward she took the hand and gave it a firm shake. "I'm Tempest Shadow, not real name but even Twi doesn't know. I joined the Jaegers to protect people no matter the cost. I would very much like to be your friend." She said with a smile.

"Mmmm, where am I?" Twilight sleepily asked, shifting the blanket slight while rubbing at her eyes like a sleepy kitten.

Tempest couldn't help give a squeak at how cute Twilight looked waking up. "If I died now it would be ok!" She thought to herself before remembering there was another here. Coughing into her hand She leaned closer to her roommate. "How are you feeling? We are at the infirmary at the school. Need anything?" She answered with a few of her own questions.

"That's good to hear we are back. Um, I think I'm ok just still pretty tired. My leg doesn't hurt anymore." Twilight remarked, moving her foot on what once was her broken leg.

"Seems the sprite fixed you up pretty quickly." Applejack remarked. Standing slowly she nodded to the pair. "I'll see you around. Someone's gotta explain things to the rest of the group. Rest up Twi, Harmony needs it's leader." She added with a mock salute to her friend, turning and leaving the infirmary.

Twilight clearly was still in a bit of a daze as she laid back in bed, reaching a hand out towards Tempest. "Can I touch you for a bit?" She mumbled slightly, her eyes half open.

Stiffening at the comment Tempest gently rested her hand in Twilight's feeling her squeeze it softly. She watched as her breathing steadied once more falling asleep. "You really are an interesting person Twilight Sparkle. I can't wait to see how much you shake this place up further." She thought happily, adjusting herself in her seat to rest alongside the resting woman. The light's in the infirmary dimmed slightly to make resting easier.

Applejack stepped into the lobby, finding the rest of her team resting in different spots with a large bag in the middle. "That our spoils?" She asked, limping slightly towards it.

"Yepperoni!" Pinkie Pie answered, she was balancing upside down with a barbell on one of her feet extended upwards. "It's a lot bigger then the rest of ours. Must have been a real nasty bounty. Good to see you got back safely though!" She added, switching feet with ease.

Rainbow Dash fluttered near AJ with a raised brow. "Now can we learn what happened with you guys?" She questioned, hovering in AJ's face.

Giving a small laugh as she grabbed an apple off the table Applejack sat down in a bean bag nearby. "Give us just a little reprieve before we talk, k?" She shot back, biting into the apple with a satisfying crunch

Rarity rested on a lounge couch with Spike massaging a leg tossed over his lap. Writing something into a newspaper she perked up. "Oh, good word Applejack. It fit the space I needed for this crossword." She hummed happily.

Groaning in annoyance Dash flopped into a cloud with a 'poof'. Kicking her legs slightly she whined out "Fine, this better be worth the wait though."

AJ smiled to herself. "Oh, I'm sure it is." She answered back, crunching further into her apple.

Author's Note

finally updating my stories.