Applejack was standing at the gates, countless trees being worked by countless members of her family as she awaited her friends. Sunset and Cozy where the first to arrive, Sunset took a deep breath “This smells like home, the air is so clean and fresh here.”

Applejack grinned “We work this farm very cleanly, what little pollution created by the tractors gets soaked up by the trees. We do our best to keep the air clean and fresh.”

Cozy looked around eyes wide “This place is beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like it. So much of the land I grew in up was barren.”

Applejack chuckled “Well Ah’m glad you like the farm, the others will be here soon enough. Ah’ll show our home in the meantime.” Applejack lead the pair towards the farmhouse, they arrived to see Big Mac exiting the farmhouse with a knowing smile. One eeyup later and he was already on his way.

Cozy looked at the boy “He seems like the quiet type, a positive trait. Too many people talk a lot and listen very little.”

Sunset smiled as she smelt food “I t seems your bother has prepared food for us, I suggest we eat it before it gets cold.” As they soon as they entered Apple Bloom cast a withering glare at Cozy Glow then cast a weaker glare at Sunset before leaving for her room.

Applejack blinked “What was that all about?”

Cozy grimaced “When I first entered the school, she was boasted how she was the strongest freshmen in the school. She had beat everyone in an arm wrestle except for me, I humbled her that day and scared quite a few kids. Still before you get mad at her it is likely she was nervous on her first day, nervousness can masquerade as overconfidence.”

Sunset smiled “Can we eat?” Applejack nodded with a smile, the group sat down at the table where several plates of Apple Fritters were set. Sunset started to tear up as she took a bite “This is amazing!”

Cozy took a bite herself and smiled “Sunset is right, your brother is quite good in the kitchen. Had I swung that way I would consider pursuing him.”

Applejack and Sunset’s jaw dropped as a voice came from the door “I’m afraid I misheard, did someone mention pursuing Big Mac.” Cozy turned to see Rainbow at the door and nodded with a grin.

Applejack shook her head before looking at Cozy “Your not exactly subtle about that, most kids your age would not much about that topic.”

Cozy frowned “I was in a military that employed child soldiers, I have had quite a bit of first hand experience. Still any one who I had sex with was beholden to me, the first time one made that mistake he lost something important and no-one else dared.”

Rainbow looked around “This place really is impressive, I must admit. I really wish I was invited here sooner.” She then sighed “Applejack, we have to stop ribbing each other.”

Applejack blinked “What do you mean by that Rainbow?”

Rainbow grimaced “Those little jabs when we compete, that has to stop. Some of those things had been hurtful for both of us and it escalated. You wouldn’t invite me home because I doubt any of your family would have accepted what I had said to you.”

Sunset blinked in confusion “Um confused quests here, what is going on between you two.”

Rainbow sighed “When me and Applejack were competing over something once. I was angry and wasn’t thinking straight, I called her a filthy swine. I was horrified about what I said but my pride wouldn’t allow me to apologise. She then called me a lazy slug, that grinded my gears and I call her a Country Hick. It escalated to blow from there.”

Applejack sighed “Ah understand where Rainbow is coming from, we brought out the worst in each other for a long time. Our friendship was already strained by the time Sunset came along, it was last piece of the puzzle that caused our friendship to shatter and with it weakened our group. Fluttershy couldn’t hang out with me, and neither did Rarity as she was better friends with Fluttershy. Yet we too divided and Sunset picked us apart.”

Sunset slumped “I’m sorry about that, I just was so obsessed with my goal. I was also jealous of what you had, you all seemed look good friends, it furthered my resolve to never makes friends after you fell apart so easily.”

Rainbow grimaced “Fluttershy was so upset that I had just abandoned Applejack and bottled that up which lead her being angry Rarity often. Pinkie was just sad all the time and drifted away, she suffered from psychological problems during that time. I believe I should leave the rest of it to her.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow “How do you know all of this stuff? We weren’t extra close at that time, so how did you find out?”

Sunset grimaced “Snips and Snails posted it on Mystable trying to please me, even then there were lines that I wouldn’t cross. If you were in a relationship with someone of the same sex, if you had family issues and other personal stuff. I focused on embarrassing things that happened at school but very little of it was world ending.”

Cozy nodded “Nothing you did was really that bad, I know there was so much you could do with the power you had at your disposal.” Just at that moment Gilda, Wallflower, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie entered the farmhouse.

Gilda frowned “Okay what did we miss?”

Sunset frowned “I’m a little worried about that object that Wallflower has, I don’t what it is but it allows one to use Equestrian magic. It makes me wonder if anything else from Equestria is here.”

Fluttershy shook her head “Let’s not think about that, we are here to enjoy the company of friends are we not.”

Rarity nodded “I agree, let’s put that magic business behind us shall we.”

It was at that moment that Granny Smith entered with a smile “I’m glad you have stuck with Applejack after her recent foolishness. I gave her a stern talking too.” Applejack rubbed her behind mumbling about a stick.

Granny Smith then walked over to Cozy Glow, and looked over her with serious expression that Cozy Glow mirrored. The older woman’s gaze softened as she hugged Cozy “Poor girl, you have been through such hardship.”

Granny Smith then let go “I believe you should tell everyone about it all.” Cozy began telling the whole story of her life, pausing to answer questions as necessary.

Author's Note

A large part of this story is fleshing out the Rainbooms, making them more complete characters. I wanted them to learn something from all of this, by resolbing these problems now it will heavily impact what happens next.