Rewritten as of 12:21 PM MST 11/22/2012
Applejack stared blankly at her aunt, head tilted just a bit. Her aunt caringly tilted her head back to a straightened position, then nodded sharply.
"You will be receiving a penpal. Your tutor suggested that once a mare reaches the age of fourteen, they receive a correspondent with which they can discuss matters. I have no idea who it is, but her tutor is quite eager for you two to begin. She already sent her first letter, so enjoy it. Write back promptly, and use your best mouthwriting!" Aunt Orange waved at Applejack before shutting the bedroom door behind her, leaving Applejack to stare at the thin envelope.
Shaking her head, she pulled it open with a sharp jerk of her teeth and let it unfold. Her eyes scanned over it once, then another time.
Dear Applejack,
Hey! I'm Rainbow Dash, but you can call me Dash. I'm fourteen, just like you, but I live in Cloudsdale. I'm the coolest mare around, and I bet you know why. I performed the first Sonic Rainboom known to ponykind!
I'm not much of a writer, but since this is supposed to be an introduction of me, I'll tell you about myself. I have a rainbow mane, but don't get any assumptions about that. My coat is light blue, and my cutie mark is a cloud with a tri-colored lightning bolt. I'm pretty athletic, and I love to fly. I practice all the time with my group.
My tutor is pretty awesome, his name is Quills. He's kind of batty though, with this whole penpal idea. No offense to you, of course! I sent a picture of myself, and it cost a ton, but enjoy, 'kay? Maybe you can hang it in your room somewhere or something.
The coolest,
Rainbow Dash
Applejack froze after the first paragraph, and her eyes became a bit glazed as she slipped into a daydream.
Applejack stared out the window, the last bit of warmth from Celestia's sun caressing her face. Applejack ignored it, her eyes focused on the last remains of rainbow glimmering in the sky. At the very end, in the far distance, was her home. She could barely see the acres upon acres of apple orchards, and she was hit with a pang of homesickness as she realized just how far from home she really was. As the rainbow faded, only the last traces of red remaining, she was hit with an idea.
'I can leave,' she thought, a small smile coming to her lips. 'I can leave!'
She leaped from her perch and grabbed the small suitcase under her bed. She hastened to open it and began to shove in various odds and ends rapidly. As she clicked the suitcase shut, she heard her door creak open. She turned, hoping to see her aunt, and was instead greeted with the cold face of her uncle.
"Hello, Applejack," he hissed, his voice low and cold. "What are you doing?"
Applejack remained in her position, frozen in fear.
"I asked you a question, you insolent foal! What are you doing?" he roared, stepping menacingly towards her.
"Ah—I'm going home, sir," rasped Applejack quietly, and Uncle Orange raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
"You think you can simply get up and leave? Like you did to your old family?"
"I—"
"You CAN'T!" he screamed, slapping her across the face with a rough hoof. She stumbled back, tripping over her suitcase and hitting the back of her head on the wall. "You are OURS! You can NEVER LEAVE!" he spat into her face, and a single saying came to mind.
'Say it, don't spray it,' she thought with a small chuckle, and the hint of a smile returned to her face.
"You find this FUNNY? Maybe you'll find staying here with no food for the next two days FUNNY too!" he growled, enunciating his point with another slap to the face. Applejack whimpered as he turned and stomped away, slamming the door behind himself. She curled into a small ball, pressed into the corner of the room, and let herself sob.
Applejack shook her head, chasing the memory away, then turned back to the letter. She pulled herself from her bed, her braid trailing her as she opened her desk drawer and sat down. She took a seat, took the rather disgusting tasting quill into her mouth, and began to write.
'How do I start? I suppose the way most letters do.' Her thought process wandered as she scrawled, and when she was done, she was proud of it.
Dearest Rainbow Dash,
How are you now? I am quite well myself, despite the heat. I suppose for you Cloudsdalers, the weather here would be normal, but for us it is quite warm. I miss the warmth of Ponyville, but Manehattan is a beautiful place.
I am a highly refined mare, or at least my aunt says I should be. I have a orange coat a bit out of place here in town, but my blonde hair is a star amongst dinner parties. My cutie mark is three oranges, taking after the Orange Family tradition. I live with my aunt and uncle in a beautiful home, attending dinner parties nearly every evening.
My tutor is Sir Borealis, an astrologer at heart. He's amazing, and we enjoy many nights out gazing at the stars. I'm sure you'd enjoy him, since you both share a fascination for the skies.
I'm eager to meet you one day, but for now, take my best wishes.
Applejack
Applejack bit her lip as she looked over the letter, the lies that filled it stabbing her heart. Her cutie mark was naught but a fake, tattoed to her flank after she had failed to receive her cutie mark by her tenth birthday. Despite that, she had merely stretched the truth in some places. Sealing the letter and stamping it with orange wax, she gave it a final glance before copying the addresses from Rainbow Dash's letter across it and carrying it down the stairs.
Ignoring the fact that the house was empty, she dropped it in the mailbox outside. Returning indoors, she suddenly realized something.
"Where is everypony?"
A/N: I need some assistance. I have a few ideas for story archs to put in this, but I need some assistance. Please note me if you can help!
