Alice sighed as she finished another somewhat harrowing day of Lookout duty. She had put a messy end to fifteen failures’ dreams of escape today. She wasn’t good at bringing them down without causing some serious harm it seemed.

She knocked one down to the floor harshly as he tried to escape. He would have died soon after, but a floor worker saw this and he made the downed young stallion the next victim of the process. Alice thanked him at lunch and paid for his meal. She didn’t want to find out what would happen if she killed a pegasus and their essence dulled before they were harvested.

Alice had grown a little harder in these last couple of days at the factory. She really had no choice if she wanted to keep her job. Alice started to see most of the sacrifices as numbers with indistinguishable features without any issue. She had mixed feelings about this change in her. It made lookout duty easier, but she felt as if darkness grew inside of her as a result of this.

Yesterday wasn’t as hard on her. She worked the floor again and this time with Fresh Breeze right next to her, even if in silence. Alice felt a little saddened seeing the darkened pink eyes of her friend as she mechanically pulled levers and pushed buttons, but even so having someone she knew and liked there by her side she felt a little stronger.

Once their lunch break came, Fresh seemed to be running mechanically as she went to the café to get something to eat. Alice followed her and the two ended up eating in silence. Regardless there was still some small relief to this action. Alice just hoped Fresh felt it as well.

As they ate quietly, Number Five of the Stars looked around at her fellow Factory workers again and noticed the different types of responses to everything going on around them. She found this factory to be very odd. You had three different ways of handling the darkness which surrounded this job: excitement, indifference or quiet acceptance.

“These different approaches shouldn’t work together and coexist like they do, yet here in the factory they do just that,” Alice wondered. In the end, she figured these opposing outlooks worked together, because they were all bound by the innocent blood they spilled while working.

The afternoon went by a little quicker for her and Fresh, since they only had two more shipments that day. Afterwards, Alice followed the still mechanical Fresh Breeze to the café to rest and recover before she left for the day. The two friends sat for a good bit in silence, but knowing the other was there with them.

Alice was a bit surprised when her friend suddenly hugged her and started to cry. Alice rubbed her back soothingly and secretly prayed she wouldn’t have to be hunting her friend down because she tried to escape the factory. At the same time, a part of Alice was grimly preparing for just that scenario.

“I’m sorry, Alice… It’s just that today I had to harvest a young mare I knew from back home… She was actually a good flyer, so I know she only ended up here because of bad luck,” Fresh Breeze sobbed into Alice’s coat. Alice gave her a tight brief hug letting the messenger know she was there for her.

“She recognized me too… I saw the look of betrayal, disgust and hatred in her eyes…” Fresh looked down at the floor and sobbed a little more. She spoke again after a few sobs. “She got her Cutie Mark at one of our Mid-Summer Breeze Festivals…” Fresh sighed and tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling.

“She got her Cutie Mark, the happiest day of her life, at a festival I started…” Fresh bowed her head and held it in her hooves. “It was because of me and my gift to our home she got it… And yet I was the one that pulled the lever that ended her life…”

Alice didn’t know what to think about this. She wasn’t sure what she would do in such a situation. She just kept trying to comfort her friend. Fresh forced a laugh after a few moments of silence, “You must think I am weak…. Like everypony else here does.”

Alice sat her friend up and looked into her eyes as she said, “No. I don’t, Fresh Breeze. I think of you as a friend. I wouldn’t think of you as weak because you cried later after harvesting a young pony you knew personally. I’m not sure what I would do in that situation. It is one thing to hunt down traitors that escaped from here, but it isn’t the same working the floor. That doesn’t even count actually knowing the pony you help harvest.”

Fresh sat up straight and calmed down as she asked, “How are you handling this so well, Alice? This is your first harvest, yet you seem to be taking it better than some veterans.”

Alice gave a sigh. “You only say that because you weren’t here for my outburst on my first day.” Fresh looked to her with some curiosity, but didn’t press. Alice sat back and let loose a deep sigh as she said, “It isn’t easy for me really. When I’m on the floor, I focus all I can on pulling those levers and pushing those buttons. When I am on lookout duty, I think about doing what I can to make Rainbow Dash proud of me.”

Fresh gave her a small smile. “You really hate to disappoint her, don’t you Alice. I don’t think you have to worry about that. She seems to like you.”

Alice raised a hoof to the ceiling, contemplated it, and said, “Yes, I do have to worry about it. I think of her as a friend and she did hoof pick me to be a Seeker. I don’t want her or anypony else to think it was a mistake for me to be appointed a Seeker.”

Fresh gave a little chuckle despite everything. She was really enjoying this current somewhat normal conversation. “I think it is more than just that, Alice.” Alice turned to her and raised an eyebrow.

Fresh Breeze grinned. “I think you really like her, and not as just a friend.” Alice turned away and blushed a little bit to this as Fresh giggled more.

Alice wanted to deny it outright, but she remembered the Bar-B-Que she went to with Rainbow and then the night under the stairs they shared afterwards. Nothing happened between them that night, but being out under the night sharing a large cloud with Rainbow was something Alice really enjoyed. She got a look at Rainbow Dash the pony that day, and not Rainbow Dash the Head of Factory Operations.

Once Fresh stopped laughing at her lack of answer, the two mares spent the next couple of hours talking like normal ponies would with each other. It was all in all a wonderful day for Alice despite her duties. Alice brought her thoughts back to the present as she went to her quarters for the night.

{-} {-} {-}

It had now been a week and a half since her first discussion about Rainbow Dash with Fresh. A few other similar discussions happened since then at Fresh’s insistence. Alice mostly just humored her during the talks. She didn’t like sharing her private thoughts about the rainbow maned pegasus so openly. The truth was her friend always smiled when they talked about these things, so Alice did take some pleasure in the action as well.

Tomorrow was going to be the last day before a two week lull in activity. Alice wasn’t sure what she would do with herself during this time. She thought she might try touring some more pony cites. Maybe even pay a visit to her so called hometown, so she would actually seem more believable when asked about Lonpony.

Alice thought it a little strange she cared so much for establishing such a deep and rooted background, but she did anyways. She used it as practice for when she would be on missions and needed to have a sort of character while hunting her target down. Plus, she did need to have a ‘home’ she talked about from time to time or ponies might start questioning where she's from really. She doubted they would figure out she was actually a human from a distant world that stepped through a portal she indirectly helped make, and then became a pony. She obviously would still rather avoid any attention to her real background.

The last day before the harvest lull seemed normal to Alice. Well, as normal as any day in the Rainbow Factory was. However, Alice found it a little unsettling that her time here during harvest was becoming routine to her so quickly. She wasn’t as bothered by the screams and cries from the sacrifices who awaited their fate as she was those first couple of days.

Alice was sitting alone in the cafeteria with her head down as she absorbed this realization. She might have stayed like that for a really long time, but soon a cyan hoof touched her shoulder and Rainbow’s voice filled Alice’s ears. “Are you ok, Alice?”

Alice looked up into Rainbow’s beautiful rose colored eyes and gave a weak answer. “Yes… Yes… It is just well… all of this… you know… But I will be fine in a little while no worries.” She wasn’t really sure about this, but she would do what she could to seem brave and adjusted to her job for Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow’s eyes narrowed and focused on Alice’s vivid green ones. She saw a small fear of realization in them. Rainbow gave her a softer look and smile as she said, “I know what you mean, Alice. On the bright side though, we have a two week lull.” Alice gave a weak smile to that. “What do you plan on doing for your two weeks? Or well actually a week and a half. We need all ponies to get back here half a week early as we make preparations for the big shipment after the lull.”

Alice sighed, “I don’t know, Rainbow. I don’t have anything planned.”

Rainbow smiled brightly at her. “That’s great. I was going to ask you if you wanted to come and spend the time in Ponyville with me.”

Alice blushed for a couple of seconds before her blush cleared from her cheeks. “Is there anything happening there in particular?” Alice then gave her a teasing smile as she asked in a lower voice, “Or do you just want me all to yourself that badly?”

Rainbow gave her mane a nervous scratch. “Well, I like spending time with you and all you know, but the main reason is, I thought you'd like to see Ponyville and experience Sweet Apple Cider Season. It really is amazing!”

Alice gave an amused smirk as she said, “Even though you usually don’t get any cider, Rainbow?” She heard a lot about cider season from Rainbow over the weeks she had come to know her.

Rainbow gave a mock pout, “It’s still lots of fun.” She then gave a smile. “It will be a great opportunity for you to meet some new earth ponies and unicorns. Being here in Cloudsdale you don’t meet many of them. It will also help you with recovering from your work here and fully taking it all in.”

Alice saw Rainbow’s logic here. She mostly knew and saw pegasi around here. If she did go to Ponyville, she would see different types of ponies that love and benefit from rainbows in addition to pegasi ponies. Alice gave Rainbow a smile and stood up next to her. “I would absolutely love that, Dash! Do I need anything? Like a cloud to sleep on or something like that?”

“Nah. I have an extra cloud bed you can use in one of the guest rooms at home. It will be a little like a sleepover,” Rainbow said. She gave a sheepish smile when Alice only raised an eyebrow to her offer.

“I guess that will do. As much as I enjoyed sleeping out under the stars that one night, I think it would lose its novelty after a week if not sooner, even with you as company,” Alice replied with a smile.

“Great! I have to do some paperwork in the early morning here. We can meet mid-morning and head to Ponyville. Sound good to you, Alice?” Rainbow asked cheerfully. She couldn’t wait to give Alice a tour of Ponyville and introduce all of her friends. Rainbow also thought Alice could use a Pinkie Pie party as well, even if she did keep insisting she was fine.

Alice nodded and said, “That sounds lovely, Rainbow. I will see you in the morning then.” Rainbow Dash nodded and the two mares parted company. Both of them were excited about the upcoming trip, and Alice was very thankful she now had something to do during the lull. She planned on making great use of this time with Rainbow Dash.

{-} {-} {-}

Alice hummed to herself as she packed her saddlebags with some of her personal items she might need during her trip. She didn’t really have much to pack. She figured this was due to her not having to worry about clothes, because of that incredibly useful pocket space thing everypony seemed to have. Then again most ponies didn’t really wear clothes in the first place. Add to this her being used to living with few belongings in the first place and she didn’t require too much luxury while traveling.

The dark maned pegasus waited until it was about mid-morning to meet Rainbow Dash. Their plan was to have a little breakfast before flying to Ponyville. However, she was surprised when a messenger came up to her and told her to meet with Rainbow in her office.

Alice knocked on the door to the office and entered when prompted. She was a little nervous wondering if something had come up to delay their trip as she asked, “You wanted to see me, Rainbow?” Alice looked around quickly to see if anything stood out, but all she noticed was Rainbow finishing up some paperwork.

“Alice. Have a seat. Just give me a second to finish this up,” Rainbow said. Alice did as instructed and gave a mental sigh. She was new to having a real job, but she was pretty sure being told to sit down by your boss was usually followed by something you didn’t want to hear.

Rainbow finished what she was working on and told a messenger to deliver a bundle of papers to the board. Rainbow picked up a folder and hovered over to Alice. “Well it seems you have a little job while we are in Ponyville, Alice.” Rainbow gave her the folder and an apologetic face as she continued, “I really didn’t want you to have an assignment during Cider Season, but the higher ups insisted on it.”

Alice hadn’t looked at the folder yet as she asked, “I don’t like the idea of taking care of an escapee while we are visiting your home and friends, Rainbow. Is there really no other way?” She knew Dr. Hooves lived near Ponyville and she feared he might pick up on there being something off about her. She would try to handle him if she needed, but there was something about him that just said he wouldn’t be a pony she wanted to face.

Rainbow gave her a small smile, “It isn’t an escapee, Alice.” Alice opened the folder hearing that. “He’s a traitor to Equestria that managed to get his hands on some classified information. It isn’t too damaging fortunately, but it could still cause problems if it got out.”

Alice looked to her and asked, “Wouldn’t this be more of a Royal Guard problem? Don’t get me wrong, I will do my job, but I am curious.” She looked back over the information.

“You would think so, but in the middle of Cider season in Ponyville two guards alone would still cause quite a stir. This needs to be handled carefully and away from other ponies. Ponyville’s Cider Season has become widely known, so you get ponies from all over Equestria and even sometimes foreigners. In matters like these, because of our connection to the Royal Guard, Seekers are often asked to assist. We are good at this kind of thing after all,” Rainbow said to Alice.

In the folder, there was a picture of a dark yellow Earth Pony with a blue green mane. There was a picture of a Cutie Mark with folders and a red stamp that read “INFORMATION”. Alice guessed he was probably a filing clerk or something along those lines. She was a little surprised he could get away with classified information in the first place though. She guessed only the factory had protection that would destroy any such info if it left the premises.

Alice’s green eyes blinked a few times as she looked over his name and asked, “You mean to tell me no one was suspicious of a pony named Info Seek?” Rainbow shook her head to this. Maybe she was just being paranoid, but Alice figured with a name like that it was obvious they would try snooping around even if they weren’t a spy in the first place.

“He’s an idiot, who got in over his head. Celestia doesn’t like using the dungeons in the castle anymore, and he is guilty of treason. He has been smart enough to use public transportation for his escape, because he figured the Royal Guard wouldn’t want to make a scene. However, because of the timing and how he is seemingly feeling confident, he has decided to take a little breather in Ponyville shortly into Cider Season. This actually might be a half way decent plan if he wasn’t already in the Royal Guards’ sights.” Rainbow explained.

“Where exactly is he planning to go?” asked Alice. It didn’t really matter. She would make sure he didn’t leave Ponyville, but her curious nature demanded to know.

“He’s planning to meet with members of the Screaming Skies in the Griffon Nation. They are a small, secretive, but kind of powerful group that believes the Griffon War shouldn’t have ended like it did. They believe they should rule over us because they are predators and we are not, even though Griffons don’t hunt ponies,” Rainbow said to Alice.

Rainbow sighed, “The truth is. Worst case scenario he will be killed on the border by either the Royal Guard or the Griffon Border Patrol, even if in public. Neither nation wants another war with the other. However, if he gets that far, it might give Screaming Skies ideas Equestria is ripe for picking again already. They would use their vast resources and help any enemies of Equestria they could to bring us down and possibly start another war. We know they can cause large problems. Their last attempt was aiding the Changeling Queen in replacing Princess Cadance. The Queen then led the Changeling Invasion on Canterlot during the wedding.”

Alice simply nodded in her understanding before finishing the information in the folder. After that the two ponies went and shared a nice brunch before taking to the skies and making their way to Ponyville. Alice was more excited for this trip now. Not only was she going to see Ponyville and meet some new friends, she had a job that would help Equestria. She already had a plan forming, but knew she had a couple of days before Info Seek would be in Ponyville. She would be on the lookout in case he got there sooner just to be safe though.

{-} {-} {-}

Outside it was nice and beautiful as two trails streaked through the sky. Rainbow and Alice were both giggling as they started flying in some kind of choreography with each other and occasionally looking behind to see their trails intertwine with each other. It was a beautiful sight, and pegasi taking a rest on clouds along the skyway to Ponyville would cheer at the display.

“Awwww yeah! That’s right we’re awesome!” shouted Rainbow Dash when she heard cheering ponies. The cheers as always gave her a sense of euphoria. Alice would just give a laugh and maybe an occasional shout of excitement. She was mostly just taking thrill in flying around outside once more.

It took them more than three hours to reach Ponyville, but that was because they were enjoying the flight and would occasionally throw an impromptu show for some traveling pony families. It was Rainbow’s idea. She said the skyway was a lot more crowded than usual because of Cider Season, and all of the ponies provided a chance to show her awesomeness and bring cheers and smiles to young ponies.

When they landed on Dash’s front porch, it was into the afternoon already. Alice gave it a look over and couldn’t help but smile at its beauty. Dash knew how to make a cloud home, that was for sure. Alice took the view into consideration this time. When she was last here, she had other things on her mind.

The house was a castle styled tower made of clouds with three floors and a dome roof. Alice noticed a couple of rainbow ponds and fountains and an ever present rainbow behind it. The scenery around it was beautiful as well. Dash currently had it only about fifteen to twenty five feet in the air. Alice knew Rainbow could raise it if she wanted, but Dash usually stayed within loud shouting distance of her grounded friends.

Once they entered the house, Rainbow gave Alice the grand tour. Finally, they got to the top floor of the house; it was just the master bedroom and bathroom along with the guest bedroom and bathroom Alice would be using while she was in Ponyville for Cider Season.

“So what do we do now, Rainbow?” Alice asked.

“Well, do you want to go into Ponyville for lunch or have something here? I don’t really think I have anything here to eat though,” Rainbow said with a sheepish grin.

“It doesn’t sound like we have much choice then. Ponyville it is,” Alice replied while playfully rolling her eyes.

“Okay… Just be ready…” Rainbow said as she made her way downstairs.

“Be ready for what?” Alice asked.

“Pinkie Pie… She is friendly, but very random and hyperactive. She has this ‘new pony sense’ or something as well. Even with all of these ponies here for Cider season she will still find and greet each and every one of them faster that a Sonic Rainboom and she pops out of the most unlikely of places,” Rainbow said in all seriousness.

Alice was intrigued by this and part of her looked forward to meeting this Pinkie Pie in such a manner. She still had some doubts, but Rainbow was serious, so she gave her the benefit of the doubt. Either way she was really getting hungry now and they needed to go eat.

{-} {-} {-}

Rainbow and Alice were walking into Ponyville. Alice thought this odd, but figured it was Rainbow’s way of letting her look around and realize just how many ponies there were. It was quite the sight for her. She saw earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi all over.

“Wow…” Alice said quietly as her green eyes took everything in around her. She remembered back to her time in Canterlot, but here there seemed to be a lot more ponies in general, especially earth ponies. She thought the town seemed more alive than Canterlot did outside of the bars and inns at least.

After a few minutes of walking the town, they got to a restaurant. Alice ended up ordering a Daisy Deluxe Sandwich with fruit on the side. She was in the middle of enjoying her sandwich when she saw a pink earth pony climb out of a large glass and stand on it from an empty table nearby. Alice blinked and casually asked herself aloud. “Did I somehow find my way back into Wonderland?”

Rainbow Dash looked up from her BLT (Beet Lettuce and Tomato) sandwich with a side of hay fries and eloquently asked, “Huuhhh?”

The pink pony seemed to be looking for something or someone, and held a hoof above her eyes while turning her head more than it should feasibly turn. “It’s just that a bright pink pony climbed out of an empty glass…” Alice answered looking the pony over with interest.

Rainbow looked to see where Alice was gazing. “Oh that’s just...” She was cut off before she could say anything.

“Hey, Dashie!” shouted the pink pony, which was suddenly right in front of Rainbow. Alice and Rainbow both blinked a couple of times at her sudden appearance.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow said with a somewhat exasperated voice. She was expecting to hear a delayed gasp or a scream of surprise from Alice. She thought it was a blessing Alice wasn’t twitchy or Pinkie might find herself on the opposite end of a blade from the sudden and improbable movement. When Dash looked around Pinkie to her friend, she was surprised to see a look of quiet contemplation followed by a shrug instead of what she feared.

Alice was thinking about how it was that the pink pony just disappeared from atop a glass only to appear right in front of Rainbow. “She must be part Cheshire cat, or somehow she has mastered the art of using ‘pocket space’ as a means of transportation,” Alice told herself mentally.

While all of this was going on, Pinkie had started rambling about all of the new ponies she greeted and friends she made. She then started talking about muffins, cakes and other treats and how she wanted to make a different set of cupcakes themed after each of her best friends. She then paused as if trying to remember something she was going to say, but just went back to how “superuberfantasicallyoverexcited” she was to see Dash again.

Alice just calmly took a sip of her lunch tea and listened to the pink pony going on and on and on about all kinds of random topics. She was beginning to think Pinkie had somehow escaped from her Wonderland into this world. She half expected her to smoothly slip into using alliteration to describe tasty treats at any second.

Alice couldn’t help but give a bright smile to the pony’s antics, especially with the way Rainbow was just listening to her until she finally calmed down. The truth was the dark maned mare felt a sense of nostalgia being near this pink pony. Alice’s green eyes seemed to shine with sentimental happiness as she remembered her earlier treks through Wonderland back when she was still a girl before everything happened. When she made friends that loved nonsense and enjoyed many things, despite the meaner residents.

Rainbow saw Alice’s lips look like they were about to start twitching. She feared after this introduction, Alice would want to stay away from Pinkie and by extension her. However, the beautiful light tan pegasus gave a warm smile and oddly enough Rainbow could have sworn there was a small sense of something around Alice. It seemed close to innocence, but Rainbow doubted that is what it was.

Pinkie was going to tell Dashie all about her excitement for Cider Season when her pinkie sense went off in the strangest of ways. She actually froze up and felt a strange sensation apart from her pinkie sense. She felt a longing, as if she was close to a place where she truly belonged. It was as if she just needed to turn around and she would see some incredibly wonderful place with candies and plenty of friends that could really relate to her. It would be a wonderful and strange place all rolled into one.

Pinkie’s bright blue eyes grew wider and she slowly turned around to see a pretty pegasus pony giving a wonderful smile as she sipped elegantly on tea. She then gasped real loud and almost shouted, “That is why I was looking for Dashie! I was wondering about this new pony in town I heard about that was walking around with her….” She described a few more things while Alice just listened and gave a warm laugh.

“My name’s Pinkie Pie everyone just calls me Pinkie or Pinkie Pie! Who are you pretty pony?” Pinkie Pie asked with a smile as her tail seemed to almost wag with happiness.

“I am Alice Briddel. Pleased to meet you ‘Miss Pinkie Pie everyone just calls me Pinkie or Pinkie Pie’. That is a really long name,” Alice said with a giggle, which Pinkie Pie joined. Alice then gave a thoughtful frown and said, “I’m surprised you have already heard about me being in town. I haven’t been here long. Well you know in Ponyville long. I mean of course I haven’t been here in this actual place long, because I haven’t even had time to finish my lunch yet. I have however been in Equestria for a good long while.”

Pinkie nodded and said, “Now that you mention it, that is a long name. Well of course you got a lot of attention already. You were with Rainbow Dash walking after all. I haven’t been here here all that long either, but I have been here for a few years now in Ponyville, and been in Equestria for all of my life!” Pinkie then started bouncing around and looking at Alice from many different angles and even lifted up one of her wings for some reason.

Alice nodded to Pinkie and said, “Indeed Rainbow’s mane does get attention. I think it’s beautiful, but it is what it is.” Alice then placed a hoof thoughtfully on her chin. “I guess it would be odd seeing Rainbow walking anywhere. So you work in a bakery with cakes and such?”

Pinkie nodded as she brought out a magnifying glass and inspected one of Alice’s Hooves and then an ear. Rainbow just stared at her random friend’s behavior. “Yeah it’s called Sugar Cube Corner. Do you like sweets?”

“It honestly depends. I do like cake, but if I have too much of it I feel like I’m fifty times bigger than I should be. Fortunately, that feeling doesn’t usually last. Also, I have noticed some mushrooms make me feel the same way when I eat a certain side of them. I once had a mushroom that made me seem too big for my friend’s house. We weren’t friends at the time, but we became good friends later. I do hope you don’t have any mushroom cakes. I would fear how big I would get after eating one of those,” Alice said. She felt she somehow already knew how to talk at Pinkie’s level. It must have been because the pony reminded her of Wonderland residents so much.

Pinkie was in deep thought before she said, “I don’t think I have ever had a mushroom cake before. I wonder if that would be any good. Hmmmm…. Maybe I will try one sometime. I’ll make sure I’m not in any houses when I try it just to be on the safe side.”

Pinkie then scratched her chin with a hoof and asked, “What do you know about hats or cups of tea or eye patches?” Rainbow was still just watching the ponies not sure what was going on, but looked to Alice expecting an answer.

“I know a lot about hats. You always have to make sure you have the right hat for the right occasion, if a hat is called for or rather required. I don’t think you can actually call for a hat. I guess you could call for one, but I doubt it would answer you. I might have to try calling one to see. Sometimes it is a good idea to have more than one hat with you in case the situation changes, though top hats are usually all around useful and proper,” Alice answered. She didn’t have much hesitation or bewilderment in her voice. Pinkie was sitting there nodding sagely to her words.

“As for tea, I love tea! There are so many flavors, but just be sure you always ask for either a full cup of tea or a bottom half full cup of tea. If you just say half a cup, you might get just that, half of a cup. As for eye patches, well they can be useful and some ponies find them exotic. I prefer my green eyes though,” Alice said. She then took a sip of her tea and a bite of her sandwich.

Pinkie was nodding and writing on a notepad before pulling out a hat with words written on it saying “study hard”. She then looked up and gave a smile as she said, “I prefer my eyes too. But I still hide eye patches everywhere in case of an eye patch emergency.” Pinkie’s blue eyes twinkled as she said, “Oooooohhh I should do that with hats too.” She then frowned, “But it might not be the hat for the right occasion.” She then gave a serious thinking face.

Alice seemed to be thinking about something as well. She finally spoke in complete seriousness, “Well then I guess you have three options. You can put multiple hats of different types in the same places together. You could just not wear a hat, or you could just take every hat you might need with you. I mean I always have my full wardrobe accessible if I need it. I don’t see why you couldn’t do that with hats.”

Pinkie smiled big and cheered, “Of course! You’re right! I know what to do now!” Pinkie then shot off in a cloud of smoke before backing up and saying, “Oh and it was nice to meet you, Alice. We are friends, right?”

Alice gave a friendly smile, “I would think so. We both know all about hats now and the importance of eye patches.”

Pinkie gave her trademark smile and said, “That is super amazingly fun and awesome! Ohhh and thanks for warning me about tea!” She then zipped off again as Alice calmly continued her meal with grace and elegance.

Pinkie soon appeared again, this time from under the table to the side of Rainbow and Alice as she said, “Also I’m soooo going to throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville Rainbow Dash’s friend named Alice Briddel who knows about hats and tea!’ party. You better come because it will be super fun and terrific!”

“Will it be a tea party of sorts?” Alice asked.

“Of sorts for sure! It will be a party and it will have tea! Anyways see you two later!” Pinkie then ran off again.

Rainbow Dash just stared at Alice with her jaw on the table. Alice hadn’t freaked out around Pinkie Pie. Actually the two seemed to keep up with each other, almost as if they were kindred spirits or something. Rainbow finally closed her jaw and asked, “How did you do that, Alice?”

Alice took a sip of tea and nonchalantly asked, “Do what, Rainbow?”

“Keep up with Pinkie?!” Dash almost shouted. She blushed when some ponies nearby gave her a look. “I mean she is a great friend and lots of fun but still… No one could keep up with Pinkie like that.”

Alice gave a little laugh. “I can see that. I can only keep up with her conversation wise though. I can’t do the randomly appearing thing like she does.” She again thought Pinkie must somehow be related to a Cheshire cat. “I think I can keep up with her because I used to know someone a lot like her.” Rainbow just shrugged as the two finished their meals.

{-} {-} {-}

Once they finished lunch, the two headed over to the library. Rainbow decided they should see Twilight next. She thought the egghead might bore Alice if they waited too long to meet her. Rainbow wasn’t sure what Twilight would do if Alice started playing with her Vorpal blade in boredom. She didn’t think Alice would likely do something like that, but if she was bombarded with fact after fact about something most ponies don’t really care about, she might feel she was waiting at the training grounds in a boring line again or something.

They were making their way to the library and Rainbow still couldn’t get over how Alice was able to keep up with Pinkie Pie like she did. The most interesting part though was Dash could sort of follow the flow of their conversation a little bit as well. This caused the rainbow maned pegasus to think she might one day be able to keep up with Pinkie while maintaining her sanity.

As they kept going on their way, Rainbow hoped to find an excuse to take wing again as they kept touring. She decided after visiting Twilight they would go find Applejack at the farm. This would allow them to fly once more.

When they arrived at Twilight's place, Alice looked at the building before her and kind of fell in love with it. She had seen many things in both real life and in her hallucinations, but a tree that also severed as a library was something unique to her. The green eyed pegasus felt as if she was seeing the true wonder of this world’s magic in this building. She liked it.

Rainbow Dash knocked on the door, and was a little surprised when Spike answered it. Twilight usually made a point to answer her door. “Hey RD! How are things going?” Spike asked her.

“I’m doing great, Spike. How are you doing?” she replied.

Spike’s eyes seemed to have hearts in them as he said, “Wonderful! I was just on my way to go visit R-R-Rarity!”

Rainbow Dash hid a giggle as she looked at the baby dragon. “I wanted to see Twilight. Is she in? Also this is a good friend of mine Alice Briddel.” She pointed to Alice, who gave the small dragon a pleasant smile and curtsy. Spike thought she was beautiful, but Rarity was most definitely more so in his opinion. No pony matched up to her in his mind.

After looking Alice over, Spike gave a sorrowful frown as he said, “Sorry, she’s at Sweet Apple Acres right now. In fact she didn’t open the library today because of that, she said something about needing to speak with AJ about Cider Season this year. It might take the whole day to get things sorted out though.”

Spike then looked from left to right and placed a hand to his mouth as if he was telling a secret. “Personally, I think she is wasting her time. AJ doesn’t like sharing important family business with others as you know, RD. That one time with those two unicorn brothers was a very big exception.”

Rainbow nodded to this. “Thanks anyways, Spike.” She then gave him a smirk and encouragingly said, “Go and have fun at Rarity’s. Make sure you impress the hay out of her like always!” Spike smiled back to her, bid the two ponies farewell, and went back to getting ready to meet with the most beautiful and ladylike pony in all of the land.

Once the door closed Alice asked, “That was a dragon?”

“Well, Spike is just a baby dragon. He is still a dragon though, so yeah, that was a dragon,” Rainbow said with her trademark grin. Her grin then grew further as she said, “So it looks like our next stop is Sweet Apple Acres! Finally! I can fly again!” Rainbow then took off into the sky.

Alice gave a giggle before she too took off into the air, leaving her blue, green and purple butterfly trail behind her. She didn’t notice the eyes of several ponies widen and a few whispering about the fast mare. She also didn’t hear many patrons from the inns of Canterlot comment on how they recognized her as a mare who was the life of any inn she visited.

These patrons' comments and excitement about her being here in Ponyville for Sweet Apple Cider Season got the attention of one pony in particular. This one pony had a big event planned for mid-way through the season, and he gave an amused smile as he decided to add one more guest to his list. He knew he could just send Rainbow Dash the invite, and he hoped the amazing head of weather and Element of Loyalty might actually come this year with her friend.

{-} {-} {-}

It didn’t take long for Alice to catch up to Rainbow, even if she did purposefully hang back to admire her backside for a little bit. Rainbow soon gave her a knowing smirk and looped back around to be side by side with Alice. “This is great flying with you again, Alice. Plus we'll get to meet two of my friends at the same time!” Rainbow had a wide grin and Alice couldn’t help but give a big grin herself.

“I do have to warn you though, Alice…” Rainbow said with her eyes turning serious. Alice listened to her intently. “Applejack is the Element of Honesty and she can tell when a pony lies. She won’t press you if you ask her not to do so, but still I think it would be best if you don’t try to lie to her about being from Lonpony.”

Alice froze mid-air with her jaw hanging open, and started to fall to the ground. Rainbow quickly turned and darted for her before catching her and pulling her to the nearest cloud she could reach. The cyan pegasus cursed herself for what she said to Alice while they were in the air.

They were now safely on a large cloud without any ponies nearby. Alice looked at Rainbow warily as she asked in a low and threatening voice. “How long have you known?”

Rainbow threw her hooves into the air and said, “Easy, Alice! I’ve known for a good while now. I am the head of the Rainbow Factory. Do you honestly think I would hire a pony without looking into their past sometime?” Alice shook her head with her eyes narrowed and her blade now in hoof.

“Look, I don’t care where you’re from Alice. I still like you a lot and think of you as a wonderful Seeker. I haven’t told anyone, but I think Celestia knows there is something off about your past, even if you haven’t spoken to her yourself.” Rainbow may have her hooves up, but she already figured out how to hopefully turn the situation around with Alice before resorting to violence.

Alice took a breath and relaxed as she asked, “How come she hasn’t done anything then?”

“You’re a Rainbow Factory employee, Alice. As far as she’s concerned, you’re still one of her beloved little ponies taking on a horrible burden. So long as you don’t do anything that would cause too many problems, everything is cool,” Rainbow said.

Alice gave Rainbow a hard to read look, but relaxed completely. “Look, Alice. I didn’t say anything about it because I know what it’s like to want to keep things to yourself. I don’t want to cause you any pain. I was warning you about AJ, because I want things to go well when we meet her. She might press a little bit, but she won’t go overboard. Just be careful of what you say to her and everything should be alright.”

Alice looked into Rainbow’s beautiful rose colored eyes and knew she was telling the truth. It was at this point Alice decided she actually did love Rainbow. She wouldn’t tell her yet though, because being in love with another female was a new concept to her. If she was back in Victorian London, she was sure she would be thrown out of society for this, if she was a part of it in the first place. However, this wasn’t London and she only cared what Rainbow thought of her. She didn’t care if other ponies frowned upon them or not if they did end up having something in the end, but she wasn’t sure about how to proceed.

To Alice, the most important thing was that Rainbow Dash had accepted her despite knowing she had lied about her past. It was to her the most monumental display of affection she had ever been shown. She gave Rainbow her biggest and most lovely smile while blushing. The dark haired pegasus vowed she would do something special for Rainbow to show her appreciation.

Rainbow blushed as well and praised Celestia she had met Alice in the first place. The two ponies might have done something like a hug or a kiss, but they did need to be somewhere and Alice wasn’t ready for such displays of affection yet.

{-} {-} {-}

Once the tense moment was over, the two flyers made their way to Applejack’s. Rainbow was surprised to see Fluttershy there as well. She was a little relieved she could knock out three introductions at once. “Wow! Is this a friend convention or something?” Rainbow said aloud to the group of ponies. All three gave a laugh. Fluttershy gave a barely audible laugh, but it was still a laugh… it was just fun sized.

“Something like that, RD. How ya doing?” Applejack answered.

“Good. I was looking for Twilight and Spike told me to come here,” Rainbow smiled. “Anyways, I wanted to introduce you three to a friend of mine.” She then moved so they could see Alice.

Alice gave a curtsy and said, “I am Alice Briddel. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I hope we can become great acquaintances if nothing else.” She gave them what she hoped was a friendly smile. She also thought it wonderful how she was meeting an earth pony, unicorn and pegasus all at the same time.

Once again, she realized just how many different and lovely ponies there were in Equestria. It was her job to help make sure they kept their smiles thanks to wonderful rainbows. The thought almost made her feel as if maybe there was hope after all, and the Rainbow Factory actually had a purpose despite its dark nature.

Rainbow smiled as she introduced her Ponyville friends. “Alice, this is Twilight Sparkle.” She pointed a hoof to a lovely lavender coated unicorn with an indigo colored mane and tail with dark pink and violet streaks. Alice had to admit if she wasn’t really into Rainbow she might go for her. Twilight gave a beautiful, warm, and friendly smile as she greeted her.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow said as she pointed to a butter yellow pegasus with a light pink extra-long mane and tail. The pony seemed to be cowering behind her mane as she gave a timid wave.

Alice returned the gesture and tried not to show any disgust to her. She knew about Fluttershy because Rainbow had talked about her, since the two were foalhood friends. Still, if Fluttershy was really as timid as she seemed. Alice knew it would be tough for her not to try and get the pony to take the flight test, and properly dispose of her because of such weakness.

“And last but for sure not the least! Applejack! She is probably the only pony in Ponyville who could challenge me to a competition and I would take her seriously,” Rainbow said. Applejack gave a blush and smiled at the praise. Applejack was a lovely orange coated pony with a blonde mane and a strange hat that still had a certain allure to it. Alice could tell this pony was a hard worker that deserved every bit of praise she received from others.

“Well howdy, Alice. Ah must say that is a lovely name even if it is different from normal names here,” Applejack said. Alice could sense no ill intention and actually admired the farm pony more for that. “Anyways, Ah’m guessing you are here for Cider Season. I hope it works out for you. Cider is in high demand after all. So, welcome to Ponyville and the Apple family farm! I hope ya’ll enjoy yer stay.”

The visiting Cloudsdale Pegasus found the accent strange, but she liked it and felt it suited Applejack. “You are correct in your guessing, Miss Applejack. Rainbow keeps going on and on about Cider Season, despite her usual ineptitude in acquiring said Cider.” The three ponies gave chuckles while Rainbow gave a small pout.

Applejack might have been confused hearing some of these words, but she had spent lots of time around Twilight and Rarity. Applejack started to think Alice might be one of them highfaluting ponies, but felt she wouldn’t demean other ponies like most of them would. “So where are ya from Miss Briddel?”

Alice looked to the Element of Honesty and quickly fought down her automatic answer of Lonpony. “I am currently from Cloudsdale. In fact, Rainbow here helped me get a job in the Weather Factory.”

“Ohhhh? Where do you work there Alice? If you don’t mind my asking….” Fluttershy said in a small voice, still hiding.

Alice gave a friendly smile despite her grimacing internally. She really hoped Fluttershy wasn’t actually this timid and… weak… “I was lucky to be selected by the proper ponies to be allowed to work in the illustrious rainbow production department.” Alice gave a proud but still pleasant smile. Fluttershy looked to her with wide wondering blue eyes. Twilight seemed to radiate with curiosity and Applejack seemed to be giving her extra attention.

“I have read all about Rainbows!” Twilight said as her lovely purple eyes glowed with curiosity. “I got a tour of the Weather Factory with my friends, thanks to my cloud walking spell and Rainbow Dash. Is it true that Rainbow production is really a closely held secret?”

Alice gave a smile, “Yes, it is Twilight Sparkle. I might tell you more about it, but it is a very secretive process. So you will have to forgive me if I am not very forthcoming with information regarding it.” Alice gave a half frown as she said the last part. She hoped it wouldn’t be seen as a lie by Applejack. She really would talk all about making rainbows if it wasn’t such a horrid and harrowing process.

Applejack gave a smile as she said, “Well Cloudsdale really is a wonderful place, but where were you before that Miss Alice? If ya don’t mind my asking that is.”

“Before that I spent a little time in Canterlot shortly after the Royal Wedding. Previously to Canterlot I would rather not talk about. I am sorry if this disappoints you fair Applejack, but my past is not something I easily share with others,” Alice said with a serious and somewhat sorrowful expression. Applejack wondered why she didn’t share, but she respected a pony’s privacy and didn’t ask anything more on the issue.

“Alright Miss Alice, Ah understand. Regardless, welcome to good old Ponyville. Mah family actually founded this here town, and we love it more than anything else. So if you ever need help with anything here in Ponyville feel free to ask.” Applejack had a grin on her face that Alice couldn’t help but fully trust, even if she wouldn’t ever ask for help if she could avoid it.

“So what are ya’ll doing here anyways?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack sighed as she answered, “Twilight here keeps insisting all of ya’ll help us out again here in a couple of days with Cider sales. I really don’t like asking for help, even from friends. It is the Apple family that first planted apple trees and other crops here, and we ain’t gonna ask anypony to help us unnecessarily.”

“But Applejack…. If you let us, your friends and ‘extended’ family, help out it isn’t anything to worry about. You will make so many more ponies happy and more sales,” Twilight said hoping to convince her friend to accept their help.

Fluttershy voiced her agreement, but continued to cower behind Twilight. The butter yellow pegasus was trying to hide behind her light pink mane. Alice might have thought the pony cute and beautiful, but she couldn’t get past her cowardice. She would put up with the pony for Rainbow Dash’s sake, but really she deeply hated Fluttershy. Actually, it was how the yellow pegasus reminded Alice of how hopeless, weak, and pathetic she herself used to be in the past that she hated.

As the day continued, the dark maned pegasus managed to keep a calm and relatively friendly disposition about her. Mentally she was fighting hard not to twitch an eyebrow and grind her teeth when Fluttershy squeaked something. She wanted to like Fluttershy, but the pegasus, while incredibly cute and pretty, really irked her in how timid and cowardly she was. Alice sincerely hoped there was some kind of hidden strength to her, but she had her doubts about this.

Alice really tried her hardest not to take out her hatred on the kind pony. She knew it was her own fault she felt this way and not Fluttershy’s. She would find a proper way to deal with it all later maybe. Fortunately, she spent a good bit of her time learning all about Apple Orchards, and almost everything about friendship and magic from Twilight.

The Rainbow Factory Seeker really enjoyed talking to Twilight and Applejack. She might have even enjoyed talking to Fluttershy, but all she did was mumble and, “Eeeep” for seemingly no reason. Rainbow did her best to try and show Alice the ponies, including Fluttershy, were wonderful and would be really good friends of hers if she gave them the chance.

It wasn’t easy, but Alice managed in the end, and even enjoyed herself. She still wasn’t sure about this Fluttershy pony, but for Rainbow’s sake she would do all she could to befriend her. Alice sighed mentally as they had dinner with Applejack’s family.

Alice hated the concept of love right now. She was tolerating the weakest and most pathetic pony she had ever met in her life, just so she could hopefully find a way to like Rainbow Dash’s most important friend for Rainbow’s sake. She knew if she ever hurt Fluttershy it wouldn’t matter if Rainbow liked her or not, the mare would be angry and probably attack.

Alice really wanted to force Fluttershy to complete her Flight camp test, just so she could be rid of the sorry excuse of a pegasus that rarely left the ground. However, she knew Fluttershy was a good pony and filled a very important role in Ponyville with the animals, and Equestria by being an Element of Harmony.

Personally, Alice would rather introduce her to Cheshire and her Vorpal blade, or maybe even her teapot cannon, and be done with Fluttershy. Alas love makes a mare put up with the most trying of circumstances, whether the other pony knows this or not, so she kept from using her blade.

The thing that really got to the number five star seeker was how if Fluttershy got over her weakness she would be one of the most powerful and dangerous ponies in Equestria. Alice thought what it would be like to face a pony that could enlist the aid of almost any animal and fight. She found this alternate interpretation of Fluttershy ever so intoxicating and seductive for some reason. Unfortunately, the real animal lover would rather cower than meet her true and ultimate destiny.

Twilight on the other hoof was something else. She knew more than almost anypony Alice knew. Twilight regrettably had a penchant for giving masterful and complete lectures on anything you wanted to know. Alice learned this by asking her about the differences between living in Ponyville from living in Canterlot. Alice would have sworn the lavender unicorn belonged in Oxford as a star doctorate student or possibly as a Professor under her father’s proud eye.

After a while though, it was obvious she would have to take Twilight in small doses before getting really friendly with her. The unicorn would remind her too much of her tutors from when she was younger otherwise. At the same time, she knew if she wanted to know about anything, even something rather obscure, she could just ask Twilight. Plus, it was kind of cute the way she lit up when she was lecturing.

Applejack seemed to be a pony anyone could rely on, even in the worst of circumstance. She may be a bit prideful, but she was a pony that you could stand by through even the worst of days. Alice could see why Rainbow was at one time attracted to her.

Alice was attracted to Applejack herself. The farm pony had a lovely accent, even if it was a little hard to make out sometimes. Her orange coat seemed so warm and she had a body to die for, but Alice still preferred lovely cyan to light and warm orange.

Alice took a mental double take as she once more realized she was attracted to female horses. Sure she was a pony as well, but it didn’t change the fact. She liked stallions, but mares were lovelier she thought. Also mares seemed to be very plentiful, whereas stallions were harder to come by in Equestria. Regardless, it was still a mental trip when she realized things like this, but the shock was lessening each time.

“So what do you think of Ponyville so far, Alice?” Twilight asked, breaking said pony from her personal thoughts.

“I like it a lot. I have never been to a friendlier place, or a town with such a lovely charm and feel,” Alice said with a smile. She gave a thoughtful look and continued her thoughts. “I will say Pinkie is a little weird, but I have always liked weird, and she reminds me of someone I used to know. Plus, your library is really something, Twilight. I will have to stop by and see it at least once before I head back to Cloudsdale.”

Twilight gave a small blush as she smiled. The librarian loved it when ponies talked about her wonderful home. She also loved it when ponies came by for a book. The lavender unicorn wondered if Alice was an “Egghead” too. She could tell the dark maned pegasus was decently educated, if a little old fashioned.

As the meal continued, everypony had plenty to eat and enjoyed more pleasant conversation. Alice was careful never to say too much about her past, but still remained as truthful as she could be. It was finally time she and Rainbow Dash headed back for the night. “Looks like the tour will have to finish tomorrow, Alice,” Rainbow said. Alice nodded as they flew in silence. It was a lovely and warm night with just the right amount of a breeze. Alice and Rainbow both agreed it was the perfect end to a mostly perfect day as their wings beat in rhythm and they flew to Rainbow's house.

Author's Notes:

It is fact the stetson hat was first created the year Alice went to Rutledge (1865), and it wasn't mass produced until about 1886 in Philadelphia. It wasn't seen on a mass scale in the British Paramilitary until 1905. I think this is enough information to make a guess that Alice wouldn't recognize such a hat.

Thanks goes to Braininthejar for helping to try and make it a bit easier to read grammar wise.