August 8

Rainbow Dash was leaving the booth with Gilda right behind her when she heard Applejack call out for her. She spun around to face Applejack. Rainbow Dash noticed an odd look on the older woman’s face. Applejack gestured to her.

“I’ll be by the car.” Gilda said and Rainbow Dash heard two pairs of footsteps walk away.

Applejack was fumbling with her backpack.

Rainbow Dash instinctively reached out “Can I help you with that?”

Applejack flinched. She looked up and meet Rainbow Dash’s eyes. She smiled. “Yeah that would be great.”

Rainbow Dash unzipped the back pack and held it. Applejack reached in and pulled out a wrapped present. She put the present under her arm and zipped the bag back up then slug it back over her shoulder.

“Here. I got this for you.” Applejack said.

“Thanks A.J. I… thanks.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t think of what to say so she turned to the package and ripped the paper off.

“Daring Doo and the Sky Castle Limited Fully Expanded Edition RPG! How did you get your hands on one of these!? I thought they sold out in like twenty four hours.”

“I umm… I just got lucky.” Applejack blushed and bit her lip. Rainbow Dash was too absorbed to notice.

“I can’t believe you are giving me one of these!”

“You were so disappointed when you didn’t get to order one before they sold out. I just had to see if there was anything I could do.”

“Thank you A.J. You are such a good friend.” Rainbow Dash hugged Applejack. Applejack hugged back with her good arm.

After they broke up Rainbow asked “what happened to your arm?” The two started walking for the door.

“Oh, one of the turkeys got aggressive this morning and I wasn’t as focused as I should have been.” Applejack gave a bashful smile.

“Those rascals! If they didn’t taste so good…”

Applejack laughed. “If you want to eat the one that got me I can mark it as the one that your family gets.”

“That would be awesome!” Rainbow pulled out her car keys.

“See you both later!” Applejack waved and walked towards her locked bike.

Rainbow Dash and Gilda got into the car.

“Look what she gave me!” Rainbow Dash gloated. She tossed the case onto Gilda’s lap and put her key in the engine.

“Is this that video game you wanted? That new one?”

“Yes! I can’t wait to start playing it!”

“You can NOT let playing video games interfere with homework. Too many people got in trouble last year for failing to manage their time properly.” Gilda warned.

“Uggg… you sound like my therapist! I’ll stick to my plan. I’ll get my work done.”

Rainbow Dash pulled out onto the road and started driving back to her house.

“So they’re going to meet tomorrow?”

Rainbow sighed. “I guess so.”

“Why the sad face?”

“We started our friendship group four years ago. In all this time I have never missed a single meeting. Sick or injured I always dragged my but to them. I just… Those friend have been a big part of my life. They mean so much to me. Those… woman made me who I am today. I am going to miss them so much.”

There was a long pause.

“I’m sorry your friendship means a lot to me. Our relationship is just different.”

“Yeah that is to be expected I guess. I don’t know.”

Rainbow Dash and Gilda were silent for the rest of the ride.

Rainbow Dash parked in her driveway. The two climbed out and looked up at the house. “Ready to load the car?” Rainbow Dash asked Gilda.

“Definitely.”

They decided to put all the stuff they they didn't need access to until college in the back seat. All the bags that they would wanted accessible they put in the trunk. Five hours later they were done. They took a moment to admire their work.

“Your friends better not give you anything tonight!” Gilda said.

“Why not?” Rainbow asked.

“We aren’t going to have room for it. And no we are not moving the seat forward I refuse to be camped for six hours.”

“Fair enough.”

“Are you guys done yet!?” Pinky Pie shouted from the side door of the house. (she had arrived an hour ago.)

“Yeah.” said Gilda.

“I have to get the boxes for Fluttershy.” Rainbow said.

“All righty! Gilda come help me with these streamers!” Pinkie Pie called.

“Do I have to? I want to go take a nap.” Gilda said grumpily.

“Try to help out a little more. This will all be over soon.” Rainbow walked past Pinkie Pie and up the stairs to her room.

Gilda sighed and walked over to Pinkie Pie. “What do you want?” She said in a cold tone.

“I need someone tall to climb up that latter and stick these streamers to the ceiling!” Pinkie Pie said.

Gilda sighed. She climbed up the latter and took a blue streamer and taped it to the ceiling. Gilda climbed down and Pinkie Pie moved the latter. They repeated the process several times.

“What is you favorite color?” Pinkie Pie asked Gilda when she was on the last one.

“What?” Gilda was caught off guard.

“Your favorite color? What colors make you happy? The color that when you see it you have to smile?” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down enthusiastically.

“I like grey.”

“Noted!” Pinkie Pie scribbled on a clipboard that Gilda was sure wasn’t in her hands a moment before. Pinky Pie dashed to her giant party box and dashed back. “I have grey streamers!”

Gilda sighed.

The two continued their routine to put up the grey streamers.

“What is your favorite animal?”

“Animal?” Gilda paused for a second to think about it. “The clouded leopard. The modern saber toothed cat.”

“Noted!”

“What is your favorite book?”

“I really like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.”

“Noted!”

Gilda was starting up with the next one when Pinky Pie asked her “ What kind of food do you like?”

“Normal food? I don’t know. I don’t care as long as it’s not moldy.”

“Surely you have certain meals that you really like. Your favorite meal from your favorite restaurant. Something special your mom would cook for you when you were sick or a specific dish your dad made during the holidays!”

“Why are you interrogating me! Why do you care what I like or dislike?” Gilda shouted.

Rainbow Dash ran down the stairs. “What is going on?”

Gilda took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Pinkie Pie I don’t want to talk right now. Please stop asking me questions.”

“I just want to find out what makes you happy. This party is for you as much as it is for Rainbow.” Pinkie Pie said simply. "But I will stop."

“Thank you.”

The two continued hanging up decorations. After a moment Rainbow Dash went back upstairs.

Rainbow joined them a short while later. “Is there anything I can do?”

“There is just one more decoration for the ceiling left.” Pinky pie spend a while next to her box.

Gilda and Rainbow Dash looked at each other.

“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie shouted. She held up a large handmade banner.

Rainbow Dash approached it. Her name was written in big glittering cut out letters. It was covered in artwork. Rainbow could tell that each of her friends had contributed to it. Each drawing was of something that mattered to Rainbow Dash.

“Wow. Thank you so much.” Rainbow tried to sound excited but her voice cracked a little.

“We are really going to miss you Dashie.” Pinkie Pie

Once that banner was hung over the couch Gilda went up stairs.

Rainbow Dash was about to sit down and admire their work when she heard a knock on the door. Rainbow Dash rushed to go get it.

“Hey Rarity hey Sweetie Belle!” Rarity was wearing a pale blue dress with a sparkling necklace. Her hair was done up with hair spray her nails were freshly manicured. She was holding two wrapped boxes and had a purse hanging on one shoulder.

Sweetie Bell was dressed in normal nice clothes. She had a small flat box in one hand and two cards in the other.

“Hey Rainbow. I know I am a little early. I But I thought since I have to leave early I thought I would come early and help.”

“Fine by me! Come in!” she stepped aside. “Hey Pinkie Rarity is here! Is there anything you want her to do?”

“Yes!” Pinkie Pie Shouted.

Rainbow Dash followed Rarity into the living room.

“I want to make Gilda a welcome to the friend group banner!” Pinkie Pie said. Rarity set down the boxes and then peered over Pinkie Pie's shoulder. “What do you think Rarity?” Pinkie Pie Pie had laid out the grey letters in Gilda’s name in a crisscross pattern on an off white piece of paper.

Rarity glanced at Rainbow’s banner and then moved in. “I think we should arrange them like this. Rarity lined them up in a slightly diagonal line. “And then we could have some art word down here.” she pointed to the now empty bottom left of the page. “And we can write notes up here” she pointed to the upper right corner.

“Looks good to me!” Rainbow said. “I’ll make sure she doesn't come down yet. Let me know if anyone else shows up.”

Pinkie Pie started glue down the letters. “Rarity can you draw a clouded leopard?”

“I can try!”

Big Macintosh dropped Applejack and Apple Bloom off outside of Rainbow Dash’s house.

Rarity answered the door. “Come in we are signing a banner for Gilda!”

They walked into the living room. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were all hovering around Gilda’s banner.

“Welcom! Thank you for showing up!” Rainbow Dash ran over and hugged both of them. Apple Bloom spotted Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and ran over.

“Hey you two! Look what I got!” Apple Bloom pulled a rabbit skull out of her bag.

“What! That is assume!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“Where did you get that?” Sweetie Bell asked.

“Big Macintosh sends his best wishes. He is taking Cheerilee on a date and he dropped us off.” Applejack told Rainbow Dash.

“Do you have a ride home?”

“Pinky Pie said she would give us a lift.”

“Yep! I’m taking you two and Sweetie Belle home.” Pinky shouted.

“What?” Sweetie Belle Looked around. “Did someone say my name?”

“It was probably nothing” Scootaloo assured her. The three resumed their conversation.

The doorbell rang. Rainbow Dash took off to get it. A moment later Fluttershy walked in with two wrapped boxes in her arms. Fluttershy deposited her gifts on the dinning table where a few others were and then headed over to the banner. Applejack walked over to the table and set her card for Gilda bag for Rainbow Dash down. Then she joined Fluttershy at the banner.

“Apple Bloom gift. Also come help me sign the banner.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo made there way over still talking.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash hung Gilda’s banner over the Dinning table. Pinky Pie and Rarity started gathering food from the kitchen and bringing it out.

“Make yourselves useful girls.” Rarity told them as she walked by.

“I am going to go talk to Gilda.” Rainbow Dash announced. And left to go upstairs.

Rainbow walked up the familiar wooden steps. The step that she through up on after her third birthday party. The step she hit her head on after tripping on her blanket. The step that she damaged hauling her TV screen up. She was going to miss living in this house.

She knocked on her bedroom door softly. She pushed it open. Gilda was laying on her bed reading a book.

“Everyone is here.”

“Okay.” Gilda turned a page of her book.

“People want to see you.”

“Really?” Gilda’s voice remained flat.

“People brought you gifts.”

Gilda glanced up. “Let me finish this chapter.”

“How many pages?”

“Ten.”

Rainbow Dash sighed. She looked around her almost empty room. “I can’t believe I’m leaving tomorrow. I won’t see this place again for almost four months.”

“If you are going to be soppy can you do it in your head? I’m trying to concentrate.”

Rainbow Dash walked over to her trophy display case. She had decided to leave them all.

The display was split down the middle between the legitimate award she and her teams had won and those her parents had given her. Her parents…

Am I going to miss them? Or will I be glad I don’t have to listen to them anymore. They know they are not allowed to come to the school or go to any games. Will my demand be enough to keep them away? Or will the courts have to get involved again. I told them to stay out of my room. Will they listen? Probably not. How will they do without me? Should I even care? I shouldn’t but I still do. I don’t want to leave them because I know how happy I make them. But I can’t live with them anymore.

“Are you okay” Gilda’s voice broke through her thoughts. Rainbow realized she was crying.

“I’m… fine. I just…” Rainbow’s voice broke. She rushed over to her tissue box and dabbed her eyes. “I'm okay. I was just thinking about my parents.” her voice studied.

“Oh.” Gilda's face was emotionless.

“I’m sorry. I’ve always felt bad complaining around you. I mean you had it so much worse, but-”

“It’s okay.” Gilda climbed of Rainbows bed and walked over. “Family drama isn't some petty contest we're we decide who got it the worst. We can’t control who are parents and guardians are or what they do.” Gilda looked Rainbow Dash in the face. Rainbow looked up to meet Gilda’s eyes. They stood their for a moment. “ go wash your face.” Gilda walked back to Rainbow’s bed.

Rainbow Dash walked into the upstairs bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. She splashed some warm water on herself and then dried off. She smiled and posed in the mirror. She laughed and left the bathroom smiling.

As soon as Rainbow Dash and Gilda’s feet were visible their guests started cheering.

They chanted “They are fierce, they are wild. They are strong. And they are loyal! They are dire wolves of the University of Vanhoover!” They all broke out into applause and cheering.

Rainbow Dash laughed and Gilda smiled. There were new dire wolf decorations and the food smelled amazing. The two rounded the corner and Gilda gasped at the sight of her banner.

“Ready?”Pinkie Pie asked.

“Welcome to the friend group Gilda!” everyone shouted and then went back to cheering.

Gilda looked for and locked eyes with Pinky Pie. “You didn’t have too.” she said quietly.

“But I wanted too.” she smiled.

“This is wonderful. Thank you all so much!” Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash’s stomach growled. “Should we eat?”

Rarity cleared her throat. “I hate to take too impose, but I need to get going. Could you both open my presents first and then I'll be on my way and you can eat.”

“Sure. Did you hear that everyone?” Rainbow shouted.

There was a mood of general consent and everyone moved toward the end of the table that had the presents piled on it.

Pinkie Pie stepped forward and put her fist over her heart “I give you my word that I have done what I can to make sure that there will not be any repeated gifts.” she said in an overly serious voice.

“Thanks Pinkie.” Rainbow said.

Rarity sifted through and pulled out the two boxes handed them to their owners. She then shifted for the cards. She she found them and handed them out.

Rainbow and Gilda both made to open their cards first.

“Boxes first!” Rarity cut in quickly.

Rainbow Dash immediately started ripping the paper off. Gilda pulled a switch blade hunting knife out of her pocket and carefully cut the paper off.

Rainbow Dash examined her unmarked box for any clues. The box was heavy. She shook it slightly. Nothing. The box was neatly taped shut.

“Here” Gilda flipped her knife in the air, caught the blade end and offered it to Rainbow Dash handle first.

“Wow.” Scootaloo said. “How did you do that!?”

“Practice and stakes”

“Can you teach me how to do that!” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I can try if you get permission.” Gilda said in an amused tone.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both bounced with anticipation. Apple Bloom looked a little nervous.

Rainbow and Gilda had turned their attention back to their boxes. Rainbow dash pulled out a softball sized amethyst geode. Gilda pulled out a six inch long tourmaline crystal.

“Wow Rarity this is neet!” Rainbow said.

“Yeah.” Gilda said.

“I thought your room could use some… shine. Something lovely.” Rarity explained.

Rainbow Dash and Gilda turned to their cards. They opened the envelopes and found sketches of wolves and Rarity’s prettiest calligraphy inside.

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash hugged Rarity. Rarity approached Gilda for a hug but Gilda opted for a hand shake.

“Alright! Let’s eat!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

There was cheating and excitement as the guests grabbed plates and started dishing up.

“Goodbye Rainbow. I’ll miss you! Be sure to check your email! I want to stay in contact.” Rarity said.

“Of course! I’ll keep in touch with all of you!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Well I best be off. I don’t want to be late!” Rarity walked out the door.

Rainbow Dash dished up and walked over to Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Fluttershy stood with Gilda in the corner.

“So what do you have planned for this fall?” Gilda asked Fluttershy.

“I am going to take some classes at Canterlot Technical College.” Fluttershy answered.

“Oh cool. What are you studying to be?”

“A veterinarian.”

“Nice! How long is the program? How many years?”

“Well normally it is two years but I can only go part time. Although I may be able to get some credit for my job, turn it into an internship.”

“Two years to become a vet? That seems short.”

“It is. I’m going to become a veterinarian technician. And then intern at a clinic and then go back to school.”

“Oh. Yeah. that seem complicated.”

“It’s cheaper.”

“Ah.” Gilda nodded. “Being an EMT gives me a leg up too. And a well paying job.” Gilda noted.

“Really Your and EMT?” Fluttershy said interested

“Yup! I’ve been one for a few years now.”

“Wow. I never took you for a medic. Is it hard?”

“Not really. The hardest thing is clearing a crowd away. Everyone is trying to film and it is both distracting and impolite to the victim.”

“That sound frustrating.”

“It is.”

“So what are you studying to be?” Fluttershy asked.

“I want to be an orthopedic surgeon.” Gilda explained.

“That’s great!” Fluttershy said. “Do you think you’ll stay in Vanhoover or travel?”

“I think I'll go back to Griffonstone County and work there. That poor community needs all the help it can get.” Gilda said sadly.

“Wow. I don't have plans for after I graduate yet. I have decided to keep an eye out for any opportunities that come my way and see where life takes me.”

“You’ll have to let me know how it goes.” Gilda gave a soft smile.

“Yeah same!”

“I can send you a postcard.” Gilda suggested.

“Yeah we can write letters!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “Here I’ll give you my address.” Fluttershy led Gilda into the kitchen to find a piece of paper.

Rainbow Dash finished eating and set her plate down on a dining room chair.

“Do you not have a dishwasher in the kitchen?” Applejack asked.

“I am going to do everyone’s dishes later!” Rainbow Dash said like it was obvious.

“Sure you are.” Applejack rolled her eyes.

“It helps me if I do dishes as I go. I like the sense of productivity while I wait.” Pinkie Pie said.

“Personally I like to have a pile. A giant pile motivates me!”

“As long as they get done.” Applejack said.

“They will.” Rainbow informed her.

“It looks like people are wrapping up eating. You should probably start opening presents.” Pinkie Pie said after looking around. Applejack nodded.

“Listen up! When you are done eating put your plate here.” Rainbow Dash pointed to her chair. “You can also make a pile on the kitchen counter.” she pointed to the kitchen door. “Gilda and I… where is Gilda.”

“I'm here!” Fluttershy and Gilda rushed in from the kitchen.

“We are going to continue opening presents!” Rainbow announced.

The group moved to have a good view of the parent end of the table.

“How should we do this?” Rainbow Dash asked Pinkie Pie.

“I think you should go guest by guest.” Pinkie Pie said.

“Okay. Who wants to have their parents opened first?”

“What kind of question is that?” Asked Applejack. “Lets all sit in a circle and Pinkie can hold out the cards and you can close your eyes, find a card and go from there!” applejack instructed.

Rainbow and Pinkie Pie looked at each other. “Sounds good!” Pinkie Pie snatched up all the cards and arranged them. “Pick a card any card!” Rainbow closed her eyes and found one and pulled it out. Everyone sat in a circle.

“To Gilda form Applejack!” Rainbow Dash read. Rainbow Dash gave Gilda the fat envelope.

“Here!” Pinky gave Rainbow Dash Applejack’s card for her and then grabbed the only.

Gilda cut into her envelope with her knife. She found a store bought card with a picture of a wolf on it and a gift prepaid debit card.

“I wanted you to be able to order online.” Applejack explained.

“Thanks”

Rainbow Dash tossed tissue paper aside and discovered a frame with a cloth inside. It was framed nicely. “Its my symbol! Did you make this?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“Its called cross stitching my mom taught me.”

“It looks like it took a while.”

“It wasn’t too bad.”

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash had a confused look like she wanted to ask something but didn’t.

“Alright! Pick a card any card!” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically.

Gilda pulled out Sweetie Belle’s card for Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie handed Gilda her card. Rainbow Dash found a gift card and Gilda found a pressed tiger lily.

“I didn’t know what to get you two.” Sweetie Belle admitted.

“That's okay. You just being here is enough.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Frankly I wasn’t expecting anything.” Gilda said.

“A word of advice to a new member of the friend group” said Applejack “It’s a Pinkie Pie Party. ALWAYS EXPECT SOMETHING.” Everyone laughed.

Rainbow Dash drew a card to her from Sootaloo. Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dash a wonderbolt scarf and Gilda ten dollar bill.

Gilda drew Pinkie Pie’s card for her and Pinkie Pie grabbed the two largest boxes off the table. Rainbow Dash got an electric mixer set and Gilda got a waffle iron and a bag of Pinkie Pie’s favorite waffle mix. They were both speechless. They both looked at each other.

“We are so not going to be able to fit this in the car.” Gilda said.

“Fluttershy it looks like you have more to mail us. Just send me the the recite and I’ll write you a check.”

There was a knock on the door. Applejack who was closest jumped up. After stumbling she collapsed. Everyone reacted.

“Sis!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“Applejack!” Fluttershy called out.

Gilda got to her first.

Applejack ground and started sitting up. Gilda put a hand on her chest to stop her. Applejack’s gase focussed on Gilda’s face.

“What do you remember?” Gilda asked seriously.

“I wanted to answer the door. I think I stood up to fast.” Applejack’s speech was a little slow but very steady. Her stomach convulsed. She put an hand on her upper belly. “I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“Is she going to be okay!?” Apple Bloom was panicking.

“She’ll be fine. Nausea is common after fainting.” Gilda said. “Fluttershy go get the door.” Gilda ordered.

Fluttershy hesitated. She didn’t want to leave but she knew that Gilda had lots of first response training. Applejack was in good hands she just didn’t want to go. She bit her lip and started down the hall.

“How do you know?” Apple Bloom questioned.

“I’m an EMT! Now will you all back off and shut up.” Gilda snapped.

Fluttershy started jogging to the door and opened it.

“Well it’s about time!” Sunset exclaimed and then saw Fluttershy’s face.

“What happened?” Asked Twilight.

“Applejack passed out.”

“What!?” Sunset demanded.

“She stood up to get the door when you rang and she collapsed. She is awake now and Gilda is helping her.” Fluttershy said leading them back.

“Does Gilda have any training?”

“She is an EMT”

“Good.” Twilight said.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Sunset asked Gilda.

“I don’t think so.”

“I going to through up.” Applejack said.

“You, help me get her to that bathroom.” Gilda said to sunset and then pointed across the room.

Sunset nodded and the two picked Applejack up and carried her. They set her down in front of the toilet. Apple Bloom rushed in.

“Don’t let her lay on her back.” Gilda told Apple Bloom and then she and Sunset exited as Applejack began throwing up.

“Man she is heavy.” Gilda commented.

“Muscle weighs a lot.” Sunset said. “I’m sure she is stronger then both of us.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yeah. She is just nauseous and will be fine in a little bit.”

“Okay. Let’s not dwell on this. Applejack is not going to want us to wait for her. She want a big fuss. Let's move one.”

“So back to presents” Pinkie Pie asked cautiously.

“Yes.” Rainbow agreed.

Everyone returned to the circle but the atmosphere was gone. Twilight and Sunset sat next to each other where Applejack and Apple Bloom had been.

“Let’s not bother with the card choosing. Lets just go Fluttershy, Sunset and Twilight. And we’ll open Apple Bloom’s gifts when she gets back.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Okay.” Pinkie Pie handed Gilda and Rainbow Dash each a small rectangular package and a card on top.

“Did you get us books?” Rainbow Dash asked in a mock accusatory tone as she opened her card. Fluttershy was spaced out and didn’t notice. Pinkie Pie nudged her.

“What?” She asked and looked around.

“I was joking. Nice card.” the cards where photos mounted to a paper background.

“I took the pictures myself.” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow tore into the package and was not surprised when she found a book. “Icefall.”

“It has a lot of Norse mythology in it. I thought you might like it. You know if you ever ready anything besides Daring Doo...” Fluttershy said slyly.

“Okay Fluttershy” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.

“When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead*.” Gilda raid. “Never heard of it.”

“That book changed my life. I read it after… After I moved and it helped put things into perspective. I thought you might like it.” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Thank you. I will definitely read this.” Gilda said softly.

Gilda and Fluttershy locked eyes for a moment. Fluttershy looked away.

“Let me know what you think.”

“Will do.”

Pinkie Pie handed out Sunset and Twilight’s gifts.

“Rainbow. Open the smaller box first.”

Rainbow Dash did as she was told. “A coffee grinder!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She got up to hug them but Sunset held out a hand.

“Open up the other one first.”

Rainbow dash sat down with a confused expression. She tore at the other box. “Knife?” Rainbow Dash asked Gilda. Gilda obliged and Rainbow cut it open. Rainbow gasped. She launched herself at sunset. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you. Thank you so so much!”

“Of course! I order it in bulk to make it cheaper. I am find with sharing or splitting orders in the future.” Sunset said.

“Definitely!”

“Gilda opened up her card and found two gift cards. One for a sporting goods store and one for a clothes store.”

“We didn’t know what you wanted so we figured you could find something. We chose stores we a sure have a branch in the Crystal county mall.” Twilight explained.

“These are for a lot of money!” Gilda exclaimed.

Twilight blushed. “Well I am kind of rich.” she said slowly. She took her glasses off and cleaned them.

“Thanks.” there was an awkward pause. Apple Bloom and Applejack emerged from the bathroom.

Fluttershy rushed over. “How are you doing.”

“I am doing just fine.” applejack gave a soft smile. She sat on the couch.

Pinkie Pie handed out Apple Bloom’s presents.

Rainbow dash got a Daring Doo shield replica and Gilda got a signed Countess Coloratura CD.

Pinkie Pie dashed over to her party box and pulled out a record and record player. She plugged it in and set it to play. Huddle up by Applejack we are all going to sing this song together!” Pinky pie Shouted as the song started.

They sang to Lean on Me by Bill Waters and then Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold.*

After that they started cleaning up. Applejack tried several times to help but everyone insisted she stay put. Rainbow Dash stopped several people from doing the dishes. Finally the group managed to fit all of Pinkie Pie’s party editions were back in her box. Gilda and Applejack struggled to get it back to her trunk. The guest began filtering out the door.

Fluttershy tried to insist that she help Applejack get to the front seat of Pinkie Pie's car but Gilda stepped in intead. Applejack was fine.

Rainbow Dash hugs everyone goodbye.

Rainbow and Fluttershy leaded Fluttershy’s van with various boxes.

“Thank you so much for doing this Fluttershy. It really helps. If you manage to find a better arrangement to mail all this feel free to keep the change.” Rainbow handed Fluttershy a fat stack of cash. “Between you and me I am going to miss you most. You are my best friend and I love you… in a friend way.” Rainbow Dash said awkwardly.

“I love you two.” they hugged and Fluttershy started crying. “You guys are leaving! You and rarity and Pinkie Pie. You all are leaving me here!” Fluttershy cries and Rainbow tried to south her.

“Applejack is staying. And we’ll be back Fluttershy. We will all come back.”

“Okay.” Fluttershy took a deep breath.

“Do you need me to drive you?”

“Why? I can drive and that would be such a hassle for you and Gilda.”

“Because you may be distracted tonight. I want you to be safe.”

“But it’s my car! Nobody drives my car except me.” Fluttershy said while she dried her tears.

“Driving while over emotional is driving distracted. I have respond to lots of accidents where someone was or had been crying. Let us drive you home.” Gilda said.

“Okay.” Fluttershy said defeated.

Rainbow got into the driver's seat of Fluttershy’s van and Gilda got into Rainbow’s car. A minute after they left the driveway Fluttershy burst into tears again.

“I’m sorry Rainbow I am just going to miss you so much.”

“I’m going to miss you too.”

“You’ve been there for me through everything. You helped me with bullies and creepers. My whole life I have looked to you for guidance and now you are leaving! What am I going to do?” said through heavy tears.

“You are going to be strong on your own. You have it in you. Give yourself more credit. You have been strong for me when I needed it. You helped me see a counselor when you found out my parents were abusing me. I was going to give up in school and flunk out but believed that I was smart and you helped me see an occupational therapist and get me diagnosed and treated. You can be strong without me.”

Fluttershy cried quietly for the rest of the ride. Rainbow dash pulled into Fluttershy’s driveway. She took Fluttershy’s hand.

“Look at me.” Fluttershy looked up. “You’ll be fine. And I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy got out and hugged. “I’ll call you tomorrow night and you can call me any time. Except tomorrow because I’ll be driving!”

Gilda pulled up and parked on the street and got out. Rainbow Dash hopped into the driver's seat of her car and Gilda got into the passenger's seat.

“Nice parallel park job there Gilda” Rainbow commented as she pulled out.

“Just because I don’t have a car doesn't mean I can’t drive well!” Gilda said coldly.

“What up?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your tone. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just… I didn’t expect tonight to be so pleasant. I didn’t expect your friends to accept me so easily. I thought that Fluttershy would have told everyone what I did and no one would want me around.”

“As far as I know you me and Fluttershy are the only ones who know what happened. Also we have put it behind us. We have both forgiven you and each other and moved on.”

“She was pretty tense around me at lunch.”

“Well she isn’t perfect.”

Gilda sighed.

“Do you think applejack is going to be okay” Rainbow glanced at Gilda. “That was scary. I have never seen that happen to her.”

“You said she is really tough and athletic right?”

“Yeah.”

“Normally I would say someone like that is going to be fine, but normally people like that don’t faint like she did.”

“ Wait you think she will have long term problems!?” Rainbow glanced at Gilda again.

“From this? No. she is fine. She her reflexes are back and she has no lapse in memory.”

“But she through up.”

“Her body was just jarred.” Gilda said in a dull tone. “No I am more concerned this is going to happen again.”

“Why?”

“Something about her just felt off.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t know what to say. They were silent for the rest of the ride.

“Let me help you with the dishes.”

“Why?”

“Because I do not want you falling asleep behind the wheel tomorrow. Believe me I have seen how those little lapse can end.”

The sound of Applejack’s printer as it spat out a mailing label temporarily drowned out the sound of Big Macintosh’s snores distant. Applejack trimmed the excess paper and then taped the label to the appropriate box. She then moved the box into a ready pile with six other parcels. She stuffed them into her laundry bag and moved them to her closet.

Applejack reached deeper in her closet and pulled out an unopened bottle of her family’s strongest hard cider. She had just pulled the stopper out when she heard the cheap flip phone ring.

“I thought it was on silent!” She muttered as she rushed to her desk drawer to get it before someone woke up.

“Hello.”

“Hello.” Her boss said in his usual cold tone. “How is your arm?”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She said in an emotionless voice.

“Good. Have you done it yet.”

Applejack glanced back to the open draw and the bag of pills inside. She looked away and bit her lip. “Yes.”

“Good. You will be picked up at ten sharp tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.”

The line went dead. Applejack sighed and put the phone back and closed the draw.

She picked up the bottle again and drank it all.

Author's Notes:

* I love these two songs. I was listening to them while I wrote. I think they would make a good anthem for this story.

Anyway I hope you like this story. I will post more when I can. this story is no where close to being done.