Rainbow Dash flew below the cloud cover and simply scanned the ground on her way to Sweet Apple Acres. On her way, she saw a familiar pink colored pony and decided it was best to make amends for scaring Pinkie Pie the first day. Rainbow Dash brought her wings to her side and went into a nose-first dive. She tucked her hooves into her body and let her momentum take her where she wanted to go. At first, she wanted to pull up out of instinct, but decided against it to test out her Terrarian abilities to not have fall damage when hitting the ground since she has wings. Of course she was born with them and she was unsure whether or not that counted.

Regardless she slammed down onto the ground in front of Pinkie softer than she expected, and no bones were broken. She quickly regained her composure and smiled at the pink mare in front of her as Pinkie's mouth seemed to hang loose for the moment. Rainbow chose to break the ice first, rather than let Pinkie assume anything undesirable.

“Hey Pinkie. We kinda got off to a rough start and I wanted to get to know you better.” Rainbow stated calmly.

“Oh. Uh well I-I guess that’s ok.” Pinkie rubbed her right arm with her left hoof while avoiding eye contact and looking uncomfortable.

Rainbow saw this and frowned. “Hey, I’m sorry about earlier. I really needed to know more about this world before I confronted Celestia, and the only way to do that is impersonate myself. I thought I’d be really good at it, but it turns out myself really isn’t… myself.” she admitted sheepishly. “I’d really like it if you’d forgive me, and I’m willing to do anything to prove I’m sorry.”

“Ok…” Pinkie replied simply and still didn’t look at Rainbow. “…I want you to apologize to me for scaring me.” Pinkie said teary eyed.

Rainbow looked hurt when Pinkie said that, she even felt hurt that she was the cause for Pinkie’s fear. She never intended to ever hurt her friends, whether it be on purpose or on accident.

“I-…Pinkie I’m sorry I scared you.” Rainbow drooped her ears down along with her head. “I-I really wanted to know as much as I could about Twilight’s disappearance, a-and I went overboard… I never intended to hurt you Pinkie.” Rainbow said sincerely and looked at Pinkie with sad eyes. Hers now held sympathy for the rainbow Pegasus. “I really TRULY feel terrible that I scared you, Pinkie.” Rainbow looked up and held her hoof out toward Pinkie. “Will you forgive me and be my friend?” Rainbow timidly asked.

Pinkie looked at Rainbow’s hoof and at Rainbow’s sincere face and she smiled a big smile that Rainbow missed in her pink friend. Pinkie grabbed Rainbow’s hoof and slowly shook up and down. “Apology accepted… friend.” came Pinkie's reply, with no excitement in her voice. Or at least the lack of the excitement that Rainbow was used to.

“Say, you’re good at throwing parties right Pinks?” smirked Rainbow Dash.

“Yeppers.” Pinkie responded happily, but still did not display her normal overly energetic excitement.

“You think you’re going to throw me a surprise party for being new to-… well this Ponyville?” Rainbow asked with a sly smile.

“Uh...” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin and comically stuck her tongue out. “No.” she answered simply with a smile.

“Huh?” Rainbow asked, surprised. “Why not?”

“Well, you’re not moving in. Unless you changed your mind, that is.” Pinkie stated mischievously.

“Oh, no no no no no.” Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. “I’m going to be leaving soon, but I wanted to make sure I met all my friends…” Rainbow’s ears drooped and a frown dawned on her face, which contagiously spread to Pinkie. “Well…” Rainbow started hesitantly. “I guess you guys aren’t MY friends… but you’re a lot like them. My Pinkie Pie was a lot more hyper, and you’re a lot more calm.” Rainbow smiled. “You guys are like totally new ponies, that look similar to ones I already know and it really confuses me at times. I want to be your friend and I always think of the girls as my friends even though I don’t… I don’t actually know any of you at all.” she hesitated with a sad expression.

“Awwwww... Dashie.” Pinkie approached Rainbow and Rainbow sat down on her haunches and didn’t know how to respond.

Pinkie wrapped her hooves around Rainbow’s chest and buried her face into her coat. Rainbow responded by returning the hug and nuzzling Pinkie’s mane.

“T-thank you Pinkie.” stuttered Rainbow. “Even a different you knows what’s best." she warmly added.

“Anytime Rainbow. Although you aren’t really my Rainbow, it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t love you any less.” she pulled back from the hug and gave Rainbow a warm smile.

“Thanks… oh, and if you do get asked who I am, tell them I’m Rainbow’s twin sister. We have that as the cover story.” Rainbow winked at Pinkie.

“I’ll tell the others when I can.” Pinkie replied happily.

“Thanks Pinks. You don’t mind if I call you Pinks, right?” Rainbow asked sheepishly.

“Nopey dopey! But can we talk later? I need to talk to get Fluttershy so we can go see Twilight in the hospital.” Pinkie tackled Rainbow into a hug, but considering her size she didn’t go anywhere. “Thanks for bringing her back to us.” stated a teary-eyed Pinkie.

“Any time.” responded Rainbow giving her a one hoof hug before they broke away. “I’m heading over to Applejack’s to see how different she is from my memory.”

“Bye Rainbow!”

“Oh, call me Big because that’s also my cover name.” added Rainbow.

“Sure, think Big. La la la la laa.” Pinkie sang as she hopped happily away.

Rainbow turned to the sky once again and headed in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. She decided detours wouldn’t be necessary because of how little time she had left. She looked straight ahead and saw the farm land in the distance and hightailed it there. Wind blew through her mane as she soared above the small town and over trees and ponies alike. Her speed was unmatchable by anypony as she formed a mach cone, but never broke it; she knew she could easily break it but decided to not push her body to an unnecessary speed.

She was now over Sweet Apple Acres and slowed to a hover, to listen for the tell-tale sounds of Apple bucking.

*THWACK*

She heard the sound as distance muffled the noise of the buck. She was able to pinpoint a general location and she flew toward it. A few seconds later, another crack reached her ears.

*THWACK!*

This one was louder and literally bellow her. She looked down to see the Stetson-wearing pony under the shade of the tree. Buckets full of apples beside her along with a half filled wagon of buckets of apples. Some buckets were stacked on top of each other near the front and they weren’t sporting any apples inside. Rainbow did a still dive and pulled her wings close to her to fall down toward the apple pony.

Rainbow landed with a quiet thud as the dirt around her absorbed the kinetic energy of her fall. Applejack was placing the last bucket into position bellow the next tree and hadn’t noticed Rainbow yet.

“Need help Applejack?” asked Rainbow.

“Ah didn’t make yah out to be ah farm pony Rain-” Applejack turned around and her eyes landed on the pony that was now in front of her. “-bow.” she finished quietly with a wide eyed expression. It wasn’t an awed expression, but more to show her surprise.

“Nah, I’m no farm pony, but I’ll give ya a hoof.” replied Rainbow Dash with a smile.

“Y-you.” started Applejack, and Rainbow got a hint of worry for a moment. “You brought back Twilight!” she exclaimed with a thankful smile.

“Yeah, I did, didn’t I? I’m here to get to know you. I want to get used to the idea that ponies are different in other places, so I thought I’d study my friends first.” Rainbow responded, happy with how AJ seemed to react.

“That’d make sense, ah suppose.” Applejack put her hoof to her chin thoughtfully looking away and then looking right back at Rainbow.

“Although I’d like you to call me Big for now, because I’m trying to blend in. I’m acting as Rainbow’s sister.” stated Rainbow.

“Ah gotcha. So Big, why’d ya’ll come to this world in the first place? Pinkie said ya’ll were lookin' for the princess ‘er somethin,’ when ya first came here.” asked Applejack seemingly forgetting her apple bucking.

“I was looking for Twilight’s grave, so I could revive her.” Rainbow lied like an expert.

Applejack’s smile turned into a scowl. “Lie.” she flatly stated.

Rainbow was taken aback by her friend's sudden mood change. “W-what? Why would I lie?”

“Ah don’t rightly know why, but ah could tell that was a lie.” Applejack pointed an accusatory hoof at Rainbow.

“Oh shit. RAINBOW!” shouted Puppet Master in her mind. “This Applejack actively uses her Element of Honesty to detect lies! Tell her half-truths and full truths to get her to believe we aren’t here to harm anypony!”

“All right then.” Rainbow huffed. “My real purpose here is not to revive Twilight. I’m here to learn more about alternate universes and being able to deal with them, without freaking out or something. I discovered Twilight was dead or something and I decided to revive her while I’m here to gain more trust and be able to ask whatever I want without too many unwanted questions. Happy?” deadpanned Rainbow Dash.

“Ah know ya’ll were tellin’ tha truth fer some of that, but when yah got to Twilight…” Applejack paused and worry was the dominant expression on her face. “Ya’ll were lyin.'”

“Careful, Rainbow Dash. You just gave you more information you needed to. You even almost blew the conspiracy that Celestia put into place. Remember, all you need to tell someone is what you want them to think. You need to give them enough information to trust you, but hold back enough so that you can adjust your story to keep yourself out of trouble.”

“Applejack, I need you to not ask about that.” Rainbow started, with a worried expression of her own.

“Why not?” Applejack asked angrily.

“Oh wow, Applejack is easily angered here.” thought Rainbow.

“Because I don’t want to tell you the truth!” reasoned Rainbow seriously.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “T-that was the truth… Rainbow, Ah want ya’ll to tell me now… is what yer doin’ goin’ to harm anypony?” Applejack asked warily.

“No… no it’s not.” answered Rainbow.

Applejack nodded her head. “Good. Ah’d like to know more, but if it ain’t hurtin' anypony, then Ah’m ok wit’ it.” Applejack’s smile didn’t return.

Rainbow shifted uncomfortably where she stood and asked. “Need help?”

Applejack smiled briefly. “Sure thing, Big.” then her smile faltered and she bucked the tree.

*THWACK*

The sound was louder when she was right next to it, but she expected the sound because she’s heard it so many times by now. Rainbow took a bucket and helped Applejack haul the buckets back to the wagon and replaced empty buckets with filled ones. After a minute or so of working Applejack decided to start up a conversation while they were putting another load in the wagon.

“Ya’ll are better at this then Ah thought. Mah Rainbow wouldn’t so much as go near mah trees, let alone buck em.”

“Seriously?!” Rainbow exasperated. “You need to straighten her out. I’m not going to be around all the time, but she needs to seriously be a Pegasus.”

“An what does bein’ a Pegasus entail?” inquired Applejack as she was loading up the last of the buckets and moving to the front of the wagon.

“It means being loyal to the sky! Enjoying the wind on your face and the feel of flight.” Rainbow replied passionately while struggling to get the harness on.

Applejack moved to her side and raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Ah’ll pull the wagon.”

“No, I need this for the lack of exercise I’m getting.” responded Rainbow.

“Fair enough. So why does mah Rainbow Dash need to be like a Pegasus?” Applejack asked, helping Rainbow with the harness.

“Because we both belong to the sky. Even though I lived in Ponyville I lived in a house that was made from Cloudsdale that I brought here. It’s the current weather HQ building, in Ponyville.” the harness was now tightly secured to Rainbow.

“And yer good to go… Ya’ll actually live in that big ol' cloud buildin’?”

“Eyup.” replied Rainbow proudly. “And from there I have a good view of Ponyville. It’s really comfortable there too.” Rainbow started pulling the wagon to the barn.

“Yah know, that severely limits the amount of stallions yah can date, right?” Applejack nudged Rainbow’s side with a smirk.

“Hey, I fly solo.” smirked Rainbow Dash.

Applejack frowned at that. “What yah mean, ya’ll fly solo? Yah tellin’ me ya don’t want nopony in yer life?!” exasperated Applejack in shock.

“Hey, I have enough friends. And I haven’t met any cool enough stallions to go out with yet. You know, ones fast enough to keep up with me?” Rainbow reasoned.

“…Ya’ll ‘er lyin’.” smirked Applejack slyly.

“Ugh this again.” Puppet Master deadpanned in Rainbow’s head.

Rainbow felt sadness in her heart when Puppet Master said that and he noticed.

“A-…sorry Rainbow. You’re a great girl, but we’re a little restricted at the moment.”

Rainbow looked away from Applejack with a small frown on her face.

“Ya’ll found a pony?”

“No…” Rainbow admitted dryly.

Applejack was confused because she was telling the truth and she was lying about her disinterest in a certain stallion. Applejack had to think about it before finally figuring it out and she took a sharp inhale of breath. Rainbow stopped because the wagon bumped into Applejacks rump and she stumbled forward a little.

“Y-ya’ll ‘er in love with somethin’ different than a pony?” Applejack looked at her shocked. “W-well what species girl?” she asked excitedly. “Come on girl, don’t leave me guessin’!” Applejack exclaimed with a grin.

Rainbow looked down for a moment but then looked straight ahead and simply stated, “Terrarian.”

Applejack found the truth of that statement and frowned. “Ah don’t know what that is.”

“I didn’t think you would… but he’s nice enough to take me in when I needed him. He’s been there for me when I did something wrong, and he gave me strength. Metaphorically and literally.” Rainbow chuckled light heartedly.

“He sounds mighty special to yah.” reassured Applejack.

“Y-yeah… he’s the guy who’s responsible for me meeting you. We never would have met if he didn’t do the things he did, and I’m happy he did them. He caused a lot of trouble and really annoyed both Celestia AND Luna.” she chuckled again. “But in the end, he did it all for the greater good even though what he did was pretty selfish.”

“Selfish?” asked Applejack.

“Yeah, he did it all to give himself power and make himself bigger than when he started out. In the few months I’ve known him, we’ve become great friends and he got his own kingdom and diplomatic statues. He went from something new, to my friend, to a leader of a new nation…” Rainbow smiled and a good feeling that Puppet Master couldn’t identify earlier rose up into her heart. “…My king.”

Applejack’s jaw fell. “Y-yer king? What’s his name?” asked Applejack.

“Puppet Master. And his name tells more about him than you’d think. He considers himself a puppet to powerful beings, but he is the master of many other ponies and creatures. And I would rather him think he’s an all-powerful being himself. He knows when he should get into a fight and when not to.” she looked at Applejack with a smile and stopped walking. “He made Celestia really mad at one point.”

“Golly.”

“And then he calmed her down with reason and his way with words. He even trusted me with some of the most dangerous secrets, of his because of our friendship. Although I think he took the knowledge away because he feared that I might tell somepony. But he still gave me them at one point, so he trusts his life in my hooves.” Rainbow started walking again.

“You know about that? Rainbow I’m sorry… I’ll give them back to you if you want.” Puppet Master admitted solemnly in her mind.

“No… I’ll ask about them later, but for now, no.”

“Wow Rainbow. I mean Big. That’s a really great story. And what’s more interestin’ is that all of its true…” Applejack watched the ground pass by for a while. “Ah’ll never tell a soul about it. I Pinkie promise.” Applejack noticed where they were. “Hey we’re here.”

“Huh? So we are.” Rainbow stated with a lighter heart.

“Ah’ll open the barn.”

Applejack walked over to the barn doors and opened them up. She pushed aside each one so that Rainbow could pull it through and place it into the barn. Rainbow pulled the wagon into the middle of the barn, freed herself from her harness and walked around the wagon and out of the barn to a waiting Applejack.

“Ah appreciate the help, Sugarcube. 'Scuse me a moment. Wait right here.” Applejack trotted briskly toward the barn house and disappeared inside. A few minutes later she came out with a bag of bits and trotted happily over to Rainbow Dash.

“Uh, AJ I can’t take that.” Rainbow stuttered modestly.

“Nope! Ya’ll better take it, ‘er Ah’m gunna hunt yah down and staple it to yah!” Applejack protested.

“B-but I’m not going to be in Equestria all that often a-and-” Rainbow was silenced with a hoof in her mouth by Applejack.

“Ya’ll had better shut yer trap and take the bits. Yah did a good job today and Ah think yer gunna need it eventually when yah head on over to another world or somethin’.” She tossed the bits at Rainbow Dash and the bag inexplicably disappeared. “The hay?”

“Oh umm, that’s an ability I have. I can collect coins, I think.” Rainbow Dash reasoned.

“Well all right. But yah better get to Puppet Master and tell him ‘bout yer feelins.” demanded Applejack.

“Hehehe.” Rainbow chuckled. “I already have.” She smiled.

Applejack was taken back. “What?! D-did he break yer heart Sugarcube?” she inquired worriedly.

“No… he took it, and offered his own.” Rainbow smiled softly.

“Even though I had none to give back to you.”

“That’s sweet Sugarcube. What you two doing now?” asked Applejack.

“Well.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “This actually.” she smiled.

“Ah understand… ya’ll rut ‘im right?” Applejack stated, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“NO! NO NO NO NO!” Rainbow shouted in protest.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yer funny, Sugarcube. Good luck wit yer stallion!” Applejack started smiling.

“Fine… I’ve got to meet Rarity now. See ya.” Rainbow shot off into the air before Applejack could respond.

Rainbow turned around and saw Applejack waving her off as she and the barn shrank in size. Rainbow gave one last wave and shot ahead towards Rarity’s boutique. Rainbow felt confidence soar as she went closer and closer to Rarity’s. But her mind was stuck on the conversation of Puppet Master. She indeed like Puppet Master as a friend and he was a great guy to date. But he was also another creature all together and they didn’t share the same body type. They looked nothing like each other, but they mixed together so well.

If only life was similar than this it could work. Maybe there was a way for Puppet Master to make it so they were no longer ignorant of each other’s bodies and be able to find each other attractive enough to actually have a relationship that wasn’t fueled by nostalgia for each other.

“Puppet Master?” asked Rainbow in her mind.

“Yes, Rainbow?”

“Do you love me?”

“With all the heart that I don’t have.”

“I can’t tell if that was a yes or a no…”

“…I’m sorry Rainbow, I can’t find beauty in you. But I do want us to be more than friends. You’re the only girl that I know that I’d be happy with for the rest of my life. Hell, even a calmer Pinkie Pie may be easier, but then I’d have to stop going on adventures. You and me are like a pair of socks. We don’t work correctly without each other.”

“I hope you’re not saying that, to make me feel better.” Rainbow stated solemnly.

“Rainbow, I can lie to you and you’d never even know it. But this I can’t lie to you about. I wish we could be more. In fact, I can make it so that we are. But we aren’t and if we were to force ourselves to love each other then it will be would be living the lie.”

“I guess we’ll have to learn to accept each other’s differences at one point, then.”

“Yeah… we will.”

Rainbow almost missed the Boutique and when she saw it, she went into a dive. Only this time she didn’t pull her wings in close for it but kept them spread so she can control where she was going. She leveled out after getting ten feet above the ground and glided down to Rarity’s front door. Rainbow raised a hoof and started knocking on the door briskly.

“Cooooomiiiiiiiiiiing~.” There were hoof steps coming toward the door and when it opened Rainbow came face to face with Rarity. “Oh Rainbow Dash so glad to-” she noticed how different the Rainbow in front of her was to her Rainbow. Mainly their size difference, and the fact she had to look up when talking to her. “-oh wait… you’re the one who brought Twilight back to us.” she stated lovingly. “I-I, thank you for that.” she opened the door all the way, to allow Rainbow inside.

“You’re welcome, Rarity. I’m actually here for a few dresses.” said Rainbow as she walked into the boutique and looked around.

“Really? What for?” Rarity asked curiously.

“I may need to remain inconspicuous in some worlds, and I’d rather not be walking around looking exactly like Rainbow Dash you know?” Rainbow replied simply.

“Oh OH! I get it. You don’t want to repeat what happened with Pinkie.” Rarity caught on, scrunching her nose. “Yes, I believe that I-”

“Who’s downstairs?” inquired an oddly familiar voice from one floor up.

“Spike! You must come down here and meet the other Rainbow!” Rarity shouted upstairs.

The pitter-patter of feet on a wood floor found its way to Rainbow's ears and its intensity grew louder and louder until those feet came into view. Soon Rainbow as able to see Spike, Twilight’s dragon assistant come down the steps and upon seeing her had wide eyes.

“Whooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaa. You’re the Rainbow that revived Twilight?” he asked in awe.

“Heck yeah I am.” Rainbow boasted. “I’m Rainbow Dash. But call me Big. I’m posing to be Rainbow’s sister and-”

“Yes yes, we know.” interrupted Rarity. “Pinkie was here earlier and explained it to us. So you wanted dresses to keep your mane and tail out of sight?”

“Yeah, and anything to keep me from being recognized by any of my friends when I go places. I’d rather not stick out all that much, if I could help it.” Rainbow then sheepishly rubbed the back of her head with her right hoof. “Um, I may not have enough bits to pay for it though.” Rainbow admitted.

“Oh nonsense, you’ve brought back our friend! It’d be horrid of me to let you leave without a free dress.” Rarity exclaimed with a big smile.

“O-oh uh, thanks Rarity. I would turn down your offer, but I REALLY need this.” Rainbow sheepishly admitted, with a small and grateful smile.

“Not at all darling! Now hold still, while I take your measurements.” Rarity ordered, lifting up a tape measure with her magic.