This is the last part of this short story :) yeah. As always, the story must end. So let me know what you think. Enjoy!! This is a long chapter so I hope you don't mind :)

Hmmm.

Rainbow looked at her reflection, examining her outfit she had chosen. A light blue short sleeved shirt with a sparkles and jean shorts. Nah.

Rainbow adjusted her shirt, looking at the sparkles as they shimmered in the light. It was very interesting. Rainbow could be entertained for hours with this shirt. But it wasn't right for a party.

Rainbow slipped it off and hung it back up. She rummaged threw her closet for another shirt. She found a dark red and block flannel. Taking it off its hanger, Rainbow slipped it on. She looked herself in the mirror. It didn't go right on her. Flannel was not her style anyway.

Rainbow sighed and slipped it off. She hung it back up. She took off her shorts and put it away as well. Rainbow went through her closet some more. She came upon a summer dress she had no idea she had. It was the shade of Applejack's eyes. Rainbow examined it. Maybe she should try on a dress.

Rainbow bursted into a fit of giggles. Man, she cracked herself up sometimes. Her wear a dress. Never.

Rainbow threw the dress on her bed. It didn't belong in her closet. Too girly.

"Hey".

Rainbow turned around quickly hearing the voice. She covered her chest with her arms. She saw Applejack at the doorway. She blushed. Applejack had practically seen her naked while taking her a bath a million times by now. But Rainbow was still insecure about Applejack seeing her body like this.

Applejack grinned at her. "What's all this gigglin about??".

Applejack walked into Rainbow's room. Rainbow looked away, her body scrunched up.

"Oh uh I-I was just looking for something to wear and I found a dress in my closet. I thought about wearing it. Funny, huh??".

Rainbow forgot to laugh at it so it made it sound like she was being serious about it. Applejack giggled.

"You?. Wear a dress?? That'll be the day the world ends".

Rainbow's eyes widened.

"The world can end??!!".

Applejack's face fell. Oh yeah. Rainbow wasn't up to date on sayings and expressions and such. Applejack sometimes forgot Rainbow had the knowledge of an eight year old child when it came to stuff like that.

"Nono. It's just an expression".

Rainbow still looked confused and a little scared. Applejack sighed.

"Firget ah said anythin".

Applejack smiled. She looked up and down at Rainbow.

"Nice outfit ya got there".

Rainbow blushed again, but this time more redder than before. Rainbow covered herself up even more. Applejack chuckled.

"Ah'm just playin' with ya. C'mon. Lemme help ya out".

Applejack walked past her. She walked up to the closet of clothes. She dug through, looking at the articles of clothing. Rainbow watched, leaning against the wall.

Applejack picked out an outfit. Rainbow got bored and paced around the room on all fours. She busied herself with staring at her tail. What a fascinating tail she had. The colors were the same as her hair. Rainbow had a sudden urge to bite it.

Rainbow went to snap at it but it moved away. She tried again only to fail again. She kept at it, walking around in a circle. She went faster and faster until she was in a full out chase.

Applejack laid out the outfit on the bed and looked up. She looked over at Rainbow and laughed.

"Rainbow", she called.

Rainbow went to stop but tripped over herself. She fell to the floor.

"Ow!".

Rainbow laid there for a moment trying to recover from her moment. She shook her head quickly to shake herself out of her daze. She got up and looked at Applejack who was looking at her.

"C'mon", Applejack said. "There ya go. Get dressed".

Rainbow stood up. She walked over to the bed and looked at her outfit. A blue blue, baggy long sleeved shirt with a rainbow lightening bolt on it and a pair of skinny jeans. Ooh and a baby blue beanie. Rainbow looked at Applejack, smiling.

"You know me so well", she said.

Applejack wrapped an arm around her and gave a quick kiss on her temple.

"Get dressed. Don't firget ta put deodorant and lotion and all that. Ah'm gonna go shower real quick".

Rainbow nodded. Applejack walked out of the room, closing the door behind her, knowing Rainbow liked her privacy when getting dressed no matter who or how many people were in the house.

Rainbow sighed and looked at her outfit, hands on her hips.

"Not bad at all", she said to herself. "Let's just hope it's good enough for a party".
------------------------------

As soon as the group had gotten there, Rainbow was anxious. There were a lot of people there.

Her parents hugged her tightly just like they did at their surprise reunion a few days ago.

There were a ton of adults. They were dressed very nicely. Much like Rarity, they looked fancy and sophisticated.

Rainbow looked around the large home.

"So", Eden said. "I don't know if you remember all of them but they remember you. Come with me, ladies".

Eden and Lightning led the girls through the people.

They came to a grand carpeted staircase where there were many people. Eden took Rainbow's hand and led her up a few steps. She faced the crowd.

"Everyone", she called loud enough to call their attention.

Everyone was silent. Rainbow froze as she saw everyone look at her. Her heart began to beat faster. Her palms were sweaty. She forgot how is was to be no noticed by a crowd.

Eden smiled.

"Thank you so much for coming. We're here to celebrate the return of our dsughter, Rainbow".

Eden looked at Rainbow, smiling lovingly. Rainbow smiled nervously back at her mom. Eden looked back at the family members and friends.

"You all know how heartbroken me and Lightning were when she was taken away. For years we thought that she was gone. I.......".

Eden sighed. She looked at Rainbow. She placed a hand on Rainbow's shoulder, turning to face her.

"Having her back is the greatest gift that I could ever get. You don't have any idea how much I missed you".

Applejack had to bite her tongue.

Um what about Rainbow??. She was just as heartbroken and homesick. She was the one taken away.

Rainbow hugged her mom. Eden squeezed her.

"I love you so much, Dashie", she said.

"I love you too, Mommy", Rainbow replied quietly.

The two pulled away. Eden sighed, blinking back tears.

"But thanks to her friends, she's back home. Different, but still our Rainbow and we love her just the same".

Rainbow smiled.

"Now", Eden said. "Rainbow has been through a lot in the past few years. But she's not broken so don't be afraid to talk to her. Just be sensitive to her wishes. By look on her face when she arrived, she was not expecting this kind of crowd or party. So please I beg you not to overwhelm her with questions and stares if you see something out of the ordinary, especially be careful if yiu want to ask personal questions she may not want to answer".

Eden looked at Rainbow.

"Do you want to say something??".

Rainbow gulped. She looked out at the crowd. She felt her palms getting sweaty as she was gently nudged foward. She adjusted her beanie. She felt as if everyone could see her ears and tail.

Rainbow's hands fiddled. She cleared her throat.

"Uh hi", she said.

She looked at the people.

"I recognize alot of you. Cousins, um...... my uncle. My parents' friends. Um yeah".

Rainbow glanced over at Applejack who gave her an encouraging smile. Rainbow looked back at the adults.

"Um I'm not a person of many words when speaking in front of a crowd. I just wanted to say I'm thankful to have such amazing parents and friends and girlfriend. My friends and my girlfriend are the ones that saved me. If I hadn't been adopted by Applejack, I don't know where I'd be".

She looked at said girl. She smiled and waved. Applejack waved back.

Rainbow let out a shaky breath.

"The past few three years have been a crazy ride for me. But I really don't wanna talk about it tonight. I'm just here to be with them and my parents and see you all again. Enjoy the party".

Rainbow handed the microphone to her mom and put her shaking hands behind her back.

Her mom said some stuff and then the party started.
---------------------

"I can't believe you went through all that alone".

Rainbow shrugged. "It wasn't so bad".

Rainbow's aunt shook her head.

"You're a brave young lady".

Rainbow smiled. "Thank you. I couldn't have done it without my friends, honestly. They helped me get this brave I guess. Kinda helped me get out of my shell".

The woman gave her a kiss on her forehead and walked away.

Rainbow bit her lip. In a nervous habit, she played with her tail. Suddenly her sensitive ears picked up voices from a distance. She turned her head a slight to the left. She saw two ladies her mom were friends with. They were obviously whispering, looking at her. Rainbow managed to smile at them. The women smiled back.

Rainbow looked away. She bit her lip, feeling like they were obviously judging her. It made her insecure. She adjusted the beanie on her head.

Rainbow hadn't seen the girls for a while. She had been dragged away by her parents and left to talk to some relatives alone. Now she had to fend for herself.

Rainbow looked around. The room seemed so big. The people seemed big as well. The world hadn't seemed that big to her until that moment.

Everything was so different. Everything was fancy and sophisticated. Rainbow wasn't. She was simple. She didn't know what to do with the mansion or the expensive looking things around her or the elegant vibe in the room. Her mom is a celebrity for crying out loud.

Rainbow had spent half her life in houses that weren't her own, getting beaten on a daily basis. Then when Applejack showed up, the fanciest thing they've done was go out for lunch at restaurants. Even then it wasn't classy.

But this. This was a new level. She remembered having parties like this growing up, but she had grown accustomed to pizza nights and cuddles on the couch and quiet rooms and wearing sweats and tshirts.

Rainbow suddenly felt like she stood out in the crowd. She felt like a stranger in her own home. Rainbow looked down at her clothes.

Was she dressed properly for the party??. Was she underdressed??.

Rainbow's beanie was suddenly ripped off her head. Rainbow shot into a protective stance out of fear. She spun around, getting on all fours, growling.

She saw two of her older guy cousins standing there, Glide Wing and Weight Lift. They were older by like a year or two.

They were taken back by her reaction.
Rainbow relaxed. The two men looked at her up and down.

"Wow. She really is a freak".

Rainbow stood up on her feet. She crossed her arms.

"It wasn't my fault I'm part animal. I was forcefully experimented on by crazy scientists. Can I have my beanie back, please??".

Rainbow held out her hand. Glide smirked and held it out of reach. Rainbow took a step foward. The taller guys laughed.

"You can't be seventeen", Glide said. "You're so small. Shortstuff".

Rainbow bit her lip.

"Can you please just give me my beanie??", she asked.

The men looked at eachother, smirking. Glide tossed it up into the air. Rainbow looked up. She reached up to grab it, taking a step back. She suddenly collided with someone. Rainbow tripped and fell.

She fell to the polished floor. She looked up to see people staring at her.
"Watch it!!".

Rainbow looked up at see another older cousin, star, glaring at her. The woman looked just like her. She did not look happy.

"Oh its you", she said.
Rainbow stood up. She dusted herself off carefully. She straightened up and smiled at Star.

"Hey Star".

Star looked her over.

"What are you??. Some experiment??".

That stung. Deeply. Rainbow nodded.

"Actually, yeah I am".

Star's eyes widened a little. "Oh. I didn't know".

Rainbow shrugged. "Yeah. Kinda a shocker. I'm part wolf now".

Star placed a hand on her hip.

"Great", she said sarcastically. "We have a freak show in the family now"

Rainbow's smile fell. When did her family become so rude??.

"Well that's not a very nice thing to tell someone", Rainbow said. "That kinda really hurt".

Star rolled her eyes. "Oh boohoo. You'll live. Now go away you freak before people start to thing I wanna be associating with freaks".

Star turned her back to her friends. The women were eyeing Rainbow.

Rainbow was hurt by that. She turned and walked away. She didn't want to be here anymore. Where was Applejack??.

Rainbow looked around, walking past people. She tried to ignore the stares.
She should be use to it by now. But it was her family.

Rainbow suddenly spotted Applejack. Rainbow rushed over to her, trying not to look upset.

Applejack saw her. Rainbow walked right up to her and hugged her.

"I got lost", she said. "I was starting to panic".

Applejack frowned.

"Are you alright babe?".

Rainbow nodded. She decided to keep it bottled up until they got home.

"Yeah. I'm okay".

"Do you like the party??".

Rainbow nodded.

"It's different than what I'm use to but I'm trying to get use to it".

Applejack smiled.

"Hear the music??".

Rainbow listened. The song was one Applejack and her liked to dance to all time.

She smiled.

"Yay".

Applejack held her close. They started dancing, holding hands. Applejack spun Rainbow around. Rainbow giggled. She looked up at Applejack, smiling.

"This is funnest I've had all day. You make everything better".

Applejack laughed quietly and kissed her forehead. Rainbow laid her head lightly on Applejack's chest, smiling. She suddenly saw a couple staring at them. She looked at them and smiled. The couple gave her a dirty look.

Rainbow frowned. She looked away. She guessed they were homophobic or something.

Rainbow looked at Applejack. Applejack saw her face and frowned.

"You okay, babe??".

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah".

"Rainbow", she heard.

She turned away to see her parents walking towards them. She pulled on a smile.

"Are you enjoying the party??", Lightning asked the two.

Applejack nodded.

"It's different than what we're use to but we'll be okay", she said.

Rainbow squeezed her hand. Her parents looked at the two.

"You two are so cute together", she said. "A match made in heaven, as I like to put it".

Rainbow and Applejack smiled at eachother.

"So I came to talk to you girls about Rainbow moving back in".

Rainbow's smile fell.

"When do you think will be a good day to bring her stuff back here??", Eden asked. "We want her back home as soon as possible".

Applejack was taken back. "Oh uh. We didn't think about er leavin' our house. Whenever she's ready ah guess".

Rainbow's eyes widened in horror. She took a step back, looking at them.

"Wait what??".

She looked at Applejack.

"Move back home??. But I thought......".

Rainbow's heart picked up speed. Tears sprang into her eyes.

"If you wanted me gone you could've just gave me back to the shelter".

Rainbow looked at her parents.

"Rainbow", Applejack said. "Hold on a sec".

"I didn't know had to come back here".

Eden laughed lightly.

"Honey, this is your home. Don't you wanna come back?".

Rainbow slowly backed away, shaking her head.

"I-I can't. I......".

Rainbow suddenly broke into tears. She turned and ran the other way. Rainbow had to get out of this place. She squeezed past people, getting dirty looks from adults. Rainbow ran out of the room and down the hall. Her steps echoed in the more quieter hall. She headed downstairs and towards the front doors. She opened the large door and ran out, leaving it open.

Rainbow ran out onto the porch, the cool night air surrounding her. Rainbow felt the tears flow. Her life was tearing apart at the moment.

Suddenly a hand was over her mouth and an arm grabbed her. Rainbow screamed.

"Shut up".

Rainbow recognized that voice. She froze. She starting crying in fear.

"You won't get away from me this time", the familiar voice said.

Rainbow fought against him. His arm trapped her arms by her sides. He picked her up. Rainbow picked and struggled to no avail as he walked off the porch with her.

"Hey!!".

The man was grabbed. Rainbow was released. She turned around to see her father and uncle holding the man down. Rainbow gasped. It was in feasted her old master. The man that had kidnapped her twice.

Her father held the man's hands behind his back.

"You dare try to take my daughter again. Haven't you done enough damage".

"Rainbow!!".

Rainbow looked up to see her mom running towards her. She wrapped her arms around Rainbow when she got to her.

"Are you alright??. Did he hurt you??".

Rainbow shook her head.

"N-No".

"Go call the police", Lightning said to Rainbow's uncle, Strike.

Strike nodded. He got up and hurried back to the house.

"Rainbow".

Rainbow saw the girls running over to her. Rainbow ran towards Applejack. The two met up. Applejack wrapped her arms around her protectively.

"Are you alright??".

Rainbow shrugged. "I-I don't know. I think so. He was gonna take me again".

Applejack picked her up and held her like a child while Rainbow cried her fear away.

Rainbow clung to her. She heard sirens but didn't look up. She buried her tear stained face into Applejack's neck. She sniffled before crying all over again.

After a little while, a police officer came to ask her a few questions like what happened and if she knew who the man was and blah blah. Rainbow answered them and the officer made sure she wasn't hurt.

"I don't know how he escaped", the female officer said. "But he won't get away again".

Rainbow nodded. "Thank you".

After the police left, Rainbow looked towards the house. She saw that everyone had come outside to see what was going on.

Applejack looked at her. Rainbow still had tears running down her face.

"Rainbow. What happened in there??. Is it what chur folks were sayin??".

Rainbow was put down. Rainbow clung on to her. She nodded.

"Do you not want me anymore??. Did I do something bad??".

Applejack was shocked at the question.

"What??. No no no".

Applejack took her hands.

"Coarse not".

Rainbow sniffled.

"Then why do you want me to leave?".

"Rainbow", Applejack said. "Ah don't want cha ta move out. But this is yir home. Don't cha wanna go home with yir family??".

Rainbow started to cry all over again.

"I don't wanna leave you".

Rainbow squeezed her. Applejack hugged her.

"Please don't make me live here. I hate it here".

Applejack pulled away.

"What happened??", she asked.

"E-Everything is wrong", Rainbow said. "Everything is too big for me. I feel so small here and everyone doesn't like me. They stare at me and call me a freak and stuff. My cousins were being bullies. I got stared at alot. I don't like this family. I don't belong here. It's too much for me, AJ. Too much and too scary. I don't wanna be here".

Rainbow hugged her, her tears staining Applejack's shirt.

"I don't wanna leave you. I wanna stay with you. I'm already home with you and the others and I'm safe with you. You can protect me. You always do. I'll be scared without you here. I need you to protect me. What if I get taken again??. You won't won't be there to save me. I don't wanna stay here. Please don't make live here. Please. I'll be good. I promise. I just wanna go home with you".

Applejack held her as she cried.

"Rainbow", she said. "Why didn't cha tell us you hate it here so much??".

She looked up to see Rainbow's parents standing there, heartbroken looks on their faces at seeing Rainbow cry like this.

Rainbow shook her head.

"I d-didn't want to hurt my parents' feelings. I don't want to upset them. I want to be with them. I do. But this is too much to handle. I can't do this anymore".

Rainbow clutched her shirt, leaning on Applejack.

"Does that make me bad??".

Applejack shook her head.

"Of course it don't. Ah understand completely. C'mon now. Don't cry. It's okay".

"Don't make me live here", Rainbow said, sniffling. "I wanna stay with you. I need you around".

Applejack picked her up. She rocked her gently.

"Ah won't make ya".

"Rainbow??. Darling??".

Rainbow lifted her head. She looked at her parents. She looked away, her eyes down.

The two adults walked up to the couple.

"Why didn't you say something??. We were standing around deciding something that affected you. You should have told us you didn't want to move back home".

Rainbow sighed. She wiped her tears away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to upset anyone. I just........".

Rainbow tapped Applejack's arm to put her down. Rainbow took a few steps away. She looked at her parents.

"This party was horrible for me. I got bullied and people were staring at me like I was the circus. People were talking about me and calling me names".

"Why didn't you say something??", Eden asked.

"We would've put a stop to it right away".

Rainbow shrugged. "I didn't want to seem like a tattle tail baby or something. I thought it would ruin stuff. I don't know. I thought I could handle it".

She folded her arms over her stomach.

"I mean..... I do want to live with you. I really do. But then we have all mean people in the family. They think I'm a freak. I wanna live here but I can't. I wanna stay with Applejack where they accept me how I am. I know them".

She paused. "Of course I know you guys too. You're my family. I've been dreaming of seeing you guys again and being with you again and going back to how we were before. But it's all just too much for. The fancy stuff, the people, the parties, the celebrity stuff. I like the freedom of me and Applejack's house. It's a nice comfy house that I can be who I am without getting judged by anyone. I've lived there only for a year or two but it was the best time of my live".

Rainbow looked at Applejack.

"She saved me from slavery and took me in. She loved me when I was sure no one could love me. Applejack became a friend and then my first crush and then my first girlfriend.
She's saved my life more than once and took care of me and protected me. She helped me not to be afraid to trust humans and that I can still be loved even though I'm a neko now".

Rainbow bit her lip.

"Don't get me wrong. I love her and my friends. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings".

Rainbow looked between Applejack and her parents.

"I'm so confused!!", she said.

Applejack smiled kindly.

"What does yir heart tell you??".

Rainbow looked at her. She was quiet. Rainbow ran up to Applejack and hugged her.

You you you you. I wanna stay with you".

Applejack wrapped her arms around her waist.

"If that's what you want, then that's all that matters".

Rainbow smiled. She looked up at her. She suddenly frowned. She looked at her parents.

"I'm sorry".

"Why are you sorry??", Eden asked. "It's your decision. You're following your heart. That's the best way to make a decision like this".

Eden walked up to Rainbow. She knelt down and looked at her.

"No matter what, you'll always be our Rainbow. Remember that. It's okay that you chose Applejack. I understand. I had a feeling all this would overwhelm you. After everything you've been through, Applejack was the one who protected you and such. She's your guardian angel and you love eachother. You're safe and happy. That's all we want for you to be".

Rainbow sniffled. "Thanks, Mommy".

Eden kissed her forehead.

"We love you".

"I love you too", Rainbow replied.

She looked at Applejack and the girls. She walked up to Applejack and hugged her. Applejack rubbed her back gently.

"Ah think it's time we get home".

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah", she said. "Home".

Applejack picked her up.

"I have an idea", Twilight spoke up.
They all looked at her.

"Why don't we have Rainbow live with Applejack but stay some weekends here. Applejack can come too if Rainbow doesn't want to be by herself".

Eden and Lightning looked at eachother. They looked at Rainbow Dash.

"What do you think, Rainbow?", Rainbow's dad asked. "You can visit and stay the night whenever you want. This is still your home. You have two now".

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah. If Applejack can come too".

"Of course", Lightning said. "She's family too now and so are your friends. They're welcome too".

Rainbow and Applejack smiled at eachother.

"Wanna go home now??", Applejack asked.

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah".
----------------

With the leftover cake and some food, the girls went back home. They decided that they should have a sleep over.

As soon as they got home, they changed into pjs. They got out the popcorn and the candy and a movie.

They put it on and settled in the living room. Rainbow cuddled up to Applejack who had an arm around her.

Rainbow smiled.

She thought back to the events earlier. She thought about what her mom said.

Two homes.

Rainbow smiled. She was glad that her parents still wanted her around after her confession. She was glad that she could stay with Applejack.

Rainbow looked around at her friends.

Ever since she was taken as a child, she dreamed of the day she'd be able to go back home with her family, safe and sound. But looking around, she realized something.

This is where she belonged. With her friends. With Applejack. Free to be herself with the ones she loved.

She had been home all along and she didn't plan on leaving anytime soon.

THE END

So I hope you all enjoyed this. I did. Comment what you think. Tomorow I have a surprise for you all for the one shot I have planned for tomorrow ;)
See you guys in the next update!!

-Meka