Enjoy :)

Apparently, Rainbow likes fetch. Applejack smiled as she tossed the chew toy across the yard, watching Rainbow go after it on all fours, hurrying to retrieve the toy, limping a little because of her ankle. At first Rainbow had just simply watched Applejack toss the chew toy around. Applejack noticed her staring at the toy the whole time, interest and excitement and want in her eyes. It was almost cute and funny. Applejack then asked Rainbow if she wanted to play. At first, Rainbow was very shy and hesitant, declining the offer politely. Then, Applejack squeezed the toy. It squeaked. Rainbow was hooked. Applejack tossed the toy across the backyard, telling Rainbow, "Go on. Go get it." Then Rainbow gave in and hurried to get it. Applejack told her to be careful with her ankle. Now the two were playing fetch like a normal owner and her dog.

Rainbow picked up the toy in her mouth. She turned back and went up to Applejack. She stood up on her feet, proud of herself. Applejack took the toy from her. She gave her a scratch behind the ears.

"Good girl." She praised.

Rainbow leaned into the touch, her tail wagging happily. Applejack couldn't get over the fact how much like a dog this girl was. It was a little weird. But Applejack found Rainbow very cute.

Rainbow opened her eyes and smiled at Applejack. Suddenly Rainbow's smile was gone. She was looking at something behind Applejack. Applejack noticed. She looked over her shoulder. She saw Fluttershy and their other friends from school, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie. The girls had come in through the fence gate. They were standing there, shocked and confused looks on their faces, except Fluttershy.

"Hey, gals." Applejack greeted. "What are you doin' here? You didn't tell me you was comin' over."

The girls walked up to Applejack and Rainbow. Rainbow held on to Applejack's arm as if on instinct. Applejack tried to keep the blush off her face. She looked at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was hiding behind her, her face hidden in Applejack's shirt. She looked up at Applejack and whimpered.

"Why are there people here?" She asked.

Applejack smiled.

"It's ok, Rainbow. They're mah friends. Ah promise they're super nice. They won't hurt us. Look, there's Fluttershy."

Rainbow peeked our from behind Applejack. She watched the strangers walk towards them. She felt a warm hand take one of hers. Rainbow glanced at her hand. Applejack was holding it, rubbing her thumb over the back of her hand.

"It's alright." Applejack said.

Rainbow had no idea why, but Applejack's words comforted her. She felt safe with the human girl. Rainbow felt the confidence to stand beside her. The girls were standing in front of them, looking at her in awe.

"Wow."

They all were intrigued and in shock by Rainbow Dash. Rainbow blushed, looking at the ground. Applejack recognized her uncomfortableness. She looked back at her friends.

"What're you guys doin' here?" She asked.

"We heard about Rainbow Dash." Twilight replied. "and we wanted to meet her."

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash.

"Well, here she is. You wanna say hi to the girls, Rainbow?"

Rainbow shook her head.

"That's ok." Sunset spoke up. "We understand you probably don't like strangers, huh? That's alright. Whatever makes you comfortable. Applejack told us you don't have anything since you were homeless."

Rainbow nodded, not looking at her. She looked away, ashamed. Applejack noticed.

"Rainbow." She said, getting Rainbow to look at her. "You don't have ta be ashamed. Ah don't know your story or that much about chu, but ah do know that we won't judge you or think less of you because you were homeless. You're just down on your luck. It happens. Just know that we care about you and we're here for you."

Rainbow looked up at her. She blushed and looked away.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

"Darling." Rarity spoke up. "Fluttershy told me about the state of your wardrobe. I propose that we take you shopping and buy you some clothes."

Rainbow stared at her. She hesitated. She looked at Applejack.

"Really? New clothes?" She said, the tone of her voice hopeful.

Applejack nodded. "Yeah. New things. We'll go to the mall together. Ok?"

Rainbow nodded.

Rarity clapped excitedly.

"Ooh just leave it to me."
———————————————-

Rainbow Dash looked around. Hundreds of people walking, sitting, talking. People in groups, in pairs or alone. Families with kids. It was all so much.

"Wow." She said, her eyes wide with wonder.

Applejack watched her with a smile. She looked to Rarity. The mall was Rarity's second home. She lived and breathed shopping and fashion.

"So, where to?" She asked.

Rarity crossed her arms, thinking. Then her face lit up. She grabbed Rainbow's hand. She dragged her away from the group. Rainbow whimpered loudly, not enjoying being pulled away like that, especially because of her injured ankle. Rainbow looked back at Applejack, who was following with the rest of the girls. Rainbow reached out a grabby hand to Applejack. Applejack walked faster. She walked beside Rainbow Dash.

"You're alright." She said, taking her by the hand. "Rarity. Hold up a second."

Rarity stopped immediately.

"Oops."

She looked at Rainbow Dash.

"I'm so sorry, darling. I didn't realize how insensitive that was."

Rainbow held on to Applejack's arm silently. She shrugged. The girls looked at each other. Applejack figured the cause for Rainbow's lack of a verbal response was due to nerves. She placed a reassuring hand on top of Rainbow's.
Rainbow glanced up at her. She looked smaller in that moment. Applejack felt the intense need to make sure she felt safe. She felt responsible for Rainbow.

"'Ah'm right here, RD. Ah won't let cha go alone with Rarity if you don't want to."

"Of course." Rarity spoke up, getting their attention. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, Rainbow Dash. If you want Applejack to come along, she can."

Rainbow said nothing, and just looked down at the floor. The girls followed Rarity to a clothing store. They stopped at the entrance, all the girls looking at Rainbow Dash to see her reaction. Rainbow looked around the store, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"First off." Rarity said, turning to look at Rainbow.

She eyed Rainbow, arms crossed. Rainbow felt uncomfortable with the staring. She looked away.

"Aha!" Rarity snapped her finger. "I know just your style. You're sporty, casual and I know just the area I think you'll love. Follow me, girls."

Rarity followed the group to an area of the store. Rainbow looked around, her ears raising in interest. Track clothes, basketball shorts, Capris, jeans, t-shirts. Rarity watched in satisfaction.

Rainbow dragged Applejack further into the boyish clothes section. Applejack wasn't bothered by it. The other girls noticed. Sunset smiled, a hand on her hip.

"I think Rainbow really likes AJ."

The girls agreed.

"How long do you think Rainbow's gonna stay?" Pinkie asked.

"I hope for a while." Fluttershy answered. "After all, she doesn't have anywhere else to go."

"Hey, I just realized something." Twilight said.

"What?" Sunset said.

"How was Rainbow made? Through a lab or what?"

Good question. What was Rainbow's origin? Where was she from? She wasn't always homeless. She must've had a home beforehand.

"I guess we'll just have to ask." Pinkie suggested.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Sunset said. "I mean, she barely knows any of us. Why would she tell strangers her life story so soon? Let's wait for a few more days so she's use to us being around and then we'll ask, unless she decides to tell us sooner."

They all agreed. They'd wait. Their curiosity was stirring, but they'd wait.

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