Morning dawned bright and early on Applejack's farm, the crying of the rooster echoed through the house and across the many apple orchards. the smell of cooking oats and coffee roused Applejack from her sleep with a start as she tried to recall the events of last night with a groan . . . Rainbow Dash! her eyes snapped open with glee as she hurried from her bed and down the stairs of the old home place to see Rainbow Dash puttering around the kitchen cooking them both some breakfast. "Morning Sugar cube!" she chirped happily as the events of last night played in her mind "We all set for Fluttershy coming by later today? Ah figured Ah'd get started on ma chores, Ah recon Ah'll be done by noon or so and we can head out to that field where we all use to have our picnics.
Rainbow Dash nodded as she all but danced around the kitchen. Even in their advanced age both were quite fit do to the active lifestyles they both led and a byproduct of being bearers elements of harmony. Rainbow Dash smiled as she placed two steaming plates and bowls of wheat bacon and cream o' wheat. "Here ya go AJ." she smiled softly and took her place at the table "I know it isn't much but it should hold us until later. So need any help with the chores round here, I may be old but I'm not useless." Rainbow dash flashed one of her trademark grins before tucking into her food with gusto.
"Ah recon Ah could use some help round the farm." Applejack nodded sagely before smirking mischievously. "If yer up for it." A challenge in her voice as she polished off a second cup of coffee and started in on her bowl of cream o' wheat, "The Animal's need feeding and Ah got a couple o' trees that need to be felled. and Ah reckon after that we can fix a few things fer lunch an head out.
"Oh I'm up for it there's no doubt. now let's finish up here and git to it." Rainbow Dash said as she took her dishes to the sink and pour herself a third cup of joe. "Hey AJ? I wanna thank you for letting me stay the night. ... I know I haven't been the best friend but i appreciate it all the same." she leaned against the counter nursing her mug of coffee while Applejack cleared off the last of her food and put her own dishes in the sink.
"All right Sugar cube lets get too it, follow me" With that Applejack trotted out of kitchen and through the front door Rainbow Dash following close behind. As the two approached the stables the squealing of the pigs could be heard mix with the frantic clucking of chickens, Applejack said "Can ya fetch the bags off feed from the barn and I'll get the pigs their slop." As Rainbow nodded and bustled off to the barn Applejack gathered the bucket of slop and dumped it into the pig troth. "Rainbow Dash! When yer done feeding the chickens garb a couple of axes from the barn and met me by the gate and well finish up these chores." After receiving an affirmative reply she trotted off to the orchards to wait for her friend.
Later that after found Applejack and Rainbow Dash slowly walking down the snow lined road to town to meat Fluttershy for their picnic. They walked along chatting quietly to each other, barely taking notice of the ponies that would cross their path. As they entered into the town marketplace Rainbow dash paused as Rarity's boutique came into view, noting Rainbow's gaze Applejack said softly "Sweetie Belle runs it now, has since for a while now while music is her main talent she does have a knack for making clothes. She apprenticed under Rarity for two decades"
"And Sugarcube Corners?" asked Rainbow quietly while looking up the street to the bakery teaming with customers "Who helps the Cakes?" By then they had passed through the market and began keeping an eye out for their cream colored friend, the crowds cleared out as they reached the edge of town.
"Oh Pinkie's two children run it now." Applejack stated as mater of fact "Pinkie went off on a friendship quest decades ago with Cheese Sandwich and came back a month later alone and pregnant. It was quite the scandal and Cheese hasn't been seen since at least not here in Ponyville." Up a head at the edge of town was Fluttershy waving at them happily bulging saddlebags resting across her slim back. Like the others she had aged well only her silver mane and tail and the weariness of her blue eyes seemed to belay her true age.
"I - I seemed to have missed a lot in my absence." Rainbow Dash muttered two herself sadly. ""Oh hey it's Fluttershy!" she stated louder and happily "Fluttershy! Fluttershy over here!" the loud rasp of her voice echoing out across the field they had agreed to meet in. Flashing a grin to Applejack she said "Race ya there!" Suddenly feeling much younger than her years as she took off down the road.
"Yer on sugar cube!" Applejack cried taking off after her.