Before Chapter 2:
Home Sweet Home, Indeed
Later that evening, the Mane 5 arrived in their dream home in the garden behind The Castle Of Harmony and started to settle into their new home. Fluttershy and Applejack were setting things up inside the rock shelter while Rainbow Dash and Rarity were setting up things outside of the rock shelter and Pinkie was putting some party decorations around the area to make the place more fun and friendly. Basically, everypony was doing what they thought was needed for a Dream Home.
"This is it, girls! Home Sweet Home!" Rainbow Dash said with a laugh as Applejack and Fluttershy came out of the rock shelter after finishing the final touches.
"Ah have to say, this place is really nice here, Rarity," Applejack said, turning to Rarity who was still adding some finishing touches to the outside of the rock shelter.
"Why thank you, darling. I just had to look beyond what I see, and then I spotted this garden. And I knew this place will make a perfect home," Rarity said, helping Rainbow Dash as the Pegasus Filly jumped onto her back and tossed a vine around one tree and another.
"You're right, Rarity. This place has everything a pony needs," Rainbow Dash said, tying the vine into a knot.
"Mmm-hmm. There are plenty of berries for us to eat," Fluttershy said, turning to some berry bushes next to her and trying some. They tasted delicious and fresh. They were unlike anything she had tried before.
( Note: Don't Worry The Berries Near Fluttershy Are Mostly Blue, Straws, Grapes, Raspberries, And Other Types Of Harmless Berries )
"Plenty of flowers for us to sniff and smell," Applejack said, sniffing the fresh sweet aroma of the colorful flowers nearby.
"A place to hang a cozy Hammock plus cool refreshments," Rainbow Dash said next, climbing into her self-made hammock as Pinkie Pie hands her a drink.
"A lovely water feature for us to drink and to…Cannonball!" Pinkie Pie cheered as she jumped into the air and landed in the small lake nearby with a splash. To her things were definitely looking a lot better and funnier.
The others looked and saw Pinkie has landed in the lake face first, which shows the lake wasn't very deep enough for a big splash.
"Huh…Not as deep as I thought," Pinkie said, raising her head up after realizing the lake isn't as deep as she thought. But still satisfied with the fun she was having.
"And the best part is that this garden is next to The Castle Of Harmony and has an amazing view. Everything a Unicorn like me needs," Rarity said, looking at the sight of The Castle Of Harmony nearby before turning to the decorated rock shelter with a smile on her face.
"Oh…," Applejack said, feeling a little crestfallen as she turned to the others. It sounded as though Rarity wanted the place for just herself when she said 'unicorns like me'.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy felt the same and just remained silent for a little until Fluttershy broke the silence and spoke.
"Well, it looks like the place is really coming together, Rarity," Fluttershy said with a friendly smile, trying to hide her crestfallen expression.
"Eeyup. It sure does. So, Ah guess we'll just be going," Applejack said as she and Fluttershy began to leave Rarity and the rock shelter.
"Yeah, see you later, Rarity. Enjoy your new home, I guess," Rainbow Dash said, getting out of her hammock before following Fluttershy and Applejack.
"Hope we'll see you again someday, Rarity," Pinkie Pie said, getting out of the lake and shaking the water off before following the others to who knows where they might go.
Rarity turned and saw her friends walking away sadly. Seeing her friends sadly walking away, Rarity ran to them and got in front of their way, stopping them.
"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa! Darlings, where are you going?" Rarity asked, wanting to know why her friends are leaving so sadly and suddenly.
"Well, you said the place is everything a Unicorn like yourself needs. So that means you have found your dream home and ours is still out there somewhere," Rainbow Dash explained as she and the others walked past Rarity and continued on their way.
"Wait, wait, wait. Look, I know I said the place was everything a Unicorn like me needs. But I would've never found this place without you girls," Rarity said as Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy came to a stop and turned to her.
"What are ya saying, Rarity?" Applejack asked, wondering where Rarity is going with this.
"I'm saying is that there's no law here that says you fillies have to go," Rarity replied, explaining what she meant.
"Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?" Pinkie asked, getting a good feeling about what Rarity is saying as a smile begins to appear on her face. She hoped she was right with her feelings about this.
"Yes, how would you girls like to stay at our new dream home with me?" Rarity asked, offering her friends to stay at their decorated dream home with her.
"Well, what I could say to that is…Cannonball!" Pinkie cheered as she ran and then jumped into the air and landed in the lake again with another splash.
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy closed their eyes as they hear Pinkie splashing into the lake. But then they opened their eyes and saw that Pinkie has forgotten that the lake wasn't very deep for her.
Pinkie raised her head and spit some water out of her mouth, "Forgot that this lake isn't as deep as I thought," She said, remembering about how shallow the lake is after jumping into it again.
"Thanks for letting us stay, Rarity. This is quite generous of ya," Applejack said, thanking Rarity for sharing the rock shelter and her generosity.
"Well, you girls need this place more than I do. Besides, I could have never made this far without all of you," Rarity said with a smile, and at the same time, a small flash of light appeared on Rarity's flank as Rarity and the others turned and saw the flash of light leave something.
On Rarity's flank is a symbol of three diamonds, which means one thing…
"Rarity, you've got your Cutie Mark," Fluttershy said, pointing to Rarity's flank with her hoof.
"So I have. I can't believe this has happened," Rarity said, admiring her new Cutie Mark. She was surprised and happy with it.
"Looks like somepony has finally earned her Cutie Mark," Rainbow Dash said, feeling quite impressed with how Rarity has earned her Cutie Mark.
"Eeyup. *Yawning* Ah don't about you girls, but Ah am tired," Applejack said after letting out a tired yawn and rubbing her eyes.
"Luckily, I have made us five new beds after we moved in," Fluttershy said with a smile, which got the others quite surprised.
Inside the rock shelter, Fluttershy showed Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity the five nests which were made of different things her new friends liked.
"A nest made of clouds for Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, pointing to a floating nest made of clouds.
"A nest made of sparkly shiny grass for Rarity," Fluttershy said, pointing to a nest made of shiny sparkly grass next.
"A nest made of leaves of Apple trees for Applejack," Fluttershy said, pointing to a nest made of colorful leaves from Apple trees.
"A nest made of piles of playful leaves for Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy said, pointing to a nest made of a pile of colorful oak leaves.
"And a nest for me," Fluttershy said, pointing to her nest made of flowers, twigs, and grass.
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Applejack were surprised at how Fluttershy arranged their nest. But sleep and tiredness got the best of them so they marched on over to their respective beds and stretched.
"Thanks for making us these beds, Fluttershy. They feel so divine," Rarity said, climbing into her nest and laying down in it.
"Yeah, nothing but a nice warm nest to keep you relaxed after all that construction work," Rainbow Dash said, lying down in her nest too.
"Well, I had some good friends to help me build these nests for all of us," Fluttershy said as her two friends, which are two little birds, flew in and landed on her back chirping.
"Well, anyway. Time for me to turn in early and get some shuteye," Applejack said, as she settles down in her nest and tips her hat over her eyes to get some.
"Yeah, I better get some sleep too," Pinkie said as she jumps into her nest and settles down for the night.
Fluttershy watches over her friends before looking to her nest and begins to settle in it too before closing her eyes to get some sleep.
"Good Night," Fluttershy said with a happy sigh.
"Got that right," Rainbow Dash said with her eyes closed.
"Sleep tight," Rarity said next, also with her eyes closed.
"Don't let the nightmares bite…," Applejack said with her hat over her eyes.
"And dream of friendship and tasty treats tonight," Pinkie finished with her eyes closed and the Mane 5 then fell asleep and Pinkie started snoring quietly.
At the same time as they fell asleep, Fluttershy's Cutie Mark appeared on her flank, which was three pink butterflies. A good that never goes to waste.
"Ah, Home Sweet Home, Indeed," Rainbow Dash said happily as they slept the night away in their new rock shelter dream home.
Author's Note: Well, looks like the Mane 5 have found themselves a perfect dream home in the gardens of The Castle Of Harmony and it looks like they'll being staying there for quite some time.
