A search for paint

Primary desperately needed new paint, which she made from flowers. She had heard of the Everfree forest, and she thought to check it out. she strolled past town and down the creek towards the dense forest. It called to her, a place of serenity and also mystery. Away from other ponies, because the ponies of Ponyville rarely had reason to go down to the "terrifying" forest. It was really just one if the few places that wasn't controlled by ponies, and that was Primes favorite. Seeing nature as how it should be, not how it is made into. She walke carefully around the sharp thorns guarding the entrance. Inside, it was dark. Extremely dark. The thick canopy blocked out most of the sunlight. Prime could still see alright though, once her eyes adjusted. All around her were beautiful plants, scorching red roses, vibrant purple violets, and there was one absolutely stunningly gorgeous sapphire colored flower. Prime had no clue what type of flower it was, only that it was beautiful. She cautiously walked to the glittering flower and reached toward it to pluck it from the ground. It snapped easily from it's roots and she tucked it into her saddlebag. She turned back to the other flowers and began picking them too.

Sunset's first time in the Everfree Forest was actually far more mellow than she expected. She expected to fight monsters, or find some crazy adventure like her brother but no such luck. Only average animals and sparse rays of sunshine flittering through the leaves. It was actually quite relaxing. Though after some time the sun began to vanish, hidden by the thick canopy of the wilds. Sunset was sure she had wandered into a more exciting part of the forest but still nothing special.

She did stumble into a small patch of lovely flowers. Nothing like she'd ever seen before. Or at least not that she could say for certain, she was no botanist. Yes, the scene was beautiful, but it had been a long walk to get there and Sunset figured it was time for a nap. Fluttering up to a nearby tree branch, Sunset got comfortable and closed her eyes. With the warm weather and calming sounds of the forest it didn't take long for Sunset to start dozing.

The sound of somepony pushing through the thicket snapped her back to wakefulness. Ears erect, she turned her attention to the sound of the noise to see a mare, almost as colorful flowers, stepping into the patch. She looked like an earth pony, but something was off about her. Sunset tried to put her hoof on it but couldn't quite figure it out. Eventually she gave up and decided to say hello.

"Stopping for a snack?" Sunset asked, without leaving her perch.

"Stopping for a snack?" called a voice from a tree. Prime nearly jumped, but managed to stay on the ground.
She even laughed a little.
"No, I was just collecting flowers. What're you doing here?" she asked, wondering why there was another pony in the forest.
She bent down to continue picking the wondrous flowers.

Sunset grinned as the mare jumped and chuckled along with her.

"No," the mare said. "I was just collecting flowers. What're you doing here?"

"Nothing special." Sunset stood on her branch and stretched out. "Just heard some cool stories about this place and thought I'd come check it out." With a small hop, Sunset glided down to the patch, gently touching down near the mare. "How come you're picking flowers if you aren't gonna eat 'em?"

"First off. How'd you know I wasn't gonna eat them?" she asked with a sly smile, " anyways, I need them to make paint."
Prime wasn't sure why she was being so kind, had her social skills evolved that well? She couldn't be sure. Normally she was rude, mean, and blocking of others. But since she started visiting to Ponyville, she had become nicer.

"Paint huh?" Sunset looked around at all the flowers again. She hadn't know one could make paint from flowers and wondered just what the process involved. "Well, how many do you need?" Sunset leaned her head down and nipped up a few flowers. She was a bit peckish though, and the stems of these things even tasted good. But she could wait until the other mare had what she needed first.

"Oh, well, it depends which color I'm making. Right now I'm looking for blue, red, and yellow. I need as many as I can find, but its alright if you have a few to eat." Prime said with a giggle.

She leaned down a picked some ruby red flowers followed by yellow ones the same shade as her coat.

Sunset gobbled down the flowers she had picked and swallowed loudly. "Thanks." She said with a grin. "So," Sunset lowered her head to pick more flowers, this time to help the other mare. "What exactly are you painting, if you don't mind me asking."

"Um, well, I'm not exactly sure yet. I really just need more paint, and I prefer to make it on my own. I mostly just need the primary colors, I can make basically every other color with those ones." she replie softly, picking a violet tulip.

"So, um, I guess I forgot about introductions. I'm Primary (Prim-ury), but just call me Mary, or Prime."

"That's a cool name," Sunset dropped her flowers into Prime's bag. "My names Sunset Wishes, but my friends call me Trouble Maker." She said bending down to pick more flowers. Sunset thought to herself how interesting it would be to watch this pony paint. After all, anypony who takes to the time to make their own supplies must really love their art and such passion was always good to see.

"Thanks, Sunset." she giggled a bit at the Mare's nickname, Trouble Maker? Interesting.

"So why do your friends call you Trouble Maker?" she asked with a sly smile.

She set her bag on the ground so the two woul have equal access to it. She dropped a bundle of calla lilies into it.

"Hmm." Sunset plucked a few more flowers and dropped them in Primary's bag before answering. "To make a long story short," Sunset rolled and stretched her wings, working out a kink. "Lets say I take a very aggressive stance against bullies and jerks." She then bent down to keep picking flowers. "That," she said through the flowers. "And I've been told I'm a handful to hang out with."

Mary laughed, "wow, that sounds interesting. I myself have never really dealt with bullies, more, ignored I suppose. Or invisible." she chuckled again.

"Thanks for helping, by the way." she stated, "I should have enough now."

"No problem." Sunset smiled, then fluttered her wings a little. "Say, you wouldn't wanna hang out sometime would'ja? I'd love to see you paint."

Prime looked away nervously, she never reall 'hung out' with other ponies, let alone painted with them watching. Only one pony had ever had the pleasure, Rosella Petals. Prime shook her hea lightly to get rid of the thought,
"Um, well, I'd love to hang out, but, nopony ever really watches me paint....." She trailed off quietly.

"Um, well, I'd love to hang out, but," Sunset leaned forward a little to hear the other pony. "nopony ever really watches me paint....." Prime let her voice trail off.
Hearing that made Sunset's wings droop a little in disappointment, but she kept her friendly smile. After all, hope was not lost yet.

"How come?" Sunset asked. "That just make you uncomfortable, or what?" she cocked her head to the side a bit.

"Well, no. I just, I'm not a very social pony, and nopony has ever watched me paint, except Rosie of course..." she said quietly, thinking to her time in the Crystal Empire and her friend Rosella Petals. They were close, closer than Prime had ever been with anypony. She missed her best mare friend, an hoped she was getting along well.