//------------------------------//
// Rodeo - CalmNQuiet 
// Story: AppleDash Group Collab 
// by DbzOrDie 
//------------------------------//

What am I doing here? I kick at the worn wooden planks which made up the station platform. I should be at work. Ponyville needs its best cloud pusher in the sky. I turn, spread my wings, but I just can’t take off. Growling, I turn back around and look to the West.

Where is that train anyways? Is it always this late? Maybe I should fly out there and see. I look at the clock: three twenty seven. Three more minutes. I can do this. I waited three whole days, another three minutes—I can manage. I’m not even sure what I’m going to say to her. What did I say when she left?

I let myself reminisce just for a moment. I gave her a hug, told her to be awesome and off she went. Sure, I was sad, I had plenty of cool things to do while she was gone. I just had to do them alone. I hate being alone. I rub my eyes quickly and glance around. Good. No pony noticed anything.

Where is she? I look at the clock. Three twenty eight. Wow, what’s wrong with this clock? Is it broken too? Maybe that’s what happened. Maybe she wanted me to come but didn’t find the time to ask. I would have gone with her. Sure, I had work, but I could have gotten it off. Why did she have to take the Cutie Mark Crusaders instead of me? I’m totally good at cheering! Heck, I even taught Fluttershy how to cheer. By the time I was done with her, she was cheering as loud as a train.

Train! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, there it is! I flutter up off the platform in excitement. Any minute now. I cover my eyes as the train steams to a halt next to the platform and wait. Not more than thirty seconds later, I’m assaulted by three tiny bodies. They leap onto me, hug me, and jabber at me all at once.

“Look Rainbow Dash! Mah big sister won first place!”

I watch Apple Bloom as she balances the trophy on top of her head. It’s a pretty nice trophy, nice and big. All shiney. I have plenty at home. It wouldn’t be fair if I was the only one with a trophy.

“And we met this huge stallion, he was really clumsy.”

“Clumsy and funny!”

I nod and look around the platform for her sister, the one that totally ditched me and went to the rodeo without me.

“Hey there Sugarcube, miss me?” She nuzzles up against my neck and I feel a wave of heat wash over my face. I stammer out something, I think it’s, “Welcome back”, but I’m not sure. I just feel good to see her, to feel her back. I’m not even mad she ditched me anymore. Well. Maybe still a little.

I pull back, and make up some excuse. I need to get back to work. I’m about to fly off.

A lasso catches me and I slide back down to the ground. Applejack’s muzzle is up against my ear now. She whispers for me to stay. I can hear her telling the fillies about trying to be rodeo clowns. Maybe Rarity can provide some costumes. Wow, they got excited. And in a flash, they’re gone.

I struggle with the rope, but Applejack tightens her grip on me. She’s whispering an apology. I mumble that it was no big deal. Just some dumb rodeo anyways. She isn’t buying it. And then she mentions something about the real prize and I feel her tail trace over my cutie mark.

Oh... Oh!

I follow her back to the barn and we have a real rodeo, together.