//------------------------------//
// Exam - Feeling Grand 
// Story: AppleDash Group Collab 
// by DbzOrDie 
//------------------------------//

“This is an important exam.”

“I know.”

“So you not going to falter?”

“No...”

“Or get distracted...?”

“AJ, do you know me at all?”

Applejack sighed as she looked at Rainbow Dash and gave a weak nod. She knew to trust her marefriend, that Rainbow would study her own way and go great with the exam... but still, she had fear.

“I'm sorry...” Applejack just muttered, looking at Rainbow. The two were sitting outside the barn on a picnic mat, watching the sun set slowly in the distance and the country mare looked at her once more with trepidation. “I just... I don't want you to fail...”

“I won't.” Rainbow said with a half grin arching up her mouth, and she curled a wing around Applejack, pulling her close. “Don't worry...”

“Yeah, I know...” Applejack just muttered, giving a weak laugh and looked at Rainbow Dash with still worried eyes. “I'm just, being... I don't know... it's just...”

She sighed as she looked at Rainbow, who stared into her eyes, waiting for her to finish. “I just... I always went so badly in tests myself, that I fear you could easily stuff up, I only want-”

“AJ.” Dash said quietly, a small smile crawling up her lips. “We may not be the brightest bulbs in the barn, but we shine enough.”

“Yeah, I know... I know...” Applejack said quickly, as if catching her breath as she tried to regain her strength around this subject. “I just... hate... exams...”

She gave a weak laugh, as if trying to make a joke of her worry and Rainbow found this so cute.

“Just admit you're worried.”

“Is it that obvious-?”

Rainbow cracked into laughter as she saw Applejack's strained face, with the pegasus's reply, and the country mare took a few more inhales... trying to recenter herself once more.

“Nah... you are hiding it reeeealy well.” Rainbow just chuckled and Applejack pulled a coy look at that.

“Do ya want a bop on the head?” the country mare asked with a weak grin, her expression relaxing a little as she saw Rainbow Dash laugh.

“Maybe it'll knock some more smarts into me.” Rainbow teased with a giggle, sticking out her tongue playfully and Applejack smiled larger, her eyebrows lowering against her eyes as she examined Rainbow's playfulness and just answered.

“I'd have to get a sledge hammer to give you enough smarts.”

“Definitely.”

“Hmm...” Applejack murmured with a small smile and finally felt all her tenseness vanish as she relaxed against Rainbow, closing her eyes.

It wasn't till a few seconds later that the pegasus said with a grin, snuggling against the mare.

“You know it's a fitness test... not an academic one?”

Applejack's eyes opened and she grimaced, muttering as she got up.

“Screw you, RD...”

Rainbow tumbled over in hysterics.