• Published 4th Dec 2013
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Appledashery - Just Essay



Rainbow Dash lives an exciting life and is swiftly becoming the most daring, awesome pegasus in all of Equestria. She would gladly give it all up, though, just to confess her love to Applejack.

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A New Challenger Appears

“So, uh... Mable...”

“Maud.”

“Sorry, Maud.” Rainbow glanced aside as both mares trotted downhill towards a large, gaping quarry. “What's with this town, anyway?”

Maud blinked as she strolled along. “I am afraid that I do not understand what you mean to ask.”

“What I mean—” Rainbow fumbled, finding herself constantly trotting ahead of Maud's unbelievably slow pace. “What I mean is this town's got it really bad for rocks.”

“Rocks are freedom. Rocks are li—”

“Yeah. I get that!” Rainbow muttered. “But then you've got all the clothes and the depressing little houses and the mares who practically swoon over limestone and—”

“You are a blue pony with blue wings and a mane full of rainbow hair,” Maud said slowly. Her words consumed the space of half-a-minute. “And yet do you hear any of us judging you for your visual eccentricities?”

“Erm... no.” Rainbow frowned. “But I've gotten an earful out of your neighbors for having to wear this st-stupid suit!”

“A triclinic nodular crystal system that's soluble in hydrochloric acid.”

“The... f-fuzz?!

“Turquoise,” Maud droned. “A most playful of phosphate minerals. It's the color of your prom suit.”

“I promise you...” Rainbow fidgeted, once again having to slow down to match Maud's pace. “I only w-wore this stupid thing because it's all they had to fit when I came into town.”

“It's also the color of my eyes,” Maud said. “I think it's fitting.”

“Oh yeah? Why's that?”

“Because it embodies my exuberant and fun-loving personality.”

Rainbow bit her lip. “Uhm...”

“We are almost to the quarry,” Maud said. “There, we will find the sorter.”

“Yeah. About that. Could we hurry it up?” Rainbow grunted. “I mean... n-not that I'm in a huge hurry, but the longer I spend in this town the more liable I am to go insane.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Just... with the whole 'clothes etiquette' thing and the constant overcast and—”

“No, I mean about hurrying up.”

“Uhhhh...”

“Because I was afraid you would be upset with me,” Maud said, snailing along. “Considering how briskly I am walking.”

Rainbow stared at her with twitching eyes.

“I used to be chastised a lot for running around the house like this,” Maud said. “One night, my father made me sleep on a pile of granite, instead of my usual mattress filled with limestone.” She blinked. “Funny how the things that bothered us in childhood only make us giggle today,” she droned. “Don't you think?”

“H-hey! Will you look at that!” Rainbow Dash pointed at a wooden hut marked “Sorter” where several soot-stained miners had gathered. “We're already here! Alright!” She spun and shook Maud's hoof. “Jee, thanks for helping me, Maud. It sure was swell hanging out and... ch-chatting with you! Whelp!” She spun around, wings blurring. “Gotta go—”

“Not so fast,” Maud murmured, suddenly in front of Rainbow.

“Gah!” Rainbow fell back on her haunches, wincing. “I... that...” She grimaced. “How in the heck did you—?!”

“I think it would be in your best interest that I remained by your side while you employed the sorter's services,” Maud said. “Like you, she is new to this place, but her attitude isn't nearly as agreeable.”

“Not agreeable, huh?” Rainbow stood up. “Like, in what way—?”

Ungh! For the last time!” An indignant voice bellowed from the wooden shack. “That is coal! The Great and Powerful Trixie does not deal with coal! Do you understand me?! The Great and Powerful Trixie was employed by this goddess-forsaken quarry to sort rocks and rocks only!! NEXT!”

“Oh...” Rainbow's ears drooped, along with her wings. “...oh no...”

“Unicorns make the best sorters,” Maud said, taking her sweet time to blink. “It is because of their horns... not because of their manners...”

“Oh no...” Rainbow facehoofed, slumping to the ground.

“Trixie can help you find the rock you're looking for,” Maud said. “But it's best that I stay nearby to make sure she doesn't do anything too awkward. I'm her supervisor, you see.” Another blink. “It's okay, really, except for when she yells at clients... which is most of the time. But still, they bring rocks.”

Nnngh! No... no... no! The same goes for charcoal! Are we running a quarry here, or a barbecue! Get with the program or get out of line! Ungh! How did the Great and Powerful Trixie ever fall to this insufferable low?!”

“I can take a wild guess,” Rainbow muttered aside.

Lancie poked his muzzle out. “Let me guess...” He smirked. “Old friend of yours?”

Rainbow whispered, “Nothing magical about this melon fudge.”

Gughhh! Why're these pebbles covered in slime?! When you arrive at the Great and Powerful Trixie's table, I expect your rocks to shine!

“I don't know who she is...” Lancie grinned. “But I like her.”

“Pfft. You would.”

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