• 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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But Of Course

Step by step, Rainbow Dash trotted up the grassy hill.

The scent of apples wafted over the waving blades of grass, tickling her nose.

The mare clenched her teeth shut. The ends of her limbs were starting to tremble—but perhaps it was for the best. It shook the shivers away.

At last, with a glare of sunlight flashing across her vision, she reached the top of the hill.


"Just what are ya gettin' so worked up over?!" Applejack turned around, gazing quizzically across the cloudy mists. "Yer name is practically plastered all over this competition! You've got this in the bag, sugarcube!"

"What's the friggin' point?" Rainbow moaned, pacing in tight circles before the competitors' entrance of Cloudsdale Stadium. Even beyond the thick cloud stone walls of the building, the two could hear the thunderous roars of the pegasi crowd gathered for the Best Young Fliers Competition. "Rarity's gorgeous wings give her a huuuuuge advantage!" Rainbow's voice cracked as she squatted down, gnawing on her right hoof. "Grmmmfff... It doesn't matter how much I've practiced! They're just gonna root for her and I'm gonna make myself look like a friggin' fool!"

"Pfft! Ain't no such thang!" Applejack smirked viciously. "Rarity's all flare but no substance! Celestia knows what's gotten into that hussy's head, but she ain't got nothin' on you!"

"But... but..."

"Like she even knows how to wow a crowd of feathered ponies! Hah!" Applejack tilted her hat forward, green eyes glinting. "This is her first rodeo! Literally! But you—"

"Ugh..." Rainbow spun around, her tail flicking. "Just forget it! This is... this is a total disaster waiting to happen." She shook her head, trotting off. "I don't even know why Twilight dragged the whole bunch of you here."

"Pardon me, sugarcube, but..." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "...this dun sound like you."

Rainbow Dash came to a scuffling stop against the cloud bed. She slowly turned around, glaring. "No offense, AJ... but you don't know a darn thing about me." Rainbow suddenly flinched.

Applejack crossed the distance between them. She rested a hoof on her shoulder, smiling calmly. "This... I know... and it's the honest truth." She leaned forward until her eyes were even with Rainbow's. "You've got what it takes to win everythang you set yer heart to, Rainbow."

"I..." Rainbow's lips quivered. Her ears folded as she struggled not to melt before the mare's gaze. "...you really think so?"

"I know so," Applejack said, grinning. "Honest to Goddess..." She crossed her heat, then ruffled the mare's prismatic mane. "Wouldn't be polite to steer ya wrong, ya reckon?"

Rainbow finally exhaled. "No..." She pushed her bangs up, smiling stupidly. "Eheheh... I reckon not..."

Applejack winked. She then stepped aside and pointed straight into the competitors' entrance. "Now get yer blue butt in there before I whoop it red!"

"Ahem." Rainbow Dash galloped straight past her. "Ma'am! Yes, Ma'am!"

Applejack looked on. She exhaled through a calm smile, adjusted her hat, then trotted off towards where a pink balloon rested several cloudbanks away. "Twi! Pinkie! Let's get ourselves some swell seats, y'all!"


Sweet Apple Acres stretched green and glistening before Rainbow Dash.

"... ... ..." Rainbow Dash took a deep, deep breath. She reached into her saddlebag, rummaged around, and made contact with the envelope. She was about to pull it out, when...

At first, it came as a light tickle to the edges of Rainbow's ear hairs. Then, it rose in pitch, quite sharply too.

Rainbow's heart stopped. She craned her neck, turning towards the farmland stretching below.

In the distance, a familiar red barn loomed, and beside it a farmhouse. A few colorful shapes had gathered at the side entrance. One was squatting on her knees beside a limp shape, writhing with each undulation of an uncharacteristically high pitch.

Rainbow forced herself to stop breathing. She leaned forward, muzzle agape.

At last, with horrifying clarity, Applejack's howling words reached the winds above her: "...help! Somepony, anypony, help! My poor little sister's dying! She's pale as snow!"

The sobbing tone in Applejack's yells was enough to shatter Rainbow Dash twenty times over. The mare panicked, and her first instinct was to launch herself forward. Her leg got tangled with the pouch of her saddlebag, and she fell flat on her chest. Not even wasting time with a pained grunt, she wriggled, and rolled, and finally ripped herself out of the saddlebag's riggings. The let the satchel drop like a stone before her as she rocketed down the hill and glided between the rows of trees.

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