Appledashery

by Just Essay

Scootalovery

"Kid. Let's not pretend, okay?" Rainbow Dash rested a wing around me. The two of us sat on a side of the nearest hill overlooking the farmhouse and its adjacent barn. "Things don't look good. Apple Bloom was bitten by a really nasty reptile thingy. As of this moment, you and Sweetie Belle can't even visit her. She's... simply not conscious enough to understand anything a pony might say to her. Not even her family."

"I knew it... I knew it," I whimpered, tears flowing. "She's gonna die." I rubbed my eyes, shuddering. "Apple Bloom didn't deserve to go out like this!"

"Hey. Hey." A set of wingfeathers caress my chin. "Look at me."

I tilted my head up, sniffling. Rainbow's strong gaze came into focus.

"Unlucky things happen, but ponies of all trots of life have proven to be even luckier." She slowly shook her head. "Don't give up on Apple Bloom so quickly. The little scamp deserves more than that, especially from one of her best friends."

"Yes, but... but..." I shuddered, fighting a lump in my throat as I glanced at the farm house again. "Not every pony is as awesome and... strong as you."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to say that Apple Bloom isn't awesome?"

"Well, no—"

"Then why are you so freaked out?" Rainbow tried smiling, but I could notice a slight twitch to her features. "She's survived crazy stuff before."

"Yeah... but that's because she's had the likes of Fluttershy or Zecora to help her out." I gulped. "And before that... it was always Applejack..."

"Uhm..."

"But right now, she's in a place that even Applejack can't pull her out of." I fought another sob. "And if that isn't enough to save her..."

"Hey... Applejack can save a pony in more ways than one."

I tilted my head up at her again. "What do you mean, Rainbow?"

She opened her muzzle, but hesitated.

I simply blinked at her.

"What... what I mean is..." Rainbow squatted low beside her. The mare's wings coiled at her side, and she sighed before saying: "Apple Bloom's been raised by the best... inspired by the best. You don't take all that's incredible about the Apple Family and just... topple it to the ground overnight with dark magic or venom or curses or any of that nonsense. Her and her kind can overcome anything. I believe this... I know this... because being around any of them just... makes a pony stronger." She gulped. "I can't give up on Apple Bloom now. I refuse to. And you should refuse to as well." She narrowed her eyes on me. "I've seen ponies rise up from even worse places. Even I myself have climbed out of the roughest of spots, all on account of the courage that Applejack has taught me."

"You mean... you mean like in that dream place that those Fillyda jerks put you in."

"Exactly, kiddo," Rainbow Dash said. "And... and I-I know that snake venom isn't the same thing. But..." Rainbow pointed at the group of citizens gathered around the farmstead. "Look who's here. Everypony... and I mean everypony is backing up your friend. That's how much this place cares for Applejack—and her little sister. I mean..." Rainbow Dash shuddered. "...some way or another, we'll figure this all out. We've got the best ponies on the case. Zecora. Twilight. Noir. Heck, even Stupid Leaves is here to lend a hoof. Heh. Thing is... none of them are giving up. And neither should we."

I looked at her. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up straight and murmured: "It's Applejack, isn't it?"

"Huh?" She blinked at me.

"Your very special somepony. It's her."

For the first time in as long as I could remember, Rainbow Dash had nothing to say. She stared at me—past me. All the strength and vigor in her figure had vanished, and suddenly she had become limp, flightless, scared. Like me.

But, also like me, I knew she wasn't about to call it quits. I knew who I had to thank for that, and we both knew who she had to thank.

"It must be r-really hard for you, Rainbow," I said. "Maybe... just maybe almost as hard as it is for me."

Her ruby pupils had shrunk. Somewhere, amidst the fog, she summoned the strength say: "Harder than anything I've faced before."

"And yet, you're willing to face it." I didn't realize I was smiling until the tears took a sharp turn across my muzzle. I leaned into her. She felt cold, but it was alright. Something tells me everything was about to melt just perfectly. "That's awesome, Rainbow Dash. I... I think I can face it too."

I felt a shudder roll through her shoulder. For a moment there, it felt like she was the one leaning on me. Nevertheless, a gentle wing wrapped around me.

"You're... you're one in a million, kiddo," she murmured.

I closed my eyes and nodded.. "I know."

Comments

[Mister Saxon]

[RoboRed]

Goddamn I feel so fuzzy and warm on the inside after that.

[HopelessRomanetic]

[zaponator]

I'd read a chapter a day of Scootalovery in a heartbeat.

[RainbowJack2000]

Whoa...I didn't expect Scootaloo to actually out two-and-two together and figure that out.

Good Job Scoots, good job.

[Sharp Quill]

Heck, even Stupid Leaves is here to lend a hoof.

Tell us how you really feel about Stupid Leaves.

[TIAS-A1927]

Scoots is a genius

[Hestia]

My jaw HIT the floor. I'm pretty sure you could hear me and my, "OHMIGOSH!" clear across the world. Dash has just been hiding it for so long that the fact that Scootaloo FIGURED IT OUT . . . It just flabbergasted me.

In other, just as important news, yay, Scootalove

[viofriedsevey]

Goddamn, I thought this story couldn't get any better, proven wrong as fuck.

[Lord Dragon]

6112069 Ja.

[MidnightReflection]

6112222 It will always get better.

Scootaloo, you are awesome. Keep up that intuitiveness.

I just realized the true extent of just how long this story is going to be. If the author can make a story where we have to wait over 200 chapters before a pony can get their grilled cheese fix, just how long are we really going to be waiting for the cuddles?

Seriously though, Rainbow, you melon fudge! Go find a shard in about 1 chapter (I know that isn't possible, but...) and use Lancie to just cure AB's little problem. Or at least go and destroy the SBGG before they can hurt the rest of Ponyville.

[Lightning Bearer]

[Aatxe360]

Warm and fuzzies end soon and it's back to shenanigans.

[Skunkiss]

And another fantastic chapter.
The way you describe the character's reactions... doesn't get much better tha that for me

[TwilightUCrazy]

6112168

Bastard. You beat me to it.

[BabySkittleMonster]

Wow, Scoots figured it out! Maybe someone else will too... nah. Who am I kidding? Scoots is one in a million. AJ ain't gonna figure it out... Unless she knew this whole time. *gulp* I jinxed it, didn't I? Damn it, me.

[Rawrienstein]

Really liked those last lines.

derpicdn.net/img/view/2015/6/21/920690__safe_rainbow+dash_scootaloo_fanfic+art_scootalove_artist-colon-rawrienstein.png

[YoshiFawful64]

Sharp kid. I had a feeling she figured it out, 44 chapters ago, but it's wonderful to have confirmation.
6115249
That's a great picture, and pretty fast too.

[PropMaster]

Just... damn, man. This is some of the best character writing I've read. You're so good at making things feel real and believable.

[DeathFox4]

Wow, Scoots, wow. I love you even more.

[LucyHorseThing]

Schmeeeee...
(What even was that noise?)

[arancaytar]

Scoots has figured it out.

[Lk Pon-3]

[berrytone]

Something is off about Sharp Quill. Don't know what, but something sinister is lurking. Maybe I'm just paranoid...