Appledashery

by Just Essay

Cloud Flossing

"Mrmmfff!" Rainbow Dash spun, kicking a cloud to bits. She panted and panted, pivoting about to observe her aerial hoofwork.

The skies over Ponyville cleared entirely, blue and crisp and cool.

She took a deep breath... then bore a tiny, tranquil smile.

"Hey! Rainbow Dash!"

"...?" Rainbow turned around.

Two other pegasi saluted her from afar.

"Good job!" Thunderlane exclaimed, grinning.

She blinked. "Uhhhh... thanks?" Her eyes narrowed. "For what?"

Thunderlane chuckled. "On making weather captain for the tornado project, of course!"

"Oh. Oh right." Rainbow smiled crookedly. "Uhhh... didn't you make a weather captain position yourself, dude?"

"Well..." Thunderlane coyly slicked his mane back from where he hovered around the remnants of a kicked cloud. "Yeah. But, y'know... I kinda expected that."

"Oh?"

He shrugged. "I've been doing weather flying full-time lately. So... y'know... it's a given. But you?" He smirked. "Must be super hard fitting it in."

Rainbow squinted. "How do you mean?"

"Well... you are all over the place as of late," the stallion said.

Candy Mane flew in, wagging her eyebrows. "So 'all over the place' that nopony can ever seem to find her."

Thunderlane rolled his eyes. "Not helping."

Candy Mane giggled, then looked Rainbow's way. "What I think Thunderlane here is trying to say is that we all know you're a busy mare these days, so it's really... really nifty to see you lending a hoof with the Everfree tornado project."

"Uhm... thanks." Rainbow blinked. "I think?"

"Look, it's not like I have to give you and your team well wishes," Thunderlane said. "'Cuz we all know that your tream is gonna excel over the rest by proxy of having you on board."

"Well..."

"It's just really cool to know that—no matter how busy Rainbow Dash might be—she still has time to spare for the rest of Ponyville." Thunderlane nodded with a smirk. "And that's an awesome feeling."

Rainbow stared at them, blinking. "You... d-don't think I've turned my back on you guys any?"

Candy Mane squinted. "Now why would we think that, Rainbow?"

Rainbow bit her lip. "Erm..." Clearing her throat, she returned to cloud patrol. "No reason. Uhm... see you at the next tornado meet."

"Sure thing, Rainbow! I look forward to it!"

Rainbow Dash gazed down at the rooftops of Ponyville, her eyes blinking contemplatively.

---

Hours later, standing inside the warehouse of Banner Guild, she still squinted into the shadows with the same thoughtful glaze to her eyes.

"...and with the implementation of last month's protocols, we're switching from yellow aprons to an olive green color," Stamps said from his desk. He shuffled through papers, then brightened as he found a clipboard. "The idea is to look less familiar and more... friendlyb. Our deliverers are living, breathing ponies, after all, not billboards."

"... ... ..." Rainbow Dash blinked again.

Stamps looked up. He raised an eyebrow. "Rainbow?"

"Hmmm?" Rainbow looked over. "Oh. Uhm... bye bye yellow, right?"

Stamps took a deep breath. "I figured you would be... overjoyed by this news."

"Mmm... it works," Rainbow muttered. She rubbed her nose, then stood up straight. "Anyways. Got stuff for me to deliver, boss?"

"First thing's first, Rainbow." Stamps hoofed her the clipboard. "First class delivery. Central Ponyville."

"That's it?" Rainbow exhaled. "Pretty easy." She raised an eyebrow. "You're not going soft on me, eh, boss?"

"Don't tempt me," Stamps exhaled through flaring nostrils. "This package is especially fragile. It just came in to the warehouse today after two weeks in transit from Trottingham."

Rainbow Dash whistled. "Whew. Trottingham. Somepony ordering an Aston Maretin?"

"None of our business... except business," Stamps said. "You should know that." He leaned back, waving with a hoof. "Now... dash off, Dash." He rummaged through papers, then looked up. "But carefully."

"Right. Diet Dashing." Rainbow trotted off, flipping through the sheets of the clipboard with her feathertips. "Hmmmm... 'Trottingham Affectionate Trinkets.' Sounds... fwoofy." Halfway across the warehouse, she paused, hooves scuffling. Her muzzle scrunched. "Uhhhh..." She glanced over her shoulder, fidgeted, then glanced at the delivery address again. "...huh."

---

Knock knock knock!

A beat.

The apartment door opened up.

Stu Leaves brightened, emerging into daylight. "Oh! Omigosh! It's here!" He beamed ecstatically at the package, then up at the deliverer. "Thank you! You've no idea how much this—" He froze.

Rainbow Dash stood with a clipboard in her hoof. Between them lingered a tall cardboard box.

Stu Leaves bit his lip. "Oh. Uhm..." He gulped. "Oh dear. I forgot that... that you..."

"Ahem." Rainbow Dash held the clipboard out further. "If you wouldn't mind signing right here, sir."

"Huh? Oh. Right." Stu Leaves cleared his throat, then shuffled past the box. He took the pen between his teeth and scribbled his name. "Uhm... Rainbow?"

"Just doing my job," Rainbow said, tucking the clipboard away in her apron.

"About... about Trottingham Trinkets—"

"Not my concern, Stu." She turned and spread her wings. "Have a good day—"

Stu bit his lip. He looked left, right, then spoke up: "Actually... wait..."

She hovered in mid-air, turning to look at him over her shoulder.

"Uhm..." Stu cleared his throat. "Rainbow, I... I think it would actually help if I... uh... if I showed you what it—"

"I'm on the clock, Stu." She shook her head. "I can't do anything of the sort."

"Then... maybe when you're off from your job?" Stu squirmed, rubbing his front hooves nervously together. "If... if that's okay? I... I'm asking as a friend, not as a client—"

"Dude, whateve it is, I'm sure it's none of my business."

"It's... it's not about me, Rainbow," Stu said, biting his lip.

Rainbow blinked at him. Her eyes twitched, and she inhaled. "...sure thing."

He smiled, his ears twitching with relief. "Oh. Oh thank you, Rainbow. I... I promise, she's... I mean... it will really help to get your opinion on... uhm... it."

Rainbow nodded, then flew off for her next destination.

"...and the day keeps getting better and better," she muttered.

Comments

[MidnightReflection]

Well then. That just happened.

[Mister Saxon]

...goddammit stu...

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

6693208 And here I was, hoping it would be something for Vinyl. Could you imagine the level of awkward?

[destinedjagold]

I am really glad that there are two chappies today/tonight, because I really hate spending 24 hours wondering what's inside the box.
...unless the next chapter doesn't mention it. >.>

[Lightning Bearer]

An Applejack body pillow?

[Leftover of Saikano]

Affectionate Trinkets? Like a ball gag?

[Novi]

Cuz we all know that your tream is gonna excel over the rest by proxy of having you on board."

Little error here buddy

[Hestia]

Suddenly, I'm gripped with this sudden feeling of terror and doom.

No good can come out of that box.

[Fishberry]

6693238

Double chappies make me happy!

Oh, hey, I'm back...

... Huh.

Hi.

[BabySkittleMonster]

My guess is a proposal ring. Suddenly anxiety has me in its' cold grip. Something awful is going to happen.

Then again, I say or think that practically every chapter and I'm only right about halv the time. So we'll see.
... Since when is 50/50 good odds with Skirts?

[zaponator]

cinemablend.com/images/news/70339/_1426733433.jpg

[Snowdrifter]

"The idea is to look less familiar and more... friendlyb. Our deliverers are living, breathing ponies, after all, not billboards."

Missed bold tag?
Stu has a box he can think outside of?

[kluck]

gods above I hate stu

[arancaytar]

I have a nope feeling about this.

[berrytone]

Diet Dashing

[bronyheat]

On the bright side if its a beautiful necklace that he bought for Applejack, you can use it to choke him out!
Gotta stay positive, right?!

[DIRKWITHAGUN]

stu makes me want to rip my hair out and feed it to him in a fuckin cake.