AppleDash Group Collab

by DbzOrDie

Key - KrazyTheFox

Dash had stumbled upon a key—a key that had her flitting about Applejack’s house all morning, trying to find a lock that fit it, with increasingly little success. The front door? Nope. The back door? Nu-uh. The apple cellar? Not even close. The key wasn’t even that unusual; it was worn from age but otherwise looked exactly like any other key would. And yet, Rainbow Dash just had to figure out what it unlocked. This little key became more and more intriguing—and equal parts frustrating—with every lock she found.

The pegasus huffed and flopped onto the Apple family’s couch after a full two hours of searching high and low for potential locks. Just like the mayor to schedule a day off on one of Applejack’s busy days. It wasn’t like she ever had any real work to do anyway, but the complete lack of it and her girlfriend made this day especially boring.

“Dash, I’m home! We can get that lunch you were talkin’ about!” Applejack called from the door, coated in glistening sweat.

Right, lunch! She had something to look forward to, after all. But not before she uncovered the mysteries of the key cupped in her hooves. “Hey AJ!”

Applejack picked up a towel and dried her face. “How was your mornin’, Rainbow?”

“Ugh, boooooring. And annoying.”

“Borin’, I get, but annoyin’? What’s got ya bothered?”

Rainbow glared at the key she held out for AJ to see. “This. I haven’t been able to figure out what it belongs to.”

Applejack lowered her head and sighed. “You wouldn’t.”

“So you know what it is?”

“I do. I wasn’t gonna show you just yet, but it can’t hurt, I suppose. Come on, follow me.”

Applejack trotted up the stairs while Rainbow hovered just behind her, setting a course for Applejack’s closet. Upon arriving, Applejack lifted up a floorboard and retrieved a small box from under it, motioning for Dash to give her the key. “I’m glad ya found this. Haven’t seen it for a few days and I was really worryin’ I’d lost it.”

“So what is it?”

Applejack slipped the rusty old key into the lock on the box and gave it a turn, the mechanism clicking. She opened the box and pushed it toward Dash.

Inside the box lay a single photograph of a much younger Applejack standing with Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and two ponies Rainbow didn’t recognize, a mare and a stallion; a pack of playing cards from Las Pegasus, adorned with an unintelligible signature; a certain blue feather that left a blush on Rainbow's cheeks; a wooden bit; and finally, a pair of dice. Dash’s eyes drifted back to the photograph and noticed that the mare and stallion both had apple related cutie marks... and the stallion was wearing a hat, not unlike Applejack’s.

“AJ? Are these your...?”

Nodding, Applejack rested her head on Rainbow’s shoulder. “They are.”

Rainbow set the box down and hugged Applejack. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, sugarcube.”

“Huh?”

“Ya shouldn’t be sorry, Dash. It hurts sometimes, and yeah, I wish they were still around, but I’m real glad I got to spend the time I had with ‘em.” Applejack smiled and nudged Rainbow’s shoulder gently. “Now, if I remember, ya wanted to go out for lunch? Your treat?”

“Hey! I never said I was paying. You know how much lunch costs with the amount you eat?”

Applejack glared at Rainbow. “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

Rainbow shrank and looked for somewhere to hide. Oops.

Unable to suppress a grin any longer, Applejack pushed Dash over and licked her muzzle. “Relax, Dash, I’m just messin’ with you. I know I eat a lot, but I also work it all off, too. You’re way too serious sometimes, ya know that?”

Dash couldn’t help but... er, forget that. The Rainbow Dash did not just... giggle. “I guess I could spend the bits this one time. I know a certain mare who might just be worth it.”

Applejack closed the box back up, locked it, and stowed the key in her dresser. She helped Dash up off the floor and leaned against her. “Shall we?”

Rainbow spread her wing across Applejack’s back and the pair trotted off into town, already lost in the company of one another.

Comments

[Fury of the Tempest]

Nice and sweet... and clever how you dodged how the parents look like...