AppleDash Group Collab

by DbzOrDie

Clocks - CalmNQuiet

Rainbow leaned listlessly against the single-paned glass window of the utility vehicle. Her eyes gazed upward at the muddied sky and she sighed quietly to herself.

“Thinking about her?”

The question was innocuous, but completely unnecessary. “Yeah...” Rainbow whispered. Her mind tried to piece together the memories from days past. The sweet smell of Applejack’s mane, the warmth of her underbelly, the way she’d gasp: “I love you Dashie...” in the moonlight.

Rainbow trembled and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She resolved to be strong when she agreed to this job. She reminded herself it wasn’t any easier for Applejack. The threat of tears subsided and she opened her eyes again.

“It’s going to be a bit until we get to our next job site, why don’t you take lunch a little early? It might take your mind off her.”

Rainbow glanced over to the driver of the vehicle: Twilight. It was a good idea, Twilight was always full of good ideas. But, this one came up short. Rainbow shook her head slowly and resumed staring out of the window as the tall spiraling buildings passed by them.

“You sent all your money to Applejack again didn’t you?” The voice wasn’t accusatory, it sounded sympathetic if anything.

Rainbow nodded but said nothing.

A purple glow floated a tin lunch pail onto her lap. She looked down at it and then over to Twilight. The unicorn was smiling while keeping her eyes on the road. “It happens at the end of every month. You always send her everything. Luckily our pay comes in on the first of every month.”

Rainbow looked down at the lunch pail. Tentatively, she opened it up.

“I made a few extra sandwiches. You’re welcome to them. Don’t worry. I won’t tell Applejack.”

“Thanks Twilight.” The pegasus picked a sandwich and fell into it voraciously. She’d nearly forgotten her hunger this morning after skipping breakfast.

The metronomic popping sounds of the vehicle’s engine quieted as they stopped at their destination. A massive clocktower on the edge of the city for the train station.

Twilight climbed out of the vehicle and unfurled a list. “Let’s see. We have to replace two of the thermal regulators, oil all the primary and secondary gears, and oil the striking mechanism in the belfry.”

Wordlessly, Rainbow strapped the utility belt to her body in a practiced fashion and slipped two thermal regulators into the holding bag. She followed Twilight to a heavy metal maintenance door which opened into a poorly lit spiral staircase. Their hooffalls on the cold iron stairs echoed ominously around them as they climbed upward to the clock mechanism.

“It must be hard Rainbow. Being more than a day away, the weekends barely leave you enough time to get there and back. And the next long break is fi--”

“Fifty seven days. Twilight. I know.” Rainbow shot out. The frustration in her voice resounded around them.

Twilight’s words died mid sentence.

Rainbow winced. That was harsh. “Sorry Twilight. I’m just a little on edge at the end of each month.”

“I know Rainbow. It’s okay.” Twilight lifted open the hatch above her head and climbed into the top room of the clocktower.

Rainbow stepped through the threshold and gazed in wonder at the two massive clock-hands set against the ornamented glass. A consistent glow shone from the glass, obviously enchanted somehow by magics only Twilight would understand.

“Thermal Regulators. They should be on either side of the primary driving mechanism. Watch out for the gears.”

Her cue. Rainbow pumped her wings and took to the air in the expansive room. She flew carefully around the large interlocked fittings and continued her work. As she oiled the apparatus she glanced down at Twilight. The unicorn was moving from place to place using her trusty horn to check the status of each of the magical enhancements worked into the machinery.

“Rainbow, do you know what time the train arrives from Ponyville?”

The question was sudden. Rainbow nearly over-oiled a gear. “Two.”

“Hmm... Do you mind flying outside and checking how it looks outside? I think I’m done recharging the magic here.”

“Sure.” Rainbow flew to the side and pushed open the access door. Slipping outside, she positioned herself a good distance away and looked over the clock tower. Her eyes drifted downward to the expansive city around her.

Orange?

She looked again, squinting this time. It couldn’t be.

“Rainbow? How does it look out there?”

Rainbow was gone. Diving through the air toward the train station. She swooped down and barreled into the orange pony with red apples upon her flank. Blushing and panting, she looked down at the pony pressed between her and the station platform.

“Applejack...” She gasped.

“Hey Dashie. Harvest season just wrap--”

Rainbow was tired of waiting. She pushed forward with a longing kiss.

Applejack protested. Something about decency of being in public.

Rainbow spread her wings and hid the onlookers away. Her tongue worked into Applejack’s mouth and the farm pony beneath her stopped struggling. Time drifted away, the clocktower’s bells lost upon their ears.

The kisses did not stop until Rainbow felt her tail forcibly yanked. She yelped and turned around. Twilight stood there with a smile.

“Alright you two. Maybe that’s enough public mischief for one day.”

Rainbow glanced down at Applejack. She’d never seen Applejack blush so hard. “Twilight. How did you know?”

“I didn’t. But there was a good statistic chance that Applejack would take the first train to see you at the conclusion of the harvest season.”

“But what if you were wrong?”

“There’s more than one clock-tower in this city. I hope you don’t mind working clocks for the next week.”

Rainbow groaned and looked down at the glimmering green eyes of Applejack.

Worth it. Every second of it.

Comments

[Jackie]

Time. AppleDash.... and story coming from you? Of course there has to be Twilight Nonetheless, nice work!

[Fury of the Tempest]

XD, :D

[The Yaoi Mistress]

what were they working? fixing clocks or something?

[Twilight Best Pony]

to be honest, im confused with this one.
what were they doing and why does it take them so long?