//------------------------------//
// Cottaging 
// Story: Appledashery Vol. Two 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

"She's just... well..."  Fluttershy looked up from where she was grooming Winona on the center table of her cottage's living room.  "She's just lively is all."

"'Lively?!'"  Applejack drawled.  She paced before the reading seat and its large adjacent window.  "She's a dang varmint is what she is!  I wish I knew that from the get-go!"

"Uhm, why?"

"Why???"

Fluttershy nodded, gently brushing the happily-panting Winona.  "What does it matter how 'mischievous' Rainbow Dash is?  You only met her once."

"It's just that she's makin' such a big impact on the town!"  Applejack frowned.  She scuffled about to avoid trampling over various tiny critters along the floor to Fluttershy's cottage.  "I can already tell that so many ponies look up to her.  Especially the little'un's!"  She turned to glare at Fluttershy.  "When you've got that many ponyfolk believin' in ya, then it's only right that you... you... fl-fly right!"

Fluttershy giggled gently.  "And how does somepony 'fly right?'"

"I dunno.  Yer a pegasus, Miss Fluttershy!  You tell me!"

"Please..."  Fluttershy smiled.  "You can just call me 'Fluttershy,' Applejack.  I already consider you a friend."

"Heh..."  Applejack stared out the window.  "You mean you consider my brother a friend."

"Errrrrrrr..."  Fluttershy squirmed, pausing in the brushing.

Applejack winced.  She turned to chuckle lightly in Fluttershy's direction.  "Eh heh heh..."  She tilted her hat back.  "I mean nothin' sore by that."

"Of c-course you don't."

"He's... a heapin' lot happier than he used to be."  Applejack gulped.  "Girl, I tell you what..."

"Uhm... back to the subject of Rainbow Dash..."

Applejack coughed.  "Yes.  Please."

"Sure, she might have a... 'feisty' streak about her.  But she means well!  Honestly!  She truly does!"

"Hrmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." Applejack's muzzle scrunched.

"She's a good... good pony, Applejack," Fluttershy said in her smooth tones, smiling.  "Sincere.  Courageous.  And loyal."  Her eyes sparkled.  "Why... I've never known a more loyal pony in all of Equestria than Rainbow Dash."

"Loyal to herself, ya mean," Applejack grumbled.

Fluttershy giggled.  "Okay... so her ego might be slightly huge..."

"'Slightly?'"  Applejack paced again.  "For a pony that small, I'm surprised her back dun break!  Heck... she might break the back of other ponies!"  She gestured wildly.  "I'm tellin' ya, Fluttershy, yer old Cloudsdale friend nearly threw away the life of a filly just to show up her midair acrobatics!"

"Rainbow Dash wouldn't pull any stunt unless she knew she could do it successfully."

"But t'ain't right!"  Applejack sighed.  "Not when lives are at stake."

"You should have more confidence in Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said.  "She accomplishes what she sets her heart to.  I mean—sure—she may not be as cautious and reserved as farm ponies..."

Applejack's eyes flicked.  "... ... ...what's that supposed to mean?"

Fluttershy merely continued:  "But she has her own way of doing things and it works.  That's why it's taking the populace of Ponyville by storm.  Anyways, if you feel like Rainbow Dash is outstepping herself, then all you need to do is tell her!  Be honest!  You're good at being honest."  Fluttershy spoke out the side of her muzzle.  "That's what Big Macintosh says, anyway."

Applejack ignored that.  "So... you think Rainbow's the sort of type to listen to a stern lecture?"

Fluttershy giggled again.  "She always listens to mine."

"Really?"

"Oh.  You bet.  She has no choice.  After all, she and I used to..."  Fluttershy lingered.

"... ... ...?"  Applejack glanced at her sideways.

Fluttershy cleared her throat.  "We used t-to be real close friends."

"But... y'all ain't anymore?"

"Oh, we are, I suppose.  It's just that... well... Rainbow lives too fast of a life for me to easily catch up.  Which is fine.  I'm comfortable with my life and she's comfortable with hers.  Every other day or so... we meet up and reconnect.  Ponyville has allowed us to do that."

"Well then..."  Applejack adjusted her hat.  "Reckon that sounds mighty fine."

"Yes.  It's nice."  Fluttershy sighed through a calm smile.

Swallowing a lump down her throat, Applejack gazed out the window.  "Maybe I'm... jumping to conclusions..."

"Heehee... you wouldn't be the first pony."

"After all, Rainbow Dash did save that lil' filly's life.  Heck... she's saved multiple lives since she came here.  In fact... she's done a whole awful lot for the entire town... without even bein' asked!"

"I know."

Applejack smiled warmly.  "It just goes to show... sometimes—without expectin' to—you can find the most amazing... most spectacular... most heroic..."