//------------------------------// // Foalish // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// ...and struggled and struggled and struggled. "Out with it..." Rainbow repeated. "Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah... uhm..." She sweated noticeably, threatening to stain the collar of her dress. Not that it mattered. The gown Rainbow that was wearing was just the way a pony like her wanted it—nearly ripped off. "I was just… uh… I was just wanting to… uhm…” She gulped. “To ask you something.” Applejack breathed a bit easier. Rainbow Dash—deep down—wasn't nearly as confident as her exterior made her look. Even this the farm mare could easily tell, but never before did she have the mare opt to open up so easily. Then again, they had been through a hellish night of broken dreams together. And although the whole scenario made Applejack want to snicker, she realized it couldn't have necessarily been the same for everypony—no matter how similar. So, with the patience of an older sister... she faced Rainbow directly, giving her undivided attention. “Oh?” She asked pleasantly. “What is it, Rainbow?” Rainbow stared at her. At last, her fuzzy lips opened: “How’s apple bucking lately?” The inquiry ended as swiftly and awkwardly as it began. A stab of pain ripped through Applejack's heart. The beautiful night and the mirth of the late-night "dinner" at Doughnut Joe's had almost completely erased the reality of the moment from the farm mare's mind. Namely, she was just reminded of how horribly disastorous this evening had been for drumming up bits for the farm. When all was said and done—and all of the "vacation time" had been spent here in Canterlot—Applejack would still have Sweet Apple Acres to go back to... and a struggling budget to salvage. But none of that was Rainbow Dash's concern, and it would have been terribly rude—not to mention unprofessional—to burden the poor pegasus with that. So, smiling, Applejack threw her voice a few octaves into overwrought enthusiasm. “Why, I thought y’all’d never ask!” She stared off into the far corners of the eatery, attempting to stretch the truth just far enough to avoid discrediting her Element. "Why, land’s sakes! We’ve been bustin’ our flanks off over at Sweet Apple Acres!" That was honest. "What, with the bounty that I was needin’ to bake desserts with at the Gala before our regular Apple Buckin’ Season! Whew-wee! It was a lot of tiresome work." That was also true. "I’m pretty sure Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were tossin’ me evil glances by the time we had rounded up the fruits of the southern field by sundown two days ago..." A bit of hyperbole. "...but they all understood that it was for a good cause, even if it all ended up as mushy ballroom floor polish in the end.” Ultimately true. And cold. “Uh huh. Uh huh.” Rainbow Dash nodded. Her foalish curiosity and enthusiasm had returned... ...so Applejack figured it was worth it. She rambled on about what she rambled on about best—Apples. "But once I get back, I’m gonna be tacklin’ the east and northern fields! I’ll do it on my lonesome too! Why, it’ll give Big Mac and Granny the time off that they deserve! But t’ain’t no biggie. The East and Northern Fields are my favorite. Did you know that the golden delicious apples are the ripest where the sun rises? I swear on my own grave! That’s the stuff we use to make cider on cider season! Why, if it weren’t for that long stretch of land we have in the east, I don’t know how we’d be earnin’ our revenue each year! For instance, back before we bought several plots—" There was a thumping sound against the tabletop beside her. "???" Applejack jerked to look at Rainbow. Rainbow was sitting up straight, propping her chin on a fetlock and smiling innocently. "You... okay, sugarcube?" "Of course!" Rainbow squeaked. "Do continue!" Applejack squinted suspiciously out of one eye. "Alrighty..." A breath. Another. "Ahem." She prattled on. "So we're thinkin' of expanded the plots of land to accomodate for a better cider season next year. It'll be all good and fine so long as we..." A painful wince. She coughed it all. "...we hop a few hurdles in our wake. But nothin' the Apple Family can't handle! At least..." A nervous chuckle. "...nothin' like we haven't handled in the past." That was ultimately true... just not in the way she meant it. "But... uh... you've probably heard enough about apple farmin'." "No, please go one." Applejack looked at her dead-on this time. "Ya sure? Reckon it's mighty borin' to a sporty, flyin' type like you." Rainbow shrugged. "Lemme discover that on my own. I just like hearing you..." Her tongue lingered, and she had to flick it to finish: "...talk about apples!" "For real?" "Totes!" "Hmmmmmmmmm..." Applejack squinted... squinted... and then grinned wide. "Boy howdy! Do I have a few tales to tell!" "Heeeheeheee!" Rainbow Dash giggled in a purely joyful fashion that reminded Applejack of Apple Bloom at breakfast. "Here we goooooo!"