//------------------------------// // Cloudcover // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Sunlight. Hours of it. Sunlight and sweat. Applejack kicked tree after tree. Apples fell. She paused to wipe her brow... to breathe... to think... And when she thought... ...it was all blue. The mare stumble to a stop beside her wagon. She rested in the shade, inhaling and exhaling the afternoon crispness. She closed her eyes and lingered in place. Still blue. Applejack sighed. She opened her eyes. Pivoting about, she glanced at the top floor windows of Apple Family Farmhouse. She saw her own bedroom. She imagined her mirror. She imagined the vanity beneath it. She imagined a drawer... with a box... with a feather... Raising a hoof, Applejack adjusted the brim of her hat. Her head felt clean. Freshly-brushed. Neat. There was no tickling sensation; the mare felt strangely naked without it— “Hey, Big Sis! You’re back!” Applejack jolted in place. She remember the breakfast she made. How scrumptious the pancakes were. How swiftly she had eaten them, smiling the whole time. She hadn't even stayed long enough to say "hi" to Granny Smith or to— “Oh, howdy, Apple Bloom!” Applejack spoke in a merry tone, fighting the inevitable wince away. She trotted towards the little filly and nuzzled her dearly. Smelling the foal's hair brought her back to the moment, the farm, the familiarity. Her smile returned. “So sorry that I couldn’t say goodnight to you last evening, sugarcube. We all came back from Canterlot super late. Well… some of us later than others.” Apple Bloom giggled. She adjusted the weight of her school book bag and wriggled in place. The genuine, innocent enthusiam at seeing her older sister for the first time in days was adorably real. "Did you have fun at the Gala?” “Er… yeah, well…” Applejack plucked her empty hat off and fanned herself. She thought of animal stampedes, falling marble columns, fleeing Canterlot locals. "I… sold a f-few apples, but…" A shattering statue. Applejack's pupils shrank. "Erhm…” “Applejaaaaaaack…” Apple Bloom smiled. She was listening right through her. “But did you have fun?” Applejack froze in place. She thought of a petite weight draped against her. Silk-soft hair. Trembles and warm whimpers. A clinging sensation. Starlight. "Heheh…" Applejack's voice cracked. She shattered the moment by reaching out to ruffle her little sister's mane. "Yeah. Sure thang. I... got my kicks in.” “Then that’s a good thing, right?” Apple Bloom blinked. “You betcha!” Applejack returned to wagon. “Whatcha up to?” "Mrmmmff!" Applejack heaved a basket of apples into the wagon. “Figured I’d get a fresh start on the Northern Fields.” Apple Bloom strolled closer. "Want some help?” The older farm mare gave her a knowing glance. “Don’t you have homework to do, sugarcube?” “Nope!" Apple Bloom smiled cheekily. "I did it all at recess today!” “At recess?" Applejack heaved another basket. "Isn’t that when you and all yer fillyfriends should be outside playin’ and enjoyin’ the weather?” “Nah." Apple Bloom shook her head. "It rained over the schoolhouse for most of the day.” “Really?" Applejack paused in loading the baskets. "That’s mighty odd.” For a nervous moment, she contemplated the gray skies. She thought of an even grayer looking pegasus, slouched in her seat on board a train with the mother of all hangovers. "I-I thought Rainbow Dash and the other fliers were clearin’ the skies today.” “Beats me." Apple Bloom shrugged. "Why don’t you ask her?” "Who?" Applejack lifted another basket. "Rainbow Dash?” “Yeah.” Casually, Apple Bloom turned completely around and pointed skyward. “She’s been floatin’ over our farm for the past half-hour now!” "!!!" Applejack's breath left her. "She has???” She spun and followed Apple Bloom's forelimb. Fluffy skies lingered high above. The wispy trails drifted lazily in the air. There was nothing above or behind them. Nothing but blue skies. Applejack stared... and blinked... and stared some more. Gradually, her ears drooped. She realized her heart was beating. Wildly. It made her curious and nauseous at once. "Errrrr..." Apple Bloom scratched her head behind her bow. "That's funny." She looked apologetically at her older sister. "I-I could have sworn her squatting on the cloud above us." "Uh huh..." "I mean... since when do rainbows flick about at the end of a tail?" Applejack bit her bottom lip. "Ah well..." Apple Bloom shrugged. "I must have been seein' things." She looked down, blinking. "Uhhhh... AJ?" "Hmmm?" "You dropped yer apples." "I did?" Applejack looked down. As it so happened, two whole baskets had been neglectfully dropped to the earth, and the grass around the two siblings was rolling with fresh fruit. Applejack fidgeted where she stood. "Hahahaha..." Apple Bloom playfully poked her sister's leg. "Looks like we're both klutzy today!" "Heheh..." Applejack nodded. She swallowed a lump down her throat. "...reckon it... uhhh... runs in our blood?" "When's Big Macintosh comin' back from his last trip to town?" "Huh?" "I said, when's Big Macint—" "Oh... uhhh... I dunno." "You don't know?" Applejack was staring into the sky again. "AJ?" Apple Bloom cocked her head to the side. "You feelin' okay?" Her muzzle scrunched. "I sure hope ya didn't catch no city slicker bug while you was in Canterlot. All them hoity toity ponies coughin' and snortin' around you?" "Err... nothin' of the sort, Apple Bloom. Reckon I've just got a dash of the drowsies..." She locked in place, teeth clenched. "Heh. If you say so!" Apple Bloom smiled innocently before bouncing away. "I've got to get ready for a meetin' with the Crusaders! Catch ya later, Big Sis!" "Uhhhh... sure thang..." Applejack waved to the farm, the trees, the clouds. "...sugarcube."