//------------------------------// // Apple Goals // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// It didn't take long for Rainbow Dash to digest Applejack's compliment. "You think so, eh?" Applejack took a breath. She looked at her friend... past her. Searching for clarification. Searching for something sincere, true, but not truer than she was willing to accept at the moment. "I..... have to admit," Applejack began. "I've... always admired the way you carry yerself about." Rainbow blinked. "You have?" Applejack had unwittingly cast herself into a spotlight. She had? Another deep breath, and she threw another truth aside: "Even if yer a downright sassy braggart about it from time to time." Rainbow glanced aside. "Oh..." Applejack winced. She rushed quick to the rescue: "Still... it's inspirin'. You strike everypony as a mare who always has what she wants and has the gumption to show off about it. Ya feel me?" “I… I guess.” Rainbow gazed off, picking her response with remarkable thoughtfulness. “The way I’ve figured it, being awesome is knowing that what you want—more than anything in the world—is right in front of you all the time.” Applejack nodded at that. She felt the tickle against her scalp, so she adjust the brim of her hat. Her eyes swam their way to the stones on the lone hilltop in the distance. "Sometimes," Rainbow Dash continued. "...it’s all that keeps you going.” Applejack gulped. “Well, more power to ya, sugarcube." Applejack's gaze fell away, cascading through the half-bucked orchards of her farm. "I gotta admit, there are times when I wish I had that sort of straight, rigid vision.” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "What’s stopping you?” Applejack jolted slightly. She looked sideways at her friend. "Hmmm?” “Things are changing in your life, aren’t they?” Rainbow said. “Who’s to know? Maybe now’s a time for a perspective shift.” Applejack squinted at her. “How do you mean?” “I mean, you can still take care of your family and all, but perhaps you can set apart some time for yourself.” Applejack was still lost. “I’m… uh… I’m still lost, sugarcube.” The scamp poured out of Rainbow with a roll of her eyes. “Oh puh-lease, Applesmack! Think about it!” “Think about what?” Rainbow stood up, frowning slightly. “What do you want more in your life than anything else!” Applejack's answer was swift. “Pffft! To save this here farm, what else?” “Aim further.” That hurt the farm mare's brain. She struggled not to go cross-eyed. “Huh?” Rainbow paced while talking. “It’s no big friggin’ secret that you wanna keep this farm, this land, and all the squirrels that live in its trees. But there’s gotta be more to it than that!” “I swear, darlin’..." Applejack trembled slightly. Gulping, she looked back at the orchards. "...there r-really ain’t.” “Really?” Rainbow scuffled to a stop in the grass. She squinted pointedly at her seated friend. "There isn’t something you’ve wanted to maintain the farm for?” “Like… like you mean a goal?” “Yeah, girl!” Rainbow grinned wide. “A goal!” Applejack continued gazing at the ever-expansive acres of land. Rainbow had asked her a question about the future. But—in searching for an answer that solaced her... an answer that made sense—she could only look in the past. Everything was in Applejack's past. She acknowledged it... and wasn't too terribly troubled by it. Applejack thought of Rainbow's question... of the idea of attainable goals... of accomplishing something and creating something and establishing something—a foundation—like her parents had. Her parents... For the first time in ages, Applejack's memories were rosy and gold-tinged. The gray granite malaise had vanished, and she smiled through it, warm and freckled and lively. “Hmmmmm… welllll…” “Yeah? Yeahhhh?” Rainbow leaned forward. “I… I always fancied…” Applejack reclined until her muzzle was resting on her forelimbs. "...f-fancied havin’ a family of my own.”