//------------------------------// // Time Off // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "Sooooooooo..." Rarity smiled elegantly, leaning back in her bath robe with a fluffy towel wrapped around her head and horn. "...my latest client put in a good word for me. Even promised that they'd refer my talents to Hoity Toity himself." Applejack sat across from her in the steam room, likewise reclining. "Mmmmhmmm." "Obviously, they do not know that I have already made a fortuitous impact on Hoity Toity in the fashion scene. But now that I have yet another reccomendation coming in from a completely unrelated source, it's more than likely to pique his interest again!" Applejack closed her eyes and smiled, relishing in the aromatic bath. "Mmmmhmmm." "Which would be wonderful because he and several other prominent figures are planning on attending an art show in Manehattan! Rumor is that it'll be transpiring at the flat of the very own Photo Finish. You remember Photo Finish?" "Mmmmhmmmm..." "Well, everypony that is everypony will be attending that art show. And if Hoity Toity will be speaking praises about my work, then that means everypony that is everypony will be listening in—and I'll be earning brand new clients from the upper elite of Manehattan in no time! Eee-hee-heee! It's like a dream come true...!" "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmhmmmmmmm." "And when they gather together like this..." Fluttershy nestled behind a bush, her dainty figure clad in a beige safari outfit, complete with a broad-rimmed hat. She put down a pair of binoculars and smiled at her freckled friend while whispering. "...it's called a 'kaleidoscope.'" "Y'all dun say..." Applejack peeked from behind the bush. Using a spyglass, she watched as hundreds if not thousands of butterflies settled down on the grass blades of an open field bordering the Everfree Forest. "Sorta like how there's a 'gaggle' of geese?" "Mmmhmm!" Fluttershy smiled from cheek to cheek. She spoke softly, as if not to disturb the migratory insects before them. "Notice how nothing from the Everfree Forest is coming out to prey on them?" "I didn't think about it until now." Applejack lowered her spyglass, likewise whispering. "Why is that?" "Well... my theory is..." Fluttershy gazed out at the colorful display of wings, wings, wings. "...the food chain subconsciously understands that to eliminate all of these butterflies would have an irrecoverable impact on the pollination of the local flora. So—over the centuries—they've instinctually trained themselves to not bother an entire migratory kaleidoscope of butterflies... at least until they've stopped mating and congregating. Isn't that wonderful? That the animal kingdom would... take a day off from predatory habits in order to maintain beauty and kindness? Squeeee!" "Heh... reckon it's a purdy sight, alright." "I knowwwwwwww..." Fluttershy sighed dreamily. "If only Big Mac wasn't busy with a hay bail shipment today. I'd love for him to see this too." "Oh, I'm sure he's used to gazing at pretty thangs." "Hmmmmm. Very true." Fluttershy blinked, doing a double-take. "Wait. What?" Pinkie Pie took a deep breath. "One... two... three!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash hoof-wrestled viciously from opposite sides of a table inside Sugarcube Corner. "Hnnnnngh!" "Grnnnkk-kk-kk!" The rest of the girls watched—gawking—in an anxious circle around the two competing mares. Rainbow Dash strained. Applejack sweated. "Oooooooh!” Pinkie Pie hopped around the table, closely eyeing the two muscle-taut forelimbs. "So close! Closey closey closey! This is a fight for all the marvels!” “Fascinating," Twilight exhaled. "It's certainly going on for quite a while," Rarity said, fanning herself. "Did it last this long last time?” "No." Twilight shook her head. "Rainbow Dash beat Applejack three times straight during the Iron Pony Competition.” “Huh. You don’t say…” “Not… helping…” Rainbow Dash grunted. “Don’t t-take it out on them, sugarcube!” Applejack hissed through a crooked smile. "This is… nnngh… all you and me!” Fluttershy stammered: “It’s g-gone on for long enough! Perhaps we can call it a tie?” “A tie?!” Applejack grunted. “You kiddin’?” “Don’t worry, Flutters!” Rainbow hissed. “I j-just… gotta show… Applejack who is… who is… boss…” “Ya seem to be sweatin’ an awful lot, darlin’.” “Grrrrnngh… I got this!” Rainbow clenched her eyes shut. Her forelimb began to buckle. Applejack saw the opportunity. There was a flutter between them—like an itch against her scalp. She scratched it the only way she could... by throwing full force into her fetlock. "Haaaugh!" "Whoahhh!" Rainbow's voice cracked. Not only did she lose the hoof-wrestling match, but she fell clear across the floor and rolled over onto her backside. The room filled with cheers. “AJ wins!” Pinkie bounced up and down. “AJ wins!” Applejack leaned back, pumping her forelimb. "Yeeeha! Nothin' beats the apple family muscle—" She winced suddenly, rubbing her fetlock. "Owwwwww... shucks! That took a lot out of me!" She turned to look down at the floor. "Well played, Rainbow Dash—Land's sakes!" "Uhhhhhh..." Rainbow Dash lay on the floor with her hooves curled above her tummy. She smiled nervously. "G-good job! You totally showed me up!" "Let's hear it for Applejack!" Pinkie Pie bellowed, standing prominently by Applejack's side. "Tosser of Dashies!"