//------------------------------// // Raise Suspense, Raise Suspense, 1-2-3-4 // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "That about does it, folks!" Applejack shouted. A layer of sweat christned her brow as she smiled at the skeletal framework of a barn that was forming slowly in front of her. Two dozen other ponies gathered around the foundation to the new building at Sweet Apple Acres. Some of them carried lumber while others hammered wooden pieces in place and yet more ponies prepared a simple pulley system with rope to raise the next portion up. It was a festive atmosphere, albeit laborious. "In less than a minute..." Applejack paced through the scene. "We should be able to give it the ol' heave-ho!" She looked across the way at a family of smiling ponies and tipped the brim of her hat. "Golden Harvest, thanks for bringin' yer family. How about you get the east side, ya hear?" As they Harvest family moved into position, Granny Smith came up the hill, pushing a cart covered in ice cold lemonade glasses. "Comin' along nicely, Applejack!" she said. The old mare came to a stop, sporting a proud grin. "My, oh, my, if this ain't a sweet sight already!" "A lil' too early for refreshments, Granny!" Applejack replied with a smirk while Big Mac nodded. "How about waitin' till we're done with the outer framework?" "Awwww..." Granny pouted through her wrinkles. "But I walked all this way!" "Well, have yerself a little sit-down in the shade. This part shouldn't take too long, I reckon." While Granny Smith waddled over to the opposite end of the barn, a bright blue figure soared into view. Rainbow Dash landed beside the half-erected barn, and she was panting for breath. "Whoah, nelly!" Applejack jumped back, grasping her hat. She chuckled. "How nice of ya to drop by, Rainbow! Yer just in time for this here barn-raisin'!" "Why?" Rainbow looked all around, jittery. "Why raise a barn?!" She gulped. "Why so many heavy pieces of plywood... and st-strangling ropes?" Applejack squinted at her. "You okay, sugarcube? Ya look like you've been spooked somethin' awful." "Wouldn't you rather be doing something that didn't involve so much dangerous lumber and splinters?" "Pfft." Applejack waved a hoof and smirked. "Shucks, darlin'. Ain't nothin' dangerous about this! Not s'long as I'm keepin' a watchful eye on the whole procedure! My Uncle Red Glaze taught me the ins-and-outs of barn-raisin', and then my Pa before him!" "Eeeeyup!" Big Mac sounded off from where he helped the busy ponies fitting together lumber. "Yeah, but..." Rainbow as wincing. "Why today of all days?" Applejack merely stared at her. "Why not?" Rainbow was at a loss for words. She could only bite her lip. "We've been doing so well with the apple harvest lately," Applejack said. "I figured settin' up a storehouse by the east field would help out in the years to come! Might as well take advantage of the bits rollin' in, ya feel me?" Applejack smiled wide. "And thanks to you scarin' off them vampire fruit bats the other day, we've got an early start!" "Yeah..." Rainbow exhaled. "Thanks to me." "Well..." Applejack cracked the joines in her neck. Having Rainbow Dash nearby was encouraging in any circumstance, but she couldn't afford to stick around and talk. "I'd lurve to chat, but I've gotta get my hooves dirty sooner than later." "Wait!" Rainbow's voice cracked. Applejack flung her a curious look, and the loyal pegasus smiled. "How about I help you!" "Help me?" "Yeah!" Applejack stared... blinked... then laughed wildly. Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "What?" "Ohhhhhhhh Sugarcube..." Applejack leaned against Rainbow Dash. It was a good enoguh excuse to rest a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "Why don't you leave this to the big-boned earth ponies, ya hear?" Rainbow's curious anxiety gave way to the usual sneer: "The hay is that supposed to mean?" Applejack leaned back, her fetlock brushing slightly against Rainbow's mane. She kept her breath firm and managed to say: "Oh, I'm only teasin' ya, sugarcube. We already have all of our positions cut out for us. Still, I appreciate the offer..." She threw in a wink. "...even if yer just a petite little speedster." Rainbow frowned. "Don't call me 'petite.'" Her voice nevertheless cracked as she said that. Applejack pointed skyward. "Heck, reckon you could be our spotter if ya feel like it! None of us have wings, and it'd be a big help!" She joined the rest of the gathered ponies, whistling. "Golden Harvest! Big Mac! Let's do this thang!" "Yeeeha!" "Alright!" "Woohoo!" "Eeyup!" "Show 'em how it's done, Big Mac!" Granny Smith cheered from where she stood, fanning herself with a wrinkled hoof. "Apple family style!" Something suddenly stole her attention, and she wandered out of Applejack's sight. Rainbow Dash loomed nearby, but Applejack wasn't paying any attention to her. They had a barn to raise. "Alright, y'all!" Applejack bit onto a rope beside Big Mac and the others. "On the count of three!" She made sure everypony was safely positioned, then gave a shout: "One... two... three. Heave!" The air filled with grunts and strained breaths. Nevertheless—with the combined effort of everypony involved—the eastern wall of the barn was raised skyward until it fitted perpendicular with the other portions of the skeletal structure. All it took was a firm tightening of the ropes and a series of planks pressed up against the contacting portions, and the group was finally read to hammer and nail the new wall in place. "Woohoo!" Applejack jumped in place, cheering. "Way to go, y'all!" She reached a hoof up to grab her hat and wave it around—but swiftly decided against that as she remembered who had flown in at the last second. "Ahem! That's some true grit! Now let's just hammer the thing in and—" Spontaneously, there was a loud snapping sound, followed by a heavy groan and the rush of air. Something shifted, wobbled, and fell in Applejack's peripheral vision, and it was followed by the sound of Rainbow Dash shrieking. "No—!!!" Thuddd! Most of the ponies gasped, eyes going wide. "...?" In a numb stupor, Applejack turned around. "...Granny?"