//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: Pretty Strangers // by Avellana //------------------------------// “So” Applejack began, setting her now empty glass down on the bar as she turned to face Rainbow, “how long you been in Ponyville?”. “I moved here around six months ago from Canterlot, and before that I lived in Manehatten with my family” Rainbow replied quietly, giving Applejack a small, nervous smile as she lazily swirled her remaining lemonade in the bottom of her glass in a desperate attempt to avoid eye contact with the woman across from her. The bar had long since cleared of most of its patrons as the night had wore on, the atmosphere dying down to a quiet murmuring from the half dozen or so still remaining. There was a comforting sense of familiarity in the scene before her; she’d spent many of her nights off here with Pinkie, and had often stayed until well past closing time to help Pinkie close up, the place practically becoming a second home to the pair. “What ‘bout you” Dash piped up, pausing momentarily as Pinkie skated by with a tray of empty glasses before continuing “You don’t sound like ya grew up here either”. “I didn’t” Applejack replied, secretly impressed at how perceptive Rainbow was. “I grew up in Germany with my parents originally, and we moved over here when I was eleven” she finished, silently gesturing the pink haired bartender for a refill, before continuing “I picked up my accent from my parents, but I’ve lived here longer than I lived over there”. Dash perked up, smiling as she flipped her hair out from her face. “One second” she said, setting her glass aside and shuffling her chair closer to Applejacks before clearing her throat. “Ich bin Rainbow, ich spricht klein Deutsch” she stated proudly, sitting up taller on her chair smugly. “Bet ya didn’t expect that huh?” Applejack smiled at Rainbow’s antics and laughed, leaning closer as she did. “Bisschen” she said quietly while chuckling, a smug smile of her own forming on her face as Rainbows changed from gloating to confused. “It’s bisschen, not klein” she laughed, “you just told me you speak ‘small’ German, not a little German”. “Oh shut up you… Gemüsekopf” Rainbow retorted while laughing along with Applejack at her mistake. Applejack smirked at Rainbow as her smug expression returned. “Vegetable head huh, that’s pretty creative” Applejack said between chuckles as she watched Rainbow trying in vain to not laugh at her own joke. “Well I try my best” Rainbow replied laughing along with Applejack, who was about to reply before she was interrupted by Pinkie ringing the closing bell. Rainbow glanced up at the wall clock, surprised by how much time had gone by since her set. “Well I guess that’s our cue to leave” Applejack said as she jumped off her chair and began putting her coat on. “I think your right Apples” Dash replied, earning a smirk and a chuckle from Applejack. She quickly downed the remainder of her lemonade, not wanting to leave any behind, before removing her denim jacket from her chair and quickly throwing it around her shoulders like a cape. “Where you walking?” Applejack asked, catching Rainbow off guard. “I’ve gotta walk right through town pretty much, so I can keep ya company, if you want”. “Same here, it’d be nice to have some company, I just need to grab my guitar and say bye to Pinkie” Dash said, trying not to let Applejack see her blushing. “I’ll be along in a sec” she added before racing off. “Sure, sure” Applejack replied as Dash raced off. Dash quickly made her way across the bar towards the side of the stage where she’d left her guitar, where she was met by a smirking Pinkie. “Making friends?” She asked, giggling as Dash’s face immediately lit up as she struggled with her guitar case zipper. “I uh.. I..” Dash stalled, trying to avoid the inevitable interrogation at the hands of her roommate. “It’s not like that” She finally retorted, managing to zip close her guitar case before slinging one strap over her shoulder. “I barely know her, we were just talking, ok?” “Just talking eh? Sure it was” Pinkie teased, giggling as Dash’s face went brighter than before. “I’m leaving, I’ll see you at home” Dash replied quickly as she laughed along with Pinkie, turning sharply on her heel before making her way back to where Applejack was writing on something at the bar. “All good?” Applejack asked, looking up from her seat, to which Dash replied with a sharp nod and a grin of her own, before leading Applejack out of the bar and into the night. ——————————————————— The night air felt cold against Dash’s face as they walked along the empty street, causing her to shiver slightly as she shifted her guitar case on her shoulder. She glanced over at Applejack, who merely smiled back at her, with what Dash thought was a small blush, though she couldn’t be sure in the dim street lights. “So” Applejack spoke up, pulling Rainbow from her musing and back into the moment. “What’s your story? I’ve never seen you around before is all” she spoke softly, her eyes flicking from Rainbow to the ground in front of them. “I think I’d of noticed you and that bright hair of yours”. Rainbow smirked to herself at the compliment, or at least what she perceived as a compliment, before answering. “I work crazy long hours during the week, and the weekends I’m usually sleeping or practicing my music, so I don’t get a lot of time to just go out” She replied, stopping briefly to look as they crossed the street. “I work at the garage down town as a mechanic, which is more or less a full time job now we’re down one man” she continued, pulling her jacket closer around her shivering body. “A mechanic?” Applejack questioned, surprised at her reply. “That’s not what I pictured you as” She said out loud, before quickly adding on “No offence”. Dash laughed at Applejacks worried expression, glancing upwards at the night sky briefly and flicking her hair behind her as she replied “Don’t worry, I get that a lot, I’m not offended”. She flashed a smile and a wink towards Applejack, who smiled back while blushing lightly. The pair settled back into a comfortable silence as they walked alone, the only sounds breaking through the night being the occasional lone car, and the distant hum of the motorway. Rainbow kept on finding herself stealing short glances at Applejack, quickly reverting her eyes whenever she noticed her looking. There was something different about her, something unique that Rainbow couldn’t quite put her finger to. Maybe Pinkie was right Dash thought to herself, her heart beating slightly faster as she did. Much sooner than either of them had wanted, they reached Rainbows apartment complex, and were standing by the entrance doors as Rainbow dug around in her pockets for her key. Applejack leant against the door frame as Dash looked, gazing up at the stars and the waning moon. She took in a deep breath, before exhaling slowly, her foot tapping nervously on the ground. Her attention was torn back to Dash, who celebrated finding her key with a small fist pump. She quickly unlocked the door, picking up her guitar case as she opened it fully. A wave of warm air washed over her, and she sighed happily, leaning her guitar on the wall before spinning back around to face Applejack. The pair stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say, before Rainbow spoke up. “Thank you Applejack” she said, smiling at the taller women. “Thanks for walking me home, and for tonight, I had so much fun” she finished, blushing lightly as her eyes darted around. “It’s no problem” Applejack spoke quietly, fidgeting nervously with her hands as she edged nearer and laced her cold hands through Rainbows own. The pair made eye contact for a single moment, before Applejack leant down and lightly kissed Rainbow on the lips. The act lasted no more than a few seconds, but it was enough to derail whatever train of thought Rainbow had. Applejack pulled back slightly, before opening her eyes and gently releasing her hands from Rainbows. They remained still for another few seconds, before Applejack broke the silence. “Call me” she spoke softly, lightly pressing a piece of folded paper into Rainbows hands, before releasing them and heading off into the night. “Y... yeah” Dash mumbled, glancing down at the paper in her hands, before looking up to see Applejack turn round the corner and fade from sight.