Snowed In- A Humanized Appledash Fanfic- Chapter One
A strong country beat blasted into the eardrums of Rainbow and Applejack as they made way for the cabin, seated happily in the farm girl's new truck. It was not Rainbow's first choice of music, nor her second, or third for that matter. In fact, the rainbow haired girl disliked country quite a bit, but despite her many arguments, Applejack refused to change it. Eventually, Rainbow gave in.
"So," Dash propped her head against the dash board in front of her. "You still going steady with that boy from school- oh, what was his name again?"
"Ya mean Big Mac's friend, Robert?"
"Yeah, sure," Rainbow feigned disinterest. "The one with the funky accent, right?"
"Nah, we split up a little bit ago," AJ kept her eyes focussed ahead as traffic was beginning to thin out, the boarders of the city growing ever near. "Having a boyfriend was kind of draining, and I think he liked me a lot more then Ah liked him!"
One of Rainbow's eyebrows rose in curiosity. "How much did you like him?"
"Ah didn't," Applejack chuckled. "Big Mac set us up. Said I needed to start datin' or some nonsense."
"Yeah, well, boys are lame," Rainbow turned her gaze to the cityscape, speeding past them and transforming into a sea of wheat as they reached the country roads.
"So," Applejack peaked over at her friend. "It's safe to assume that you and that DJ, err, Vinyl are still together?"
"Nope, we split up as well," Rainbow sat up straight in her seat, focussing on something in the far off distance, and avoiding the farm girl's eye contact.
"What happened? I thought you really liked this one?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Ooh, wait, let me guess!" Applejack rubbed her chin for a moment, and then began shooting out her assumptions. "She dropped too many wubs? She scratched your favorite record? Ooh, ooh, you gave her half of your sandwich and she broke down in tears! Or... or... maybe..."
After a moment of silence Rainbow Dash turned, finally making eye contact and staring into AJ's deep emerald orbs. "She cheated on me." Rainbow turned back to the window.
"Oh... Ah'm sorry, Sugarcube."
"Yeah, well, just don't tell the girls."
"They're going to find out eventually, darlin'. Why not come out of that little closet of yours and just tell them? I mean, what's the worst that could happen. They're your friends, they'll understand."
Rainbow sighed deeply before answering. "No way. Not yet. Are we there yet?"
"Quite a ways to go, Sugarcube. How 'bout you close those pretty eyes of yours and I'll wake you when we're close?"
Reaching down to pull the seat leaver, Rainbow reclined back as far as the seat would let her. "Sounds good to me. Just don't admire my body too much, ya hear?"
"You're dreamin'."
"Will be soon, hopefully," Rainbow adjusted and squirmed until she had herself facing once again towards the window, and away from the farm girl.
"Somethin' wrong?"
"Nope," the tom-boy's eyes slowly slid shut. "Just dandy."
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The big red truck began to rumble as it turned off of the main road, and onto a rough gravel trail. They were getting close. In the not so distance stood a proud mountain range, each mountain twisting and arching into the sky in it's own, unique way. Beyond the steep cliffs the cloudless sky was just beginning to twist, and morph, as the sun sank into the horizon.
Applejack shook her head vigorously as her eyelids began to droop. She had been driving for hours straight, to make up time. The others had stopped to eat in a small town along the way, and Applejack saw it as an opportunity to ensure she and Rainbow made it to the cabin first. Three empty cups of coffee littered the floor at her feet, but they had done little to keep her focused. Yawning, the farm girl glanced to her right, where Rainbow's shoulders rose and fell with each calm breath.
"Gosh," Applejack muttered to herself. "It's not everyday ya get to see the infamous Rainbow Dash lookin' so peaceful. With the way she always runs around, on and endless surge of adrenaline, Ah was beginning to think she wasn't human at all. However, she just might be."
"Might be?" Rainbow's voice was sudden, and had a teasing tone to it. Rolling over, she revealed with open eyes that she was not asleep at all. "What's that supposed to mean?"
A light red hue filled Applejack's cheeks, as she quickly turned her attention back to the road. "Ah thought you were asleep!"
"Nah," Rainbow rose, stretching her arms and legs as far as she could in the cramped vehicle. "I tried, but I guess it's harder then I thought to fall asleep while on the road. I'm used to my super cloud-like bed."
"That so? Ah always pegged you as the type who could sleep anywhere."
"I usually can, but lately..." Rainbow hesitated, and Applejack caught a glimpse of the girl's worried expression from the corner of her eyes. "Anyways, are we almost there? No offense, but your choice in music isn't exactly cool enough for me."
"As a matter o' fact, we're only a few more minutes away."
Rainbow Dash diverted her eyes to the window, and was taken back by the scene around her. The truck bounced along down the gravel road, surrounded by a thick forest. However, instead of greens, and the usual bright colors of the wilderness, the scene was dominated by a blanket of white. Like powder, snow covered everything in sight, glistening in the waining sunlight above. It was like something from a picture book; perfect, and un-touched by mankind, the only sign of disruption being the gravel trail they followed.
Applejack continued, "Have ya heard anything from the girls?"
Reaching into her pocket Rainbow Dash pulled out, and glanced at the dimly lit screen of her cell phone. "No service."
"Me neither," Applejack spoke worryingly. "Well, Ah'm sure they ain't too far behind us anyways. Once we get to the cabin we'll just 'ave to settle in and wait for em'."
Turning her attention back to the wonderland outside, Rainbow spoke. "It's so beautiful here. I've never seen anything like it!"
"Ya better get used to it, Sugarcube," Applejack chuckled. "For the next three days, this is home! Well, this and those snowy mountain slopes of course."
The truck continued it's way up the mountain path, turning left and right, until finally after one last turn, the cabin came into sight. The building was not large, nor was it small. It was average, exactly what Rainbow was expecting. Instead of the typical, brown wooden walls, however, the Apple Family Cabin was built of red wood, giving the place an ominous, innocent feeling. All around the cabin large trees towered high into the sky, their branches embracing the home as if it was part of them.
"Well, there she is," Applejack grinned at the sight of Rainbow's awe filled expression. "My home away from home. Whad'ya think?"
Quickly glancing back and forth between the cabin and her friend, Rainbow composed a false expression of disinterest. "Well, it's alright, I guess."
"Wait till ya see what it's like on the inside."
The truck slowly pulled to a stop, Applejack swinging her door open and stepping out onto the thin layer of snow. Rainbow Dash was quick to follow. The crisp, chilly mountain air hit Rainbow like a slap to the cheek, and bit into her bare forearms hungrily. Before she had time to react, a strong chill was already running up the girl's spine, causing her whole body to shiver. Her first breath in felt as of her lungs had developed a coating of ice.
"Holy Pegasus!" Rainbow thrusted her hands into pockets of embracing warmth. "It sure is chilly out here! Please tell me we're going inside right away."
Rainbow approached the back of the cherry red vehicle, where Applejack happily unloaded, and tossed the tom-boy's bag to her. Grabbing her own luggage and leaving their ski equipment behind, AJ led Rainbow towards the front door.
"Don't worry," Applejack called back to her friend. "You'll get used to it, and we can start up the fireplace right when we get in."
With a satisfying click, the door swung open.
"Sounds great," Rainbow Dash followed her friend thankfully through the door way and away from the frigid outside.
The interior of the cabin was much like the exterior; red walls, roof, and flooring. However, it was decorated. At first glance, the place seemed like an antique, from some time long past. On the left of the entrance way was an open room, presumably where the Apple Family ate, and spent their evenings in front of a large stone fireplace on the opposite wall. The room was dominated by a large carpet that spanned the entire floor, it's thread tinted from age and use. A set of shelves was lined with various board games Rainbow had never heard of, and old magazines. Opposite the entrance spanned a hallway, along which were four more doors.
"This place seems ancient..." Rainbow kicked off her sneakers and moved in for a better look. "I like it!"
"Ah thought you would."
"So," Rainbow advanced deeper into the hallway. "Where should I drop off my stuff, and settle down until the rest of the gang gets here?"
"There are only three rooms," Applejack walked into the family room, flicking on a small radio. "And there are six of us, so we'll have to double up. Just throw your stuff into whatever room ya'd like."
Approaching the first room on the right, Rainbow pushed the door open, and entered. A single bed rested opposite the door, a skylight built in over head. Besides a small work desk, the room was bare, and in the dim light Rainbow could make out little of the details.
"This one it is," Rainbow called out to Applejack, and threw her bag onto the small bed. In Rainbow's opinion, it was nowhere near big enough for two people to share. Her room mate was getting the floor. "Is there a light switch or something?"
With a soft click, the room was lit by a single light bulb hanging from the roof. The blanket, the carpeting, the desk and even the walls were very similar in color; A light orange.
"Good choice," Applejack passed by Rainbow and dropped her luggage beside her friends. "This here is my room."
"You're getting the floor."
"We'll see."
As the two stared each other down, the recognizable voice of the radio man cut into their silence.
"-ust in, a major avalanche has cut off all traffic into the Equestrian mountain range. No reported injuries as of yet, though officials say it may be days before the debris is cleared, and traffic is allowed passage again. To those in the mountain area, officials say to stay put until further notice.
"This is your voice on the radio, hoping you enjoy our next few songs," and with that, the cabin filled with a soft melody.
AJ and Rainbow exchanged worried glances.
"You don't think..." Rainbow pulled out her cell phone. No service.
"Of course not!" Applejack made her way into the hallway, glancing through a window and down the gravel road. Empty. "I'm sure they'll show up any minute now. They couldn't have been that far behind us. We just have to settle down, and wait until they show up."