//------------------------------// // 62. The Razor of Dreams // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Applejack let out a long, slow, breath as she locked the door to the empty ApplePie Smithery. It had been empty basically all day, in fact! Applejack never cared much for slow days— which was most days for her pitiful little business— but without Pinkie Pie around to lighten the mood and provide conversation, sitting in the empty smithery for far too many uninterrupted hours all alone was starting to do a number on Applejack’s sanity. She tried not to wonder why she even bothered opening the shop up in the first place, if only because she’d wondered that same exact thing at least sixty times already today. Honestly, all Applejack wanted to do now was go home, fall into her bed, and sleep for the rest of the night. She wasn’t even sleepy so much as she was just sorta tired of existing, but either way, her bed called to her like a Siren’s song. But, she promised she would stop by the library first. She promised Twilight, and she promised Rainbow. She didn’t want to go; she didn’t want to be bothered by the extra trip, or to talk to anyone. All she wanted was for this day to be over. But a promise is a promise, and Apples ain’t no liars. Applejack slowly plodded along, hands in her pockets and slouching as she trudged through the heavy snow falling from the cloudy night sky, until she finally reached the Golden Oaks Library, and she couldn’t help but let the faintest smile cross her lips. She’d only been in the library twice before, but those were both great nights—two of her best in recent memory—so she couldn’t help feeling a mite warm inside at the sight of the place. The quiet atmosphere she expected is not what greeted her when she opened the door, even though almost all the lights were out. There was chattering and commotion, and Applejack was curious to see what the fuss was about as she carefully inched through the entryway and into the lobby where a crowd of patrons were gathered—and most of ‘em had kids, to boot. Applejack wondered what was going on, until she saw the candles burning on the desk, illuminating the back wall of the library, and the pair of enthusiastic pegasi standing on the desk, each holding a cardboard sword in one hand and a book in the other as they read to a group of enraptured ponies, foal and parents alike. Applejack leaned against a bookcase, just outside the glow of the candlelight, and watched Rainbow and Spike’s mock swordfight with curious enthusiasm. “You’re pretty good, for a girl!” Spike sneered, and only after a moment of confusion did Applejack realize he was quoting from the book. “So you want to be the prince who saves the helpless princess? Don’t make me laugh!” Rainbow grinned, knocking her cardboard sword against Spike’s several times as the smaller pegasus hovered in the air to match Rainbow’s height. “’Daring Do grit her teeth and forced a grin on her face’,” she said, affecting that very same motion herself, and Applejack was rather impressed by her acting prowess, “’she wasn’t about to let this chump see her sweat’!” “’Unfortunately for you, Ms. Do,’” Spike grinned evilly and lunged forward, knocking Rainbow off balance and nearly swiping her sword out of her hand, a frightened gasp coming from the crowd, and even Applejack had to admit she was holding her breath, “’one who hasn’t been blessed by the Razor has no chance against the power of my Dream!’” “’Daring jumped back’,” Rainbow said, affecting every motion and expression with one-thousand percent passion, “’and while she tried to keep her footing steady, the relentless assault of Atlas’ attacks forced her off her guard’,” Spike kept lunging forward, and Rainbow kept jumping back, “’until finally, she buckled under the pressure, and his sword sliced right through hers, knocking the blade out of her hand’!” Spike knocked the cardboard sword away from Rainbow, careful to make sure it landed behind the desk and nowhere near the lit candles. “’Really now’,” Spike laughed, and Applejack was really impressed by his evil villain voice, “’you thought you could challenge one who has been touched by the Razor of Dreams, with a mere bamboo practice sword? How pathetic.’” “’I dunno what ‘razor’ you’re talking about’,” Rainbow scoffed, “’but this fight ain’t over yet!’” “’If you’re so keen on staining this hallowed place with your blood,’” Spike chortled, running his cardboard sword through his mane, “’then I will gladly end your life with but a single strike!’” Rainbow sneered, gritting her teeth and baring her fangs; Applejack hadn’t even realized Rainbow had such impressive looking fangs until just this moment, but Applejack sure couldn’t look away from them now. “’Go ahead!’” Spike guffawed. “Risk your life and face me! If you have the courage!” “’Daring glared daggers into the man’s pitch-black heart,’” Rainbow said, and Applejack found herself watching with bated breath, eager to see how this would all play out. “’She knew she was at a total loss here, but there was no way she could lose Mareian to a creep like this! She’d just have to summon some reservoir of inner strength, and bare her fangs against the heavens themselves!’” Rainbow roared, pointing her finger to the ceiling and outstretching her incredible wings as far as they would go, the crowd cheering and hollering for Rainbow—er, for ‘Daring Do’ to triumph. “But that’ll have to wait ‘til next time!” Rainbow said with a grin, eliciting disappointed groans, laughs, and even applause from the audience, and none of them were clapping harder than Applejack. Applejack lingered in the aisles even as Spike illuminated the rest of the library again, cuz she didn’t want to interrupt Rainbow until she’d finished entertaining the crowd of ponies, many of whom—child and adult alike—wanted to talk to her after her performance and tell her how incredible she was. And they should, Applejack thought, that was really somethin’! Soon enough, Rainbow had drunken in all the praise she required and saw everypony out of the library, closing the door and leaving only herself and Spike as the only ponies left. Well, and Applejack, but Rainbow didn’t know she was there yet. “That was pretty awesome, huh Spike?” Rainbow leaned her back against the door and slid down to the floor, running a hand through her mane. “I’ll say,” Applejack said warmly as she stepped into the entryway, chuckling at Rainbow’s shriek of fright as she leapt up to the ceiling. “Howdy!” “Hey, Applejack,” Rainbow said coyly as she floated down to the ground, her cheeks tinted an adorably bright red. “How long have you been here?” “Long enough to see the end of that performance,” Applejack said. “You were amazin’!” “Oh,” Rainbow chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck, “so you saw all that, huh?” “Saw the sword fight, at least,” Applejack said. She turned her head to see Spike approaching from the back, greeting Applejack with a smile. “Howdy, Spike. You put in a mighty fine performance yerself!” “We were pretty amazing, huh?” Spike beamed, and Applejack nodded. “Putting on a big reading show was Rainbow’s idea, and it turned out to be the most brilliant idea ever!” “I dunno if I’d say most brilliant,” Rainbow’s failed attempts at hiding her proud smile warmed Applejack’s heart. That girl was cute. “Gotta tell ya though,” Applejack smirked at Rainbow, whose ears perked up in attention, “I really gotta know what happens next. I don’t suppose I could, I dunno, maybe stick around for a hot minute and maybe leaf through that book?” “Uh, I mean,” Rainbow coughed and her face turned redder than an apple, and Applejack loved it, “if you want to.” “Honestly, Rainbow,” Applejack let out an awkward laugh, affecting an endeared smile at the charming pegasus, “there’s no place I’d rather be right now than curled up with a good book right here in this here library.” “We were gonna make cocoa!” Spike chimed in excitedly. “We could make you some, and maybe we could all read that book together!” “Yeah!” Rainbow cheered, pumping her fist. “What d’ya say, Applejack? Just cuz Twilight’s not here doesn’t mean we can’t have book club!” “Nothin’ would make me happier,” Applejack smiled softly.