//------------------------------// // Words and actions // Story: Zap Apple // by The_Incognito_Brony //------------------------------// Ponyville had been draped in a blanket of darkness as the train pulled into the station. The town seemed so quiet compared to the commotion of Canterlot, but the five friends found tranquility in its calm nature. They were home, but the atmosphere felt somewhat sombre. Not only were they missing Twilight and Spike, but there was the underlying knowledge that they’d all be heading their separate ways to peruse their chosen careers. Not at that exact moment, but they all knew the day would eventually be upon them. Rainbow Dash felt uneasy as she made her way out of the train’s carriage. She didn’t want to go back to her empty cloud house where she’d be forced to overthink everything running through her mind, but her friends began to disperse before her. “W-wait! Where are you guys going?” Rainbow asked anxiously. “Don’t you all wanna hang out and talk some more?” Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack stopped in their tracks and turned towards Rainbow, confused. “Rainbow, darling. You didn’t say a word throughout that entire train journey, and it’s only now we’re home that you want to talk?” questioned Rarity. Rainbow felt called out. Her face was suddenly ridden with childlike guilt as she gave an awkward smile. “Is anything the matter, Rainbow Dash? You don’t look so good” asked Fluttershy in her usual worried tone. “No! I mean- I’m fine.” “It’s just- It’s not even that late.” “We could... Go swimming!” said Rainbow enthusiastically. “Oh, heavens, no! I’m not getting my perfectly quaffed mane soaking wet right before bedtime, thank you” Rarity responded as she flicked her mane purposefully. “Fine. Um. How about a... Sleepover?” said Rainbow as she cringed through her words. She hated sleepovers. Not all sleepovers, however. She enjoyed sleepovers with Pinkie Pie, in fact, she loved them. Cupcakes on tap, spooky stories, the works. All the same, she cringed at the idea of Rarity and Fluttershy swapping soppy stories, being roped into a dumb game of truth or dare, and eventually sporting a frou-frou facemask courtesy of Rarity. Everypony raised an eyebrow suspiciously at Rainbow’s suggestion. “But, ya hate sleepovers. Heck, Ah recon ya’d quit flyin’ fer a week before goin’ to a sleepover with the four of us” said Applejack whilst laughing. Rainbow found Applejack’s laugh fascinating. It was deep, hearty and perfectly normal, but it was one of Rainbow’s favourite sounds in all of Equestria. She found herself struck with enigmatic feelings once again. Her stomach tightened, her wings shivered, and everything else around her seemed to fade away with each little chuckle. After realising she’d been quiet for almost too long, Rainbow spoke up. “Pfffft, me? Hate sleepovers? Nah! What gave you that idea, AJ?” “Uh, Ah dunno. Maybe because ya give us the most plum-ridiculous excuses to get out of em” Applejack replied sarcastically. Rainbow laughed nervously. “Heh, like what?” The four friends looked at each other with exasperation. “Tank has hiccups and I can’t leave him alone” responded Fluttershy. “I’m way too emotionally drained after reading the last Daring Do book” said Rarity as she lifted her hoof to her forehead dramatically. “I tripped over in the shower and knocked myself out” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “There’s a rogue cloud over Ponyville that needs taking care of” ended Applejack. “And ya ain’t even a member of the weather patrol anymore!” Rainbow gave an accusable smile before touching down gently on the dirt path. “I don’t know who came up with all those lame excuses, but I do know that I definitely... Love... Sleepovers” said Rainbow as she forced out her sentence. “Be that as it may, darling. But I’m afraid I have to get home to watch Sweetie Belle this evening. If I leave that young filly alone for a moment longer, Celestia knows what my boutique will look like!” Rarity explained. “And I really should get back to Angel Bunny and the other animals. I’ve left them for far too long already” replied Fluttershy. “Speakin’ of which, Ah have an entire farm to check up on. Ah’ll have to catch up with y’all tomorrow” said Applejack with a nod of her stetson. Rainbow felt a tugging at her chest upon hearing the farm pony’s words. The thought of being apart from Applejack for one evening made her tense up in fear. Fear. Fear. That word played in Rainbow’s mind over and over again. She was scared. But the legendary Rainbow Dash never felt scared, right? Wrong. She felt desperately afraid. Afraid of losing Applejack. But why? Applejack knew how to take care of herself, more so than anypony, but Dash still couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness surrounding her body. “Well, I need to head back to Sugar Cube Corner to check in with the Cakes, but it would be super duper awesome if you’d come with me, Dashie!” said Pinkie Pie excitedly. Dash stood silently for a second, slightly taken aback by Pinkie’s sudden movements and close proximity. “Eh, it’s better than nothing” Rainbow thought to herself. “Uh- Yeah. Sounds great, Pinkie” said Rainbow Dash as she mustered a smile. Pinkie’s counteractive smile somehow managed to make a cartoonish squeak, and she continued to make springy sounds as she bounced in elated circles around the Wonderbolt. “YAY! This is gonna be great, Dashie! We can bake some new cakes, play games, start my latest fan fiction series, and give Gummy his bath!” replied Pinkie with growing excitement. Rainbow Dash cursed herself mentally, but even she had to admit that giving an alligator a bath was a better option than going home by herself. Alone. Over thinking. Without Applej- Dash’s eyes darted around until she managed to bring herself back to the present moment. She finally caught Pinkie’s gaze and remembered that it was probably her turn to say something. “Huh? Oh-yeah. It’s gonna be fun alright” Rainbow responded at last. “Uh- Lead the way, Pinkie. I’m right behind you”. “Okie dokie loki! Goodnight, everypony!” Pinkie almost shouted. And with that, the Party Pony began to bounce away towards Sugar Cube Corner with her signature cartoonish boing resonating behind her. Rainbow didn’t fly away at top speed as normality would state. She didn’t spout off a confident anecdote before departing. She didn’t even wish her remaining friend a goodnight. She simply began to walk away. Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy glanced at each other for a moment, confused. Just as Rainbow had started to get into the rhythm of walking, she felt a slight tugging on her tail. Nothing too forceful, but it was enough to startle her back into the moment. She turned her head slightly to reveal that it was Applejack who’d, once again, caught her attention. She stood with Rainbow’s multicoloured tail between her teeth for a moment before letting it slip gently from her grasp. Rainbow froze. What was Applejack going to ask her? Was she going to start a fight of some sort? Or was she simply trying to cheer her up? “Hey!” Rainbow said, turning her whole body to face Applejack. “What the hay was that for?” Applejack scratched the back of her hat somewhat nervously. “Heh. Only way to get your attention” she explained. “-and the only way to stop y’all doing something stupid” she added with a cheeky grin. Rainbow only managed to muster a groan and an eye-roll. The farm pony had a tendency to make Rainbow Dash’s brain stop working. Make it feel fuzzy. And warm. And- Wait. Was she still thinking about her brain? “You sure you’re okay, Dash? What you said on the train- Ah don’t want you to get too upset or nothin” said Applejack in a whisper. Was she okay? She didn’t know. “Two of my best friends are in another city, some of my other friends will be moving out of Ponyville soon to kick-start their careers, everything’s changing, and the only pony I’ve ever lov-“ Rainbow immediately ceased her train of thought. It was travelling to places she didn’t care to visit that evening. Maybe never visit. “Uh, yeah. I’m good, AJ” Rainbow finally vocalised. Applejack gave Rainbow her signature eyebrow raise. She could always tell when the Pegasus was lying. “Why the attack eyebrows, Apples?” Rainbow responded. She only really received the “attack eyebrows” when she’d done something wrong or stupid, but she hadn’t done anything of the sort. Not that evening, at least. Applejack could have very easily called Rainbow Dash out for lying to her, but she could see by the look on Dash’s face that it wasn’t the right moment for a fight. Applejack sighed. “Oh, never mind, Sugarcube. But you’re sure it’s only Spike and Twilight you’re upset about?” the farm pony asked as if she was testing Rainbow. Rainbow opened and closed her mouth in an attempt to speak, but nothing came out. Sure, she was genuinely upset about her two friends being so far away, but it wasn’t the only reason she was feeling sorry for herself. But she couldn’t tell Applejack, could she? It was only then that Rainbow noticed how close Applejack had become. She suddenly became very aware of the farm pony’s breathing, her smell, the way she bit her lip, and knowing that if she leaned in ever so slightly- “NO!” Rainbow blurted out accidentally, causing Applejack to step back marginally in shock. “Uh... I mean- I’m sure” said the cocksure Pegasus as she lifted her chin, trying to gain back some of her pride. Just as she thought Applejack couldn’t throw her off guard any more, she felt a soft, orange hoof run through the top of her mane and down to her cheek, caressing it in the process. “Ah worry ‘bout you somethin’ fierce, you know?” Applejack said in an honest tone. Rainbow felt a wonderful warmth enter her body. Applejack’s words always managed to throw her, but words combined with actions threw her into a completely different ballpark. Green and magenta eyes met for a moment as Rainbow subconsciously began to nuzzle into Applejack’s hoof ever so slightly. Everything seemed right in the world, but it was all over too quickly. Applejack removed her hoof from Rainbow’s cheek abruptly, she shuddered slightly to regain a sense of reality, and she began to bite her lip nervously. “Uh. Yeah. Um. Anyway-“Applejack began, coughing slightly. “If’n you need me, y’all know where Ah’ll be”. Rainbow Dash stood silently for a moment, bewildered. The same sense of sadness became apparent once again, but she nodded her head assuredly towards the Earth Pony. “You got it, boss” Rainbow replied with a wink. Awkwardness surrounded the two ponies momentarily, until they, in unison, decided to go their separate ways. Applejack turned to walk towards the farm; her head hung low as she solemnly made her departure. Rainbow began walking but eventually decided to hover ever so slightly; she felt being in the air may ease her nausea somewhat. Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared from over the hill. Then disappeared. Then she reappeared. Then disappeared again. She was bouncing on her trampoline, which came as no surprise to Dash. “Hey-“ “Rainbow Dash!” “Are you-“ “Coming or-“ “What?” Pinkie exclaimed in increments, making jumpy, springy sounds every time she appeared. Rainbow couldn’t help but shake her head and smile at her party planner friend. Pinkie Pie time was always the best way to distract you from yourself, and that’s all Rainbow Dash needed. “Uh... G-goodnight” the cyan Pegasus stuttered unconfidently, turning her head towards Applejack once again. Upon hearing Rainbow’s voice, Applejack stopped in her tracks almost too enthusiastically for her liking. “G’night, Sugarcube. Sleep well, now” the Earth Pony responded with a flick of her stetson. And with that, both ponies were out of each other’s sights, leaving Rarity and Fluttershy stood alone at the station, confused and intrigued by what they’d just witnessed. “Um... W-what just happened?” asked Fluttershy timidly. Still looking off into the distance absentmindedly, Rarity didn’t respond. “Rarity?” Fluttershy asked again as she waved a hoof in front of the Unicorn’s face. “What? Oh! I’m sorry, darling” Rarity responded at last. “I’m just surprised it’s taken them this long” she added as she brought her hoof to her chin in contemplation. “Huh? What do you mean?” the small, yellow Pegasus inquired as she cocked her head slightly. “Come, my dear. We must hatch a plan!” Rarity responded as she trotted towards her Boutique, flicking her mane in the process. Still baffled by the entire situation, Fluttershy simply shrugged to herself and followed Rarity’s tracks. Hatching a plan wasn’t on her to-do-list for the evening, but it seemed important, no matter how ambiguous. As long as Angel got his carrots by the end of the evening, she was more than willing to lend a hoof.