“Like this?” Rainbow Dash asked, holding up her fishing pole with the bobber rocking freely back and forth. Only one end secured to the line.
“No. Not like that. Ya need to secure both sides Rainbow.” Applejack grunted.
“Why both sides? Isn't it gonna just float anyways?” Dash argued.
“Because that ain’t how it's done.” Applejack said. Then reaching out across the boat, she snatched the pole from Dash’s grip. “Here, I’ll do it for ya.” And Applejack went to work, disassembling the bobber from the fishing line.
The fishing tournament was just about to start, and Rainbow Dash had yet to figure out how to properly setup her fishing pole. It was fishing! How hard did things need to be? String tied to a stick with a worm on the other end; that should not have been this difficult! But no, instead there were bobbers, and lures, reels and levers, and looping “fishing line” through holes for some reason. It was like some-pony took something simple and fun, and then sprinkled a dose of Twilight on it! Unnecessary, sciency, and complicated, that’s what this had turned into.
“There. Now don’t go changing nothing. Should give ya no problem catching fish.” Applejack said. “Course, ya still gotta catch ‘em.”
Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know. I just turn this handle thing, right?” And Dash pointed at the reel handle. She didn’t have the terms down, but after Applejack had demonstrated earlier, it seemed simple; just not the setup.
“Pretty much.” Applejack replied, “You’ll wanna keep the end of yer pole up too.” She explained, demonstrating for Dash by pretending she had a fish on the line. “And be careful when ya cast. Don’t want ya poking any-pony’s eye out. Namely my own!”
“Yeah yeah. I’ll be careful.” Rainbow Dash assured her lover. She stared over the pole, and for a brief second, wondered what she had gotten herself into. This wasn’t fishing, not how she knew it anyway. Was Applejack right? Did Dash just walk into a trap of her own making? No. Of course not! Unlike the apple bucking fiasco, this didn’t require consistent success. This just required one lucky catch that could come at any time, and victory would be hers. Not to mention, she had Pinkie Pie for backup. She couldn’t lose.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were two of the first pairs to make it into their boat. But by the time Applejack had finished prepping Dash’s fishing pole, many more ponies had shown up. Both Twilight and the mayor stood in front of a small makeshift pier so that last minute rules could be explained. Not much to say really. Watch where you cast your line. Don’t cast your line towards other ponies. When you catch a fish, flag down an “official measurer”, let them record the fish’s length, then let them release the fish for you. Blah blah blah. At least the rules weren't complicated. The mayor and Twilight finished up by wishing every pony good luck, and soon the fishing tournament was under way.
Applejack, being the experienced one of the two, rowed their small boat out to a quiet portion of the river they were fishing in. Once satisfied with their location, the pony pulled in the paddles, and with a smile aimed at Dash, said, “Game on.”
At Twilight’s signal, ponies across the river cast out their lines into the water. It took Dash a bit of fumbling with her fishing pole, but eventually, she managed to cast her line into the water. The red and white bobber bounced around for a second or two, then all was still. A soft whizzing was heard nearby, and when Rainbow Dash turned her head, she saw Applejack staring out over the river with her bobber bouncing around on the other side of their boat.
Silence fell between them, and Rainbow Dash adjusted her flank against the hard wood below her. She stared out over the river, watching the slow current of the river pulling her line just a bit farther out. She stared at the little red and white ball until she could feel herself going cross-eyed. Weird. Wasn’t there a bit more fighting the fish than this? Like fish swallowing boats or something? Looking around at the other ponies, Dash found much of the same. Ponies resting back in their boats, watching their lines and making the occasional conversation.
“So . . .” Rainbow Dash said, “This is fishing.”
“Yep.” Applejack answered.
“Any idea when we’re gonna start catching fish?”
Applejack just shook her head. “Don’t work that way. Fish’ll decide who they wanna bite and when. Until then, we just gotta wait. Ya can cast yer line off another side of the boat if ya think it’ll help.”
“This isn’t quite as exciting as I thought it would be.”
Applejack cocked her head to look at Dash. “You didn't research this at all, did ya?”
A little taken aback by the question, Rainbow Dash said, “No, but I didn’t think things would be this . . . slow.”
Applejack laughed, and admittedly, Rainbow Dash felt a bit stupid. “This ain’t a race dumpling. Ain’t no dashing off to the finish line. This here ya just gotta take slow and steady like. And if this spot turns out to be a dud, we’ll move on over to someplace else.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. She knew it was stupid to think things would be more exciting than this. She wasn't completely uninformed when it came to fishing. It’s just, competitions weren’t meant to be so relaxed. Adrenaline, agility, the wind whipping through one’s mane as she soared past her opponents and onward to victory! That was a competition. Sports, coordination, the sweat rolling down one’s neck as she blocked the other team from scoring. That was winning. This was more like a day at the beach, or a nap in the clouds.
Rainbow Dash’s thoughts were interrupted when the boat started rocking. “What the . . .” and she turned to see Applejack swinging her pole from side to side, spinning that little lever as fast as she could.
“Got a bite!” The farmer exclaimed.
“What?! Already!?” Rainbow Dash shouted back. Then looking at the top of Applejack’s pole, and saw it bending a bit, she looked back to her mare-friend and was suddenly worried AJ might fall out of the boat. “Y-You need help?”
“Nah, I got this. Just . . .” and with another tug, pulled her line up and out of the water. Flailing about on the other end was a fish. Applejack hoisted the fish over and into the boat, watching the thing flop around back and forth. Long whisker like barbels hung out from under the fish’s mouth like a beard. The fish sported a white belly with a silver back. “Nice little catfish there!” Applejack stated. And not wasting a second, the farmer winked at Dash. “Looks like one for me!”
“Biggest fish. Not most!” Rainbow Dash corrected. She was at least smart in that regard. If quantity was the deciding factor, she’d be sunk. “The day is just starting, and I’m only warming up.”
Applejack smiled. “Yeah? And what’ll be your excuse at the end of the day . . . dumpling?”
Before Rainbow Dash could muster a retort, another small boat paddled on up alongside them. Inside sat a boisterous Pinkie Pie on one end, and a quiet Fluttershy on the other. Between them rested an empty water tank and tape measure.
“Congratulations Applejack.” Fluttershy said, taking the fish off AJ’s hooves and placing it into the tank. “I think you’ve got the first catch of the day.” She said, removing the dulled-out ball that took place of a hook. Instead of poking holes through the fish’s cheek, the magically infused ball acted as both the bait and a magnet of sorts which prevented the fish from spitting it out. From what Dash had heard, it was the only way Fluttershy would be a part of the tournament. The animals’ safety was just as important as every-pony’s' safety.
“Hoping it won’t be my last” Applejack said. And turning to Pinkie Pie, she looked a bit surprised the party pony had tagged along. “Weren’t really expecting to see you here though, Pinkie Pie. Didn't know ya liked fishing.”
Pinkie brushed off the comment. “Nah. Just Fluttershy.” She said. And suddenly Fluttershy’s face jumped through a few shades of crimson. Well, guess that was good news for Pinkie. “She’s the reason I’m here.” And then leaning over the edge of the boat, whispering like she was sharing a closely guarded secret, “We’re on a date.”
Those four words simultaneously put Applejack into a stupor and pulled Fluttershy out of hers. “Pinkie!” She scolded. “I thought we weren’t going to announce . . . us until we could tell every-pony all at once.”
Pinkie just giggled. “Oh, it’s alright. Rainbow Dash knew I was asking you out. So, she’s already in on the secret.”
“But . . . you told Applejack.” Fluttershy pointed out.
“Oh.” Pinkie’s smile faded.
Before Pinkie could even begin to apologize, Applejack finally snapped out of it and chimed in, “I won't tell no-pony. My lips are sealed; Pinkie Promise!”
That seemed to satisfy Fluttershy. Well, at least she was smiling again, though she also couldn't stop blushing. Honestly it was cute. Thinking about it, Dash could easily see why some-pony would want to hold onto that.
“Sooo . . .” Dash finally inserted herself into the conversation that had so quickly derailed. “How big is the fish?”
Pinkie nearly jumped at the question. “We almost forgot!”
“You did forget.” Rainbow Dash reminded. Pinkie just giggled.
Fluttershy reached in, cooing the fish and making eye contact with her slippery friend. As the water dweller lay flat in her hooves, Pinkie stretched open the measuring tape alongside the catfish. “Now, just like I showed you Pinkie. Be gentle.”
Pinkie nodded in response. Her tongue curled out the side of her mouth as she leaned in and squinted on the numbers. It took her a second, but eventually pulled back with the result. “Twelve inches exactly Applejack! Not too big! Not too small!”
Placing the fish back into the tank, Fluttershy said, “We’ll let him go downstream from the tournament, and then report back to Twilight.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Applejack said, “Guess we’ll catch ya’ll later then.”
“A-And if anyone asks,” Pinkie quickly added, “It's a not-date!”
A yellow hoof poked against the pink mare’s side in what Dash assumed was a smack. The party pony glanced back to her brand-new mare-friend and the two shared a laugh. Rainbow Dash just shook her head. Honestly, it was going to be fun watching those two grow together. “See ya later Pinkie! Later Fluttershy!” Dash waved off.
Fluttershy politely waved in return. “Good luck Rainbow Dash. Hope you catch something big.” She said. Ad then Fluttershy did something she never did. She winked. It was subtle, and clearly meant for Dash. But why? Rainbow Dash glanced to Pinkie, who also wore a knowing smile. Applejack was of course, completely oblivious. The two gave one more wave and then they were gone.
“Whelp, now ya got yourself a number to beat.” Applejack teased.
It was then that Dash finally picked up on the signals. Fluttershy was now in on the game. Pinkie must’ve told her. Yes, that had to be why she got the wink. No other explanation. Why, with Pinkie's and Fluttershy's powers combined, the perfect trophy of a fish had to be waiting for her.
Rainbow Dash chuckled. “If that's the best you got, I may as well pick out your lipstick now Applejack.” And without a second thought, Dash reeled in her line and sent out a fresh cast into the river.
Applejack didn’t even get a word out when Rainbow Dash felt something snag her line. “Hope you're ready to lose!” Dash exclaimed, and the line on her fishing pole went taut as she struggled to reel in her catch.
“Ya got it?” Applejack questioned.
Rainbow Dash only grunted. Whatever was on her line, it was big. Each time she turned the reel lever one revolution, the fishing pole bent a bit more, and Dash had to yank on her pole just to make any progress. This was it! This was definitely it! If Rainbow Dash could just pull in this beast of a fish, victory was hers. But the thing barely moved an inch!
“Don’t fall out!” Applejack cried, and without warning the farmer wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash’s body. The warmth of her partner’s fur pressing in against her sent a blush across her face.
“I-I got this AJ!”
“No ya don’t! Now pull!” Applejack cried out, and together, Rainbow Dash used all her weight to get this fighting fish onto the boat. With Applejack’s help, the two leaned back and suddenly, something gave. The fish let go of the line. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash crashed down into their little boat.
“No. No!” Rainbow Dash cried out. She couldn’t have lost it! She just couldn't have! Grabbing her fishing pole, Dash reeled in her line as fast as she could. This time, nothing pulled back. The lever turned easy and the fishing pole only had a light bend at its tip. “No no no no!” Dash cursed. It was gone. Had to be. The difference was night and day.
But as Rainbow Dash reeled in her line, the bobber lifted out of the water, and with that . . . “A boot?”
“A boot?” Applejack repeated.
Yes. A slimy, seaweed and mold encrusted boot with water draining out from both the toes and the heel slowly bobbed up with the remainder of Dash's line. Some thick, vine-like seaweed curled around the boot. Thick, green, roots dangled from below. Must’ve been what had been holding on to the dang thing. And as for that magic little metal ball, it’d gotten tangled in one of the rusted metal lace holes on the boot.
Behind her, Applejack started laughing. “ha-ha laugh it up.” Rainbow Dash groaned. She set down her fishing pole so that she could untangle the stupid line. Her face burned from embarrassment. Why did this have to be the first thing she caught?!
“I-I have to hand it to ya Dash. I think you’re right! That does look longer than twelve inches.” Applejack said, stifling back yet another laugh. “Shall I flag down Pinkie and Fluttershy again just to make sure?”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. Finally freeing the boot from her line, she tossed the garbage at Applejack. The boot hit the pony with a thud and smeared its sea weedy goop along AJ’s side. The resulting look of disgust from Applejack was priceless.
This time it was Rainbow Dash’s turn to giggle. “Looks good on you Applejack. Maybe I’ll request it for our date.”
“Ha-ha very funny.” Applejack chided, cleaning off the gunk as best she could. “Guess I kinda deserved that one though huh”
“You sure did.” Rainbow agreed, and checking her line, cast it back out into the river.
A brief silence fell between the two. Not an awkward one, but a comfortable silence. It was one of those where knowing the other pony was right there next to you was company enough. Dash heard Applejack cast out her line once more, followed by a relaxed sigh.
“So . . .” Applejack said, “Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy huh?”
“Eeyup.” Rainbow Dash answered. And she couldn’t help but smile, because she knew her mare-friend was grimacing behind her. Applejack hated it when she imitated Big Mac. “Just doesn’t sound right” was the farmer's excuse.
“Good for them.” Was Applejack’s simple reply. “I think they’ll make a good couple. Heck, Pinkie’ll probably put an extra spring in Fluttershy’s step, and Fluttershy . . . Well maybe she’ll teach Pinkie how to be quiet once in a while.”
“Yeah, keep dreaming!” Rainbow Dash teased. She immediately burst out into giggles, and could see Applejack doing the same. Ain't no way that’d ever be possible.
Rainbow Dash allowed herself to enjoy the moment with her mare-friend, and once things settled down, a strange noise entered into her ears. A faint, high pitched scraping sound. Like cord rubbing up against something . . . then Rainbow Dash glanced down at her pole. The reeling lever was spinning in the wrong direction. Fishing line being pulled off the spool. Something had taken the bait, and was running with it. Rainbow Dash held the pole helplessly in her hooves. “Uhhhh Applejack . . . What do I do?”
The farmer, who had been watching her own line, started asking “Do with what?” And then she saw Dash’s fishing pole. In a split second, Applejack abandoned her own pole and slid up next to Rainbow Dash. “Grab the lever! Quick. Stop it from running. You gotta big one on the line! And this time, it ain’t no boot!”
Rainbow Dash reached out to grab the lever but it just banged into her hoof and kept on spinning. “OW! What the hay . . .”
Applejack tried grabbing hold of the lever, but even then, it continued to spin. “Hold that pole steady Dash! Don't you let go of it!” She commanded.
Rainbow Dash felt herself in a panic. Sure, she’d never really fished before, but even she knew this was something that just didn’t happen.
Tightly hugging the pole to her body, Dash glanced up and saw the pole bending at almost a perfect ninety-degree angle. Anymore and the thing would snap. And looking back to Applejack, Rainbow Dash saw the line was still being pulled out, and that while Applejack had both hooves on the lever, she couldn’t get it to stop spinning.
“Applejack, what do we . . .” Rainbow Dash started to ask, but stopped when she saw the last of the line spin off the spool. The second that happened, the line on her pole went taut, and the whole boat lurched several feet in the direction of whatever had Dash’s fishing line. The two ponies inside were lucky they didn’t go overboard. They were just slammed against the side of the boat, and dragged it with them. An explosion of water then erupted from the river far away from them.
“Uhhh Dash . . . I think we need to go. Now.” Applejack said.
“Yeah, yea we need to . . .” and Rainbow Dash stopped. For all of a sudden, her line fell flat against the water. Applejack returned to her seat, grabbing the paddles and started steering them away from the spot. And Rainbow Dash, she just sat there. She reached down, and grabbing the lever, found she could actually reel in the line again.
“M-Maybe it let go?” She said nervously.
Another splash of water, closer this time. Then Rainbow Dash saw it. The fish hadn’t let go. It was just swimming towards them. Water kicked up from either side of a rather large bulge of scales quickly approaching them. The thing pushed other boats out of the way like they were nothing, almost capsizing a couple of them.
Applejack paddled as hard as she could, and was shouting something at Rainbow Dash, but Dash wasn't listening. She’d been unable to take her eyes off the behemoth that was approaching her. “A-Applejack . . . I-I think we need a bigger boat.”
“We don’t have time for that!” Applejack shouted back.
Then it happened, and it happened so fast that Rainbow Dash didn’t have time to react. The beastly fish stopped just short of their boat, and opened its mouth. The jawline stretched out high above them, dwarfing the ponies and their little row boat. The thing’s mouth looked like the entrance to some mystic cave, something that even Daring Do would’ve thought twice about entering. Water dripped down from the creature’s massive teeth as its body arched out across the water.
Rainbow Dash felt the boat shift under her and looking down, found their boat was no longer on water, but instead on the creature’s tongue. She looked over to Applejack who had abandoned the paddles and was rushing towards her. The upper jaw came down with the crash of thunder and everything went silent. Everything went black.