The Everfree Forest is a dangerous place.
Everypony, everypony, who is raised in the surrounding area is warned of the danger. Even the smallest of foals are warned away. Wards were put up around the entrances to stop foals from wandering inside. Glowing softly in the moonlight, where they had been carved into living wood. Hoping that if the alarms sound loud enough that ponies will come running, and the predators that lurk within run away.
It wasn’t always enough. Stories of loved ones wandering in and never coming out are dime a dozen. Mail-delivery ponies of the Pegasus race fly above the forest, which is seen as considerably safer. It doesn’t mean safety, but it’s an edge.
Other delivery ponies weigh the danger before stepping hoof inside. Those who are quick, and clever, and are willing to abandon heavier deliveries when they need to have much better chances than those who aren’t. Still, it isn’t uncommon for disappearances to happen.
Some of Applejack’s earliest memories were of Granny, or her mother, singing lullabies or telling stories. Applejack clearly, distinctly remembers the sweetness of Buttercup’s perfume, the softness of her fur, as Applejack curled close and drifted to sleep hearing such horrifying things. Somehow Buttercup always twisted the stories to be hopeful: but their message was clear. Don’t enter the Everfree.
Applejack remembers her father, tall and broad and always with a smile, taking her near the edge of their property, where she could inherently feel the change in the magic underhoof. He explained to her that she was not allowed to enter. That the forest was (and still is) extremely dangerous, and that if she ever went in there she’d be in big trouble.
For all her curiosity, she listened. She’d come to the edge of the orchard sometimes, staring into the unfathomable depths of a forest nopony understood, but she never set hoof into it. Not when her parents used the paths within for deliveries, or when her school friends would dare each other to creep into the treeline.
She avoided it all together once her parents disappeared one week, a few days after they were scheduled to come home and they all realized something had happened.
After their parents had gone, it was up to Granny and Big Mac, and herself to teach Apple Bloom the same avoidance. Granny was stricter about it than Applejack remembered, but they were early days when grief was still sunk into the foundation of their home without the ease of time or laughter to help brush away the tears.
When Applejack was old enough, and strong enough, she and Big Mac split the delivery jobs. Granny, sprier and more able to run then, had accompanied them the first few trips they made. Whispering old wives tales, tips and tricks, more warnings.
But the deliveries went without a hitch, and so long as you were quick, quiet, and observant, you’d be okay. That was the mantra that had kept Applejack and Big Mac alive all these years.
Which was part of why Appleack was so annoyed. A huffing sigh left her, irritated and enough to shift her forelock out of her eyes. “What are you doin’?”
“Coming with you?” Rainbow Dash shrugged, loud voice grating. “Thought that was obvious.” She flew above the trail, and slightly ahead of Applejack.
“Why?” Applejack pressed. She was loath to admit it, but Rainbow could give her an advantage out here. The pie cart needed another tune up, the axel was a little bit rusty again, which slowed her down. If it weren’t for the customer paying double for their order…
“You’re always out here, and I thought you could use some protection.” Rainbow looked down, shooting Applejack a surefire grin that oozed confidence. Not that Rainbow did much else aside from ooze confidence or nap.
Well no, that wasn’t exactly fair-
Applejack let out another sigh, cutting herself off there. “I’ve been doin’ this for years without your help, RD. What makes this so different?”
There was a flicker of a more serious expression on Rainbow’s face, just for a moment. Quick enough that Applejack dismissed it as part of her active imagination. She was always on the lookout out here.
“Wellll,” Rainbow pursed her lips for a moment, muzzle wrinkling as she thought, “I was bored. Going back to Wonderbolt Academy to help teach next week, remember? Thought some real flying could do me some good.”
“You been drinkin’ too much cider again?” Applejack teased. “Or eatin’ too much pie?” The grin on Applejack’s face grew at Rainbow’s groan of despair.
“I love Pinkie, honestly, but I’m so glad I don’t have to lie about that anymore.” Rainbow scowled, looking up to scan the horizon, before looking back down again. Her powerful wings flapped occasionally, propelling her forward and keeping her level with the tops of the trees. “It was getting a little out of hand. She’s going to keep making pies for the Academy though, and the school children. Tank isn’t so happy about being cut off.”
A sharp laugh escaped Applejack at that, and she caught the edge of a true smile on Rainbow’s face, tugging crookedly at her lips with that one dimple that the Wonderbolts Illustrated photographer had practically drooled over.
Applejack liked those pictures too, capturing Rainbow in a moment where she wasn’t constantly wearing her confidence like armour was rare. Rarer still in photos, especially ones for the press. Still, it was good to see.
“I bet, poor little guy.” Applejack shook her head. “Prob’ly feelin’ better for it though, the extra sugar had to be upsettin’ his stomach.”
“It was.” Rainbow confirmed, nose wrinkling in disgust at the memories. “But he’s feeling better now, which helps.”
“I bet.” Applejack said.
There was a lull, then. Applejack trotting along the trail, mentally ticking down the time until nightfall. If they had to, they could stay at the ranch overnight. Granny would worry, but it would be better than risking travel at night.
Rainbow continued to fly overhead. Occasionally doing a flip or flying upwards to check how far into the forest they were. Life chattered around them: bushes rustling, insects buzzing. What you had to look out for was ominous silence. When the real predators came out to play, the others would all leave.
“Did you get a chance to look at the new recruits before you left?” Applejack asked, almost hesitantly.
Rainbow’s enthusiasm for the Wonderbolts never faded. Not in the face of finally fulfilling her dream or raising through the ranks or the work she had to do, and getting her to talk about ‘the next generation’ of fliers was a sure way to whittle the time away.
“No,” Rainbow huffed irritably. “They didn’t come until the day after, and as excited as I am to help Spitfire whip these guys into shape I didn’t want to risk getting stuck there over what’s supposed to be my vacation.”
Applejack nodded, “Yeah that’s fair. Least you got stuff to keep you busy year-round. Between the school, the Wonderbolts, helping out Ponyville’s weather team, you got a lot to to.”
“All of us do, it’s no big.” Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. “I mean come on, you’ve got the school too and Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity has, what, three shops open now? And talking about opening a fourth up in the Crystal Empire, plus the school. Pinkie still helps the Cakes with the twins, she still plans most of the parties in town, and the work she does with the school, nevermind Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy has that sanctuary to run, helps Dr. Fauna, the school, plus all the rehabilitation she does at her cottage. Twilight is Twilight, if she isn’t working then something is clearly up.”
“That’s true, I suppose.” In a short amount of time, their lives had changed so drastically. Well, not short, over the course of years, but still. It felt weird sometimes, to think back to a time where she worked so hard and hardly had two bits left at the end of the month after making sure everything was paid and looked out for. The farm was better now, in part due to Ponyville’s growth and because of her salary at the school. And, she could admit this no matter how grudgingly, because ponies knew her now, and trusted her product.
“You been up to anything?” Rainbow asked. “Aside from the usual, I mean.”
“No, not-Oh! We’re workin’ on a deal with Grand Pear., hopin’ maybe to do a line of goods together. Apple and Pear jam, that sort of thing. Apple Bloom is real excited about it. Granny less so, but we’re workin’ on it. It was Apple Bloom’s idea, and we’re hopin’ it’ll bring us a bit closer.”
“That’s awesome!” Rainbow beamed. “I like both of your guys’ jams, so I’m sure whatever you guys make will be great.”
“It’s a first for all of us. Divulgin’ family recipes so we know how to best combine them. Granny and Grand Pear are a little tight about it sometimes, but they’re both too worn out to fight about it. Apple Bloom helps, a lot actually, and is really spearheadin’ the project. She’s hoping that maybe we could work on some baked goods together too, once Grand Pear is a bit more settled.”
“Granny bought up the land that was his, right?”
“Yeah. He’s bought back a couple plots, mostly orchard, and we’ve discussed it all. In a couple weeks we’re going to transplant some of our trees to make room for some of his. We’re sendin’ ‘em to Appleloosa, they lost a couple trees to rot this winter. And he’s looking to buy a couple parcels of land nearby for a larger orchard, if the demand increases. He still has the property in Van Hoover, so he-”
Rainbow froze, and Applejack did the same on instinct. The cart rolling to a creaking stop behind her. Ears straining to figure out what exactly was going on.
Nothing. No sound, just the last echoes of her own voice filtering through the trees.
Then, a deep, guttural growl.
Applejack was twisting to undo the buckles around her barrel before she fully registered what was going on. Slipping free of the harness, she bolted up the path. Turning around was dangerous, bursting through the trees into the unknown was worse. Stick to the trails, and you had a much better chance.
Rainbow’s shadow flickered across the ground of the trail. Broken only by hanging canopies of nearby trees.
“Come on Applejack, we’re not too far from the edge!”
“What was it!?”
“I don’t know! Didn’t get a good look, just heard it coming!”
Applejack didn’t hear anything behind them, or to the side. So not a pack of anything then. Manticore maybe, the season was right for them to be out and looking for food. “Don’t stop!”
“Not planning on it! Sorry, but your pies aren’t worth it.”
In spite of the danger, Applejack scoffed. “You’ve eaten more of my pies than-” A twig snapped, somewhere behind her and to the left. Any joy, any desire for witty banter drained from her quicker than she could think.
She urged herself forward, running all the harder. Starting to breathe harder as she thundered along the trail, her hooves connected with the compact dirt underhoof. It should have hurt, jostled her, or something, but it didn’t. Fear numbed any pain she might have had.
All she could hear was the racing of her heart, the blood pounding between her ears, the terrified gasps of her breath as she sprinted.
Rainbow was quiet too, and even though she could leave her friend in the dust and go to safety, she remained above. Flying quickly, but still within a helpful distance should anything happen. Loyal to a fault, like always.
Applejack was grateful for it, beyond grateful really. It warmed her heart to know that out of all the things she could have done, Rainbow had chosen this in spite of the danger.
Finally, up ahead, Applejack could see the break in the trees that spelled freedom. The lights were on in the farmhouse, penetrating into the darkness even this far. Her legs were burning, chest heaving, and yet she picked up the pace.
Making it to the edge might not be enough, depending on what was following them, but it was a good first bet. The denizens of the forest were reluctant to leave it, in spite of the danger it posed to any living being that was inside it for any amount of time.
A settled zone would hopefully repel the creature, push it back into the forest-
“Hey!” Rainbow yelled, and dove. Her wings tucked close to her body, front legs outstretched in front, and hind legs straight as an arrow as she ploughed into Applejack. Sending them both tumbling down the last bit of trail and down the hill beyond.
A fence broke their movement. Leaving them a tangled mess of bruises and adrenaline. Applejack’s hat was stark against the green hill of grass, and yellow eyes disappeared from the treeline.
They lay there a few moments, catching their breath, still tangled together as they stared into the crystal blue sky above them.
A cloud, small, white and fluffy drifted in front of the sun for a moment.
“Weren’t you on weather...duty earlier?” Applejack rasped.
“Not my district.” Rainbow replied bluntly.
The two stared at the little cloud as it continued drifting.
It was Applejack who broke, choked hoarse laughter leaving her as the adrenaline began to wear off and she could think. Did the creature, whatever it was, leave the wagon alone? Would other creatures try to break into it for its contents? Was it time to just give up on the day and go to bed?
Once Applejack got going, it wasn’t long before Rainbow broke too. The pair laughing, and laughing, and laughing, together and safe. A little banged up but no worse for wear.
“It-it tried swiping at you. Thought maybe I could pick you up.” Another rasping laugh escaped Rainbow as she wiped at streaming eyes with a foreleg.
That made Applejack laugh all the harder for a few moments before she had to pause for air. “I’m...an earth...pony.” Dense bones and dense muscles, fully grown, with a physical job to boot. No way a lone pegasus would be able to pull it off, even one so athletic as Rainbow.
A cute blush spread across Rainbow’s cheeks, as she crossed her front legs over her chest with an irritated huff. She was trying hard not to smile, clearly as adrenaline exhausted as Applejack felt and that was usually tiring. “I...miscalculated. Still, I tried.”
“You did. Thank you. I still got my tail, so that’s better than it could have been.” Another hoarse laugh, and Applejack winced, slowly shifting into a sitting position. She suddenly felt rather lacking, missing the warmth of Rainbow against herself.
The two stared at each other for what felt like an age, but was only a couple of seconds. Before Applejack was leaning in to kiss Rainbow Dash full on the mouth, even as the elderly couple who ran the farm finally spotted them and started to rush over to see if they could help.
Not a complete waste of a delivery, at least.