It was late afternoon in the town of Ponyville, a young mare stood by her stall to sell her wares, her brother stood next to her side.
Applejack couldn’t help but hope the new mare would drop by today. She tried to help herself from looking around. You never want to seem too eager in a marketplace.
Her brother on the other hoof was just as stoic next to her as usual. His presence was reassuring, and unnecessary. He didn't need her help to sell apples, so why had she insisted on coming?
She knew the answer, and much to her chagrin, so did he. It hurt when she felt his hoof on her shoulder. Not that the gesture wasn't kind. Applejack loved her brother and she knew he was just trying to make her feel better. It wasn't his fault that his sympathy had the opposite effect today. The gesture might be reassuring, but what hurt was the fact that he felt she needed reassurance. It was still a few minutes until closing time. Rainbow Dash could still show up.
She could still show up, but it didn't seem all that likely. Applejack sighed as Big Macintosh let go of her and started to pack up their wares. She had wasted the entire day, two ponies doing the work of one, and for what? Just so she could ogle the new mare?
She felt the anger bubble up. What was so special about this new mare? Why did Rainbow Dash have to choose Ponyville of all towns to find a job in? It wasn't right. Big mare from a big town, coming here and playing with Applejack’s feelings.
What infuriated Applejack even more was that she knew she was being unfair. Rainbow Dash didn’t know Applejack liked her, how could she? They had barely talked. The only time they exchanged words was when the pegasus bought some of her apples, and then she was too tongue tied to say anything, she just handed the fruit over and didn't even have the presence of mind to haggle over the price. What bits Rainbow hoofed over was the price.
AJ was aware that she tended to grossly overcharge the pegasus. A small, petty payback, and an unintentional one. Rainbow came from the big city in the clouds, where fruit had to be imported and sold in stores with several merchants racking up prices along the way. The pegasus probably didn't know how much cheaper you could get apples when they were sold right by the farm that grew them.
Applejack shook her head, it was no use dreaming about a mare who barely knew she existed. Rainbow Dash hadn't shown up, and now she had twice as much bucking to do tomorrow to catch up for today's missed work. Well, she only had herself to blame for that one. Whatever qualities the new mare had, it was AJ’s own fault for pining over her all day.
With a sigh she joined her brother in the packing up.
And then it happened!
The pegasus swooped down like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. Applejack barely had time to admire her rainbow mane whipping in the speed, or the way her muscles worked under that cyan coat before the mare had landed in front of them. The speed this mare could move at, it was mind boggling. One moment she was barely a dot in the sky, and the next she was standing right in front of Applejack.
Standing right in front of her, and talking.
AJ quickly pulled her act together and focused on the pegasus. She was talking, asking something. Talking to her. That meant having to reply, and focus. Focus was a good idea.
"You guys haven't closed yet, right?" Rainbow Dash frowned, eyeing the empty stall.
"Eh, no of course not. What can Ah get ya?" AJ did her best to appear cool, pushing her hat back and giving a smile that she hoped was confident.
Big Mac just rolled his eyes, having just packed up and lifted the last of their produce. He put one sack down by Applejack and started walking. She’d just have to catch up with him after this was done with. No pressure at all, she could totally handle this, probably.
"Cool," the pegasus smiled, utterly oblivious to the cold shoulder the stallion had given her.
"A dozen of the red ones." She demanded, and put a hoofful of bits on the counter.
Easily enough to buy 3 dozen, Applejack noted. She took some of the coins, pushing the rest back with the apples. She was done taking the new mare’s money, it was unfair and unbecoming of a pony as honest as she liked to think herself to be.
"Here's yer apples, and here's yer change." She mumbled.
"Ah sweet!" The pegasus cheered, packing up the apples in her saddlebag, and the bits she hadn't expected back. It was a good deal.
She then turned and left, completely oblivious to the longing look the farmpony gave her as she trotted away.
AJ was so lost in admiring the mare that it wasn't until Big Mac cleared his throat next to her ear that she realized she had been staring at another mare's plot, in public, and her brother had stayed behind and seen it!
She blushed furiously and pulled the hat down over her face. Now if the ground could just open up and swallow her, that’d be nice.
Big Mac just sighed. "Just go talk to her." He suggested, giving his sister a nudge.
"What?" That was something that hadn't even occurred to Applejack, yet it was so simple.
"Really?" She asked, looking up at him, doubt clear on her face.
He just nodded reassuringly. "Eyupp." And gave her a push.
Dizzy with excitement Applejack trotted after the angelic pegasus, wondering what she could possibly say to interest a mare like her.
But you know, you gotta live on hope.