Music, laughter and cheers rose above the orchard and greeted the pegasus that was flying above. Lightning Dust considered for a moment if she was actually doing this…and if she was actually going to bring a bag of chips with her.
“Lightning, you made it!”
Well, it was too late now to back out. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and descended towards the waving Rainbow Dash. “Well duh, I don’t go back on my word.”
Rainbow smirked as she caught the bag slung over Lightning’s shoulder. “Indeed you don’t. Well come on, let me introduce you to the family.”
They walked over towards a large buffet table, behind which an assembly line of Apples were busy making apple treats of all kinds. One Apple in particular was busy rushing between the line of fryers and pans and the table, precariously balanced plates of goods flying everywhere yet not toppling their precious load.
Rainbow trotted over to her wife and, without breaking Applejack’s pace, managed to perfectly insert herself to help as well as steal a quick kiss.
Lightning watched in wonder as the pair worked together, the smallest hint of jealousy burning within her. She quickly dismissed the feeling - the day she was jealous of Rainbow Dash would be the day she felt like she was better than her…Which just wasn’t going to happen.
Applejack beamed at Lightning. “Howdy stranger, haven’t seen you in a minute.”
Lightning smiled back and hesitantly stepped up to the table with her offering. “Yeah, Rainbow finally twisted my wing enough so here I am.”
Applejack cast a suspicious glance at her wife. “Is that so? Well I’m happy to see you anyways. This way I don’t have to hear her complain that she’s the only one with wings around here.”
Rainbow stuck out her tongue as she slid another plate of fritters onto the table. “It’s nice to have someone to be able to fly with, okay?”
“Uh huh.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smile. “Besides, it wasn’t even my idea.” She looked over at Lightning. “Not that I didn’t want you here anyways, but AJ had the bright idea to set up-”
Applejack’s glare was one that could curdle milk as she stuffed a fresh apple tart into Rainbow’s mouth and cut her off. She chuckled sheepishly at Lightning’s confused expression. “Now don’t you worry none about what she was trying to say. Why don’t you go take this plate of fritters to the band over there, I’m sure they are building up quite an appetite.”
Lightning hardened her gaze for a moment before deciding it wasn’t worth it to fight. If Rainbow couldn’t win against her, there was no chance Lightning could argue with Applejack. She picked up a plate of fritters in her wing and headed off towards the sound of music, her head bouncing to the jaunty country tune filling the air.
She wasn’t quite sure what all the instruments were, and for the most part the sounds blended together in a beautiful harmony, but occasionally the twangy notes of a fiddle rose above and dominated the song. The band was a small collection of Apples playing on a slightly elevated stage, a crowd of young and old dancing in front.
The song seemed to be reaching its climax as she approached, the beat getting faster and the fiddle getting louder and both leading and carrying the rest of the instruments. The crowd worked into a frenzy with the notes, ponies being twirled around and around as others stomped their hooves.
Finally, with a drawn out note that seemed to float in the air long after the fiddle was put down, the song ended and cheers rose up to fill the silence.
Lightning cheered as well as she made her way to the stage, some of the musicians wiping sweat off their brow and fighting to catch their breath. One was the mad mare on the fiddle, whom Lightning offered the plate to first. “Fresh from the fryer, Applejack thought you could use some grub.”
The mare smiled at her and quickly popped a fritter into her mouth, closing her eyes in rapture as she chewed on the delicious treat. “Mmm, thanks…” Her eyes opened quickly as she squinted down at Lightning. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around, you a wife of someone?”
Lightning shook her head. “Nah, I ain’t found a mare that could keep up with me yet. Rainbow invited me so she wouldn’t be the only flying pony here.”
The mare raised an eyebrow and took another fritter, chewing more thoughtfully on this one. “Hmm…Well, nice to meet ya I suppose. Name’s Fiddlesticks.”
“Lightning Dust.”
Fiddlesticks hopped off the stage. “Thanks for the food, though I’m also feeling like some cider. Wanna come with and get a cup too?”
Lightning perked up and licked her lips. “Heck yeah, cider sounds amazing!”
She placed the plate on the stage and followed after Fiddlesticks. They came across another buffet-like table, this one with various kegs, jugs, and drinking vessels. Fiddlesticks poured a mug and offered it to Lightning before pouring one for herself.
Lightning considered the mug and the mare before her. With a grin she raised her mug. “Cheers, to the best fiddle player I’ve ever seen.”
Fiddlesticks chuckled and clanged their mugs together. “No offense sugar but, just how many fiddle players have you seen?”
Lightning opened and closed her mouth. “I uh…”
Fiddlesticks snickered and took a long pull of cider. “Ahh that’s good. Don’t worry Lightning, I’m just messing with ya. I appreciate the compliment.”
Lightning drank as well, her eyes going wide as she choked on the much stronger than she expected drink. She wheezed and thumped her chest. “Sweet celestia that’s-” she coughed and tried to recover. “That’s some uh, good stuff there.”
Fiddlesticks meanwhile was doubled over in laughter, practically howling. “Oh stars, that was even better than I expected. Applejack did the same to Rainbow Dash the first time she was part of the reunion and I just had to try it.”
Lightning couldn’t tell if the red on her face was of embarrassment or trying to cough out the burn in her throat. “So some sort of twisted right of passage huh? Did I pass?”
Fiddlesticks chuckled. “Well, you did slightly better than Rainbow did, so I suppose you did.”
Lightning pumped her hoof in victory before taking a more cautious sip. “Whew, yeah that’s strong but good. Does this make me an Apple now or something?”
Fiddlesticks shook her head. “Nah, you gotta marry one of us for the full privileges.”
Lightning smirked. “Is that so?” She looked around before side-eying Fiddlesticks. “Well how’s about it, wanna help me become official?”
Fiddlesticks looked at her with an odd expression and Lightning realized the full depth of what she just asked. “Er, you know what, forget I said that. Sorry, I guess the cider is stronger than I thought, heh.”
Fiddlesticks silently refilled her mug and drained it before filling it again. “You don’t need to apologize, I just…” Her ear flicked and she shook her head. “Nevermind. Thanks for bringing the grub and for drinking the cider but I think I should head back to the stage.”
A younger Lightning Dust would have let her walk away, not giving the mare more thought than to pity her missing out on a great opportunity.
But Lightning Dust wasn’t a young mare anymore, and judging by the wrinkles and peeking grays of this Fiddlesticks mare, she wasn’t either. “Hey now, don’t go running away. What were you going to say? Come on, I’m a big mare, I can handle it.”
Fiddlesticks looked back at her and smiled tightly. “It’s kind of silly but, well, I don’t know about you, but I’m done messing around with ponies who can’t commit. I’m no spring chicken after all.”
“I’ll say, I’m the one with wings here.”
Fiddlesticks laughed and gently pushed Lightning. “You know what I mean. I want to find someone I can settle down with and who can make me feel like the adult I am and like a kid falling in love for the first time.” She blushed and looked away quickly. “Aww shucks Fiddly, way to show your bleeding heart.”
Lightning blushed as well, internally blaming it on the cider. “I don’t think that’s silly.” She blushed further at the incredulous look given. “Hey, I know I said earlier I couldn’t find a mare who could keep up with me but the truth is I haven’t really tried to find one in a few years.”
She shrugged and looked away from Fiddlesticks. “Look, we are obviously both old enough to not want to play any games so I’ll be straight with you. I made a lot of mistakes in my youth, did some things I’m really not proud of and that still kind of haunt me to today. I’m stubborn and like to live life in the fast lane, but I’m starting to realize it might be nice to have someone to stop and smell the roses with.”
Fiddlesticks hummed. “I appreciate that Lightning. I’m also stubborn, comes with the territory of being an Apple, and I’ve also made mistakes. I wasn’t always honest with myself and the kind of mare I was so I’m trying to make up for lost time now.”
Lightning smiled sympathetically. “Yeah. The closet is a rough place to be in for years.” Her grin turned lopsided. “I prefer hanging out in one for a few, possibly even seven minutes with a pretty mare.”
Fiddlesticks snickered and took another drink before glancing at the large barn in the distance. “Well, there’s really no limits on how big a closet can be right?”
Lightning followed her gaze and her grin grew. “And who says we only have to spend seven minutes?”
They clanged their mugs together again and headed towards the barn. Both were unsure where exactly it would lead, but confident all the same it wouldn’t be a total disaster. After all, they weren’t kids sneaking a kiss in the heat of summer, but mares looking to forge a bond.