~~~
Applejack isn't exactly sure why she came to Canterlot High. Frankly, she has no idea how she'd even gotten in. Canterlot High is a prestigious school, notorious for its low acceptance rates, especially with regard to people not from the area. But by some stroke of luck, in spite of her questionable grades and thorough lack of extracurriculars, the school had accepted the application she'd put in on a whim. Maybe it was destiny.
Or, a mistake. Because Canterlot High is also incredibly far from where she lives. Her family farm is located in a rural village so tiny it doesn't have a proper name. She's no stranger to getting up hours before sunrise, but it's a bother rushing through her chores and not getting to savour breakfast just so she can start driving herself to school early enough to reach on time.
It's okay, though. She's used to it.
Yawning, Applejack swings open the doors of the farmhouse, hopping on one foot as she pulls on her other boot and straps on her backpack. She casts a glance back to make sure everything is order for a final time: the cows are milked, the chickens are fed, everyone is in their pens. She hasn't had the time to fix the broken fence yet but she'll get around to it after school. Breakfast is cooked and laid out on the table for when the rest of the family wakes up; Apple Bloom sleeps as quiet as a mouse, but she can hear Big Mac's snoring and Granny Smith just starting to stir from here.
She smiles, steps out, and closes the doors.
The sky is still dark out. There's a cool dawn breeze, and the scent of hay lingers in the air. It's silent, save for the chirping of crickets and occasional noises made by movement of the livestock. Illuminated just enough by the moonlight is the Apple family's shared vehicle, parked right outside where her brother Big Macintosh left it after getting yesterday's harvest to Barnyard Bargains. It's a rusty old delivery pick-up van that was originally white, but is really more greyish-yellow now.
It also has SWEET APPLE ACRES emblazoned in red block letters across the side and on the back doors, hand-painted by Applejack's Pa. Even though the Apples could probably touch up the van's fading exterior, there's an unspoken decision to leave it be. To say the van has been through a lot is a bit of an understatement at this point, but Applejack has trusted it with every journey she takes and will continue to trust it... even if it breaks down just every now and then.
Soon, the van is rumbling along as smoothly as it gets on the road leading to the expressway. Everything is like usual, with her schoolbag in the co-driver seat, windows wound down to let the wind flow through her blonde hair, a CD of country hits playing on the radio that she's listened to so many times she knows every lyric and turn of beat before it comes. She sings out loud to them too, fingers drumming on the steering wheel, because she's driving alone and gurl darn it, she's doing what she wants.
About an hour into the drive she reaches over to her bag to grab her phone. Without looking, she dials a number in, puts it on speaker mode, and props it up on the windshield in front of her as she continues driving. Though she still keeps her focus on the road, she bites her lip with anticipation as she watches the vibrating screen from the corner of her eye.
Finally, the recipient of the call picks up.
"Uuuuuugh. AJ. What's up?" The screen flickers and a familiar, cracking voice comes through the receiver, accompanied by a blurry view of a girl's chin and the spinning ceiling fan above her.
"Howdy there, RD," Applejack can't fight the smile that bubbles to her face upon hearing the voice, so she doesn't. "I see yer up bright an' early today."
Calling Rainbow Dash at 6 A.M. yields varying results. There isn't any transportation-related reason for Rainbow to wake up as early as Applejack does, since she stays in the school dormitories, but the girl is supremely athletic, and disciplined (when she wants to be). On a good day, Rainbow is up by five, and at six she will be back from her morning jog around campus. On others, though, Rainbow simply sleeps like a log, and manages to do so through any and all calls. In fact, she oversleeps so much that her morning jog usually ends up turning into a... morning sprint for the classrooms instead.
"Zzzzz," is Rainbow's garbled reply. She says nothing for a while. Applejack can hear she's breathing a little heavily, skin flushed slightly pink under the soaked exercise singlet she's wearing, no doubt from the run she'd just had. The bottom-up view doesn't allow Applejack to see much, but Rainbow seems to be fiddling with something on her face. She tries doing whatever she's doing once, twice, then sighs loudly and stops for a moment. She leans over the camera to grab something, the curve of her chest filling up the flickering screen.
Applejack suddenly finds it a little harder to breathe.
Rainbow returns in the screen's view with a mug of coffee. For a brief moment she looks down, directly at the camera. She looks sleepy, her eyes barely open beneath her lashes. Glistening spectral locks of hair have escaped the thin towel wrapped around her shoulders, messy and dripping water everywhere.
"Ah," the girl finally says, as her eyes widen. One is grey-blue and the other is glittering rose. Both are equally entrancing. "My camera is switched on—" Mid-sentence, the screen flickers black, then is replaced by her profile picture: a low-resolution image of a goose with a knife in its beak, putting an end to Applejack's at-once suffering and bliss.
"Eheheh, sorry you had to see that," Rainbow laughs nervously. "I know I look like shit right now."
Applejack's hands clench tighter on the steering wheel as she guides her traitorous gaze back on the road. "...It ain't no problem, darlin'," she manages.
Over the phone, there is a loud guzzling noise, then a clank of what is, presumably, the mug, freshly drained. Applejack can hear the smacking of lips. "Good goddess, I hate waking up early."
"Uh huh, and the sky is blue, and water is wet. Got anythin' new to say?" Applejack drones with mock unenthusiasm, although it is still kind of funny how Rainbow makes the exact same complaint every single day she's up early.
"Oh!" Rainbow snaps her fingers over the phone. "I do, actually! I have something really snazzy to tell you about!"
"Well shucks, I'm all ears."
Rainbow giggles. "Heheheh, well, I'm not telling you yet! It's a surprise. You're seriously gonna flip the hell out when you hear about this."
"If I arrive in the classroom and see mah chair and desk duct-taped to the ceiling again because I need a 'change of view', I swear, I'm gunna bash in yer dayum—
"Nononooo, I promise it's not," Rainbow laughs. "...Probably."
"What do you mean, probably??!!"
"Haha! Just joshin' ya." Applejack can almost hear Rainbow wink over the phone. "No, it's actually good news."
"Pinkie Pie swear?"
"Stick a cupcake in my eye."
"Sure. Fine," Applejack leans back with a sigh. "I believe ya this one time."
"...Still, you gotta admit that one was pretty funny."
"No," Applejack drones, "it wasn't."
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Whatever. Look, I'll tell you the assuredly-upright news once you get to school," Rainbow affirms. "You reaching early today or what?"
Applejack casts a weary glance at the road. "Maybe if this traffic lets up, I'll get to school on time."
"Kay kay. Then I'll just be praying away all the traffic."
"Yeah," Applejack snorts, "maybe if you pray hard enough, I can teleport to school immediately."
"Yeah, totally. Then you wouldn't have to wake up so friggin' early."
"Darn tootin'," Applejack agrees, brushing her bangs back with a sigh. "Maybe pray me some 'a that peppermint coffee from the school cafe while you're at it."
"Seriously? Why?"
"Dunno. Just really cravin' it right about now."
"Imagine liking peppermint coffee. That's so gross."
"...Weren't y'all the one who wouldn't quit whinin' for me to try it?"
"Nooooo. Stop. Quit exposing me all the time," Rainbow whines. There's a noise from the other end that sounds like she's smacking the screen. "You're such a jerk sometimes, you know that? Miss Assshaaaat. Just like your haaaaat."
"Thanks sugarcube, you are too."
"Awwww, maybe you really do love me." Rainbow coos, and Applejack chuckles along like it's an innocent joke between friends, because it is, and she's fine with it. Perfectly fine. More shuffling ensues over the phone, and Rainbow continues. "Fine, I'll get it for you, but you better get your ass over here stat. Hey, and also, did you hear about..."
And Rainbow is off again, talking leisurely about one inconsequential thing or another. There isn't a real reason for these calls, but Applejack does it anyway, like a morning ritual.
Besides, it makes the roads feel less lonely, even for just a bit.
~~~
Maybe Rainbow's prayers really did do something, because Applejack manages to reach school not only punctually, but also with ten minutes to spare. Rainbow Dash is already there when Applejack pulls into the driveway, standing and waving with the hand holding a cup and the other gripping the strap of her bookbag. Applejack parks, gathers her things, slaps her Stetson over her head and climbs out of the van, before jogging over to meet her.
"Here you go," Rainbow pushes the cup into her hands.
"Thanks," Applejack says as she accepts it.
As they start making their way into the school, Applejack peeks surreptitiously at Rainbow through the steam rising from her cup. Rainbow's multicoloured locks are up in a high ponytail, messy, but in a way that looks effortlessly good. She's even put on some make-up—her eyebrows are done, she has bold eyeliner on and her lips shine a bit more today.
Yep. She is definitely in a good mood. Seeing Rainbow look so happy makes Applejack feel just a little giddy with excitement herself. Staring at her, she cradles the cup of coffee between her palms, letting it warm the tips of her cold fingers, and takes a sip.
Then she chokes. Barely stops herself from spitting it out. "What in tarnation did you put in this?!!"
Rainbow folds her arms behind her head and smirks nonchalantly. "Just decided to up the spiciness a notch. How's it?"
"Why butter my butt and call me a biscuit, I'll tell you how it is," Applejack says once she's recovered from the hellish, mind-numbing shock. "It's like my whole dayum tongue is burning off like a haybale struck in a thunderstorm." She turns around the cup to gawk in disbelief at the sheer number of peppermint pumps listed on the order sticker. Ten? Twenty? "I don't think this is even peppermint anymore. This is just lava. Straight from a volcano."
"Yeah, well, you better thank me. I went to a volcano just to get that for you."
"Oh really, which volcano?"
"Oh, you know. A volcano. The... Mount Awesometopia."
"Ah. Definitely heard of that one."
"Of course."
Applejack shakes her head in mirth, holding out the demonic cup in question. "Here, why not you try it, ya dang varmint."
"Sure, I'm not a crybaby like you." She sticks out her tongue as she takes it. Before Applejack can stop her, she throws her head back and starts straight-up chugging, but doesn't go two seconds before she makes a strangled noise and doubles over, coffee dribbling from her lips.
"Oh my goddess," she splutters, hacking violently, "this is really bad."
"Told ya so," Applejack snickers. "If ya thought twice before doin' thangs, maybe you'd be a Wonderbolt by now." It's a long-running inside joke they've both had since three years ago. It's the last time ever she uses it, though, because—
"Weeeell," a slow smirk curves its way along Rainbow Dash's lips. "You'll never guess what happened just yesterday."
"Wat," Applejack feels her jaw going slack. "Wait. What do you mean? It can't be..."
"That's right! You're talking to a future Wonderbolt here, AJ!" An ear-splitting grin erupts on Rainbow's face as she wipes off her coffee-stained mouth, rose eyes sparkling. "That's the news I wanted to tell you about. I received the acceptance letter just yesterday—I got in! The. Friggin'. Wonderbolts!" Excitedly, she pauses in the middle of the hallway to dig around in her haversack, producing a clean white envelope. Flipping open the seal, she drags out a sheet of paper between her fingers and lets Applejack unfold it.
Indeed, as she says, it's a letter with the official Wonderbolts stamp that Applejack's seen enough to recognise. Below:
Dear Rainbow DASH,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to be part of the Wonderbolts team. Congratulations!
Applejack skims the rest, which cover more details on briefings, training programmes, administrative forms, contact information, transactions. It's all typewritten, printed, concrete. A dream in black and white.
"Heheh, it's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Rainbow says in her ear. A beat. "Hellooo. Earth to Applejack?"
"Ah... Oh!" Applejack swallows down the lump in her throat. She's still holding on to the paper—when had her hands started shaking? She schools her expression into something more pleasant as she passes the letter back to Rainbow, careful not to crumple it. "Well, that's... certainly...somethin'."
"Something?" Rainbow arches an eyebrow.
"I mean," Applejack coughs, "That's... that's plum crazy, sugarcube. Congrats. I would've never expected you'd make it in."
Rainbow's brows furrow for a half-second, but she seems to buy it, shoulders relaxing. Mock pouting, she punches Applejack in the arm- "What do you mean you didn't expect it? Gee, AJ, didn't know you had so little faith in me."
"I just mean... dang. I got so many questions I dun even know where to begin. Yer still in high school," Applejack waves her hands about. "How in land's sakes did you get in? How are ya gonna do Wonderbolts thangs now of all times? Ain't ya still got studyin' to do?"
"Not now, obviously," Rainbow skips slightly ahead of her in the corridor. "Haha, it's a hell of a long story, but long story short, they're funding my college and the rest of my flight school fees. Then after, I'm gonna start flying with them."
"Flying with the Wonderbolts..." Applejack trails off uncertainly. "All over the world, you mean?"
Rainbow turns her head back, opens her mouth and blinks. "Hmm? Yeah! Ahh, even if it's within the country, I can't wait to be free of being stuck in one city. Four years here is four too many." She cackles— a carefree sound ringing through the hallways. "Why, you jealous you can't come? Don't worry, I'll be sure to send you guys loads and loads of postcards. And photos. And gifts!"
"......"
"The flight centre's in Cloudsdale, too. Hey, the ice cream there is really good. I'll send ya a box back if they allow it. Oh, shit!" Suddenly, Rainbow skids to a stop in front of the classroom door.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot I'm not taking Bio anymore this year. I'm taking a Further Maths class at this hour now," Rainbow explains, sheepishness creeping into her voice. "I'm late now, actually, sooooo yeah." She hops on her feet, pulling on her bag straps. "See ya!"
"Uhhh. Bye?-"
Rainbow is off in a blur before she can finish, leaving Applejack standing alone in the empty hallway. The cup of coffee is still piping hot in her hands, but she feels nothing but cold.
Her shoulders slumping, Applejack inhales... shudders... then drifts into the classroom by herself.
When she pushes the door open, her ears are immediately assaulted with the chattering of students. It seems the teacher, Mrs Cinch is late today, because class was supposed to start a few minutes ago. Applejack navigates past a rambunctious group of boys chortling within themselves, the row of sleeping students faceplanting on their desks, and the lone student scurrying around as he tries to distribute worksheets without bumping into people.
"Need a hand?" Applejack offers.
The student—a timid-looking fellow with a brown bowl cut and stiff white collar—looks up and smiles. "Yeah, thanks."
After she's finished helping the guy, she squeezes past a last column of desks to make her way to her own. The rest of her friends are already there: Rarity and Fluttershy are sharing a conversation by the window, Twilight Sparkle is nose-deep in thick yellowed pages of a tome and Pinkie Pie is perched on Applejack's desk, legs kicking the air as she aggressively taps on her phone. The window seat beside hers, normally occupied by Rainbow, is empty.
"Hey Applejack!" Without looking up, Pinkie Pie sing-songs as Applejack approaches. "You're late~~"
"Howdy there, Pinkie," Applejack slides into her seat as Pinkie hops down from her desk. "Yeah, sorry. I was held up with... somethin'."
"Traffic?"
"Somethin' like that."
"Hmmmm." Pinkie hmms. "Then where's Dashie?"
"What makes you think I know?"
"Applejaaack," Pinkie glances up from the screen to squint at her. "Of course you know!"
"Alright, alright," Applejack concedes. "Rainbow... ain't takin' Biology no more. Said she was takin' some fancy schmancy advanced Maths class now."
Pinkie's jaw drops dramatically. "She abandoned us."
"Yeah, right," Applejack tries not to sound bitter about it.
"Well, she's not the only one," Pinkie shrugs, cocking her head in a certain bookworm's direction. "Twi' there's dropping a subject too. Well, not Bio, but she's dropping Geog for Lit."
Twilight Sparkle's ears twitch imperceptibly at the mention of ther name and nothing more.
"For real?" Applejack says, uncomprehending. "Why would'ja change your subject combination for no reason?"
Twilight doesn't answer, so Pinkie answers for her.
"Oh, it's not for no reason. You know, sometimes people find out what they're really passionate about? Right now lots of people are really deciding on their career paths too, so it's normal for them to be switching subject combis to fit it better."
"Yeah, but in the final year of school? With the final exams and all? Ain't there heck loads of catchin' up to do?"
"Mmm," Pinkie purses her lips in thought. "I dunno! I guess there's still time. We got a whooole year ahead of us, y'know? It's the last year we'll be in school, so if there's a good time to be trying out new things, now's as good a time as any!"
At this moment, Mrs Cinch enters the classroom, yelling at everyone to settle down, and everyone scrambles back to their seats, leaving Applejack to mull on her own. Class starts, and the familiar drone of her voice echoes through the small room, as well as the shuffling of her footsteps and the squeak of the marker on the whiteboard.
Flipping open her textbooks, Applejack concentrates on the grey-black micrographs of cells, but she remains painfully aware of the missing presence beside her, bright colours replaced only by rustling curtains and stuffy air.
She doesn't think about much.
~~~
RARITY: Girls! I have the most wonderful news.
PINKIE PIE: Don't just say that, spill it already!
...ooh, that's a lot of typing. I'm excited 😆
RARITY: So recently, the spa that I've been working at gave out some complimentary coupons for a full-day spa treatment. I have six of them, so it's just enough for all of us. I simply thought it would be nice if we could all spend some time together.
What do you girls think?
PINKIE PIE: sounds great!!! I'm totes in! 💗✨✨
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: Thanks Rarity. What time?
RARITY: I was thinking tonight. Relaxing with a deep tissue massage sounds like an absolutely divine way to commence the school semester~
FLUTTERSHY: That sounds lovely, Rarity, thank you
RAINBOW DASH: ...eh, I dunno
RARITY: If you're going to say spas "aren't your thing" again, Rainbow Dash, rest assured that no one will believe you. We all saw you.
RAINBOW DASH: oh my god that was ONE time
PINKIE PIE: it's ok dashie! We don't spa shame in this house!!!
RARITY: Well! I would certainly hope not.
RAINBOW DASH: I SAID IT WAS FOR MY MUSCLES IT WAS A MUSCLE MASSAGE OK
but ok FINE im cominhg
but do not breathe a word of that incident i am warning yall
what abt u aj
ME: Sorry can't come
Gotta pick up Apple Bloom from school and the usual
Thanks for the offer though
RARITY: No worries
RARITY: Everyone meet up at the bus stop outside Canterlot Mall at 5pm? We can have dinner too before heading to the spa together
RAINBOW DASH: awesome
After checking the previously logged messages in the group chat, Applejack exhales and flips her phone shut. It's probably a good thing there's no reception out here, so she won't see any of the messages that follow just yet.
"Applejack! Over here!"
The high-pitched, cheerful shout of a little girl distracts her from her thoughts. Applejack glances up. Her eyes don't have to search for long to see Apple Bloom waving at her from halfway out the schoolhouse—the large pink bow flouncing in her red hair is conspicuous among the river of pupils gushing out from the doors. After a bit of hustling and squeezing, her younger sister pops out from the stream with a huge smile on her face.
"C'mon, ya rascal." Pocketing her phone, Applejack leans over and pinches both Apple Bloom's cheeks. "Spit it out. What's got you grinnin' so happy-like? Good day at school?"
"Uh huh!" Apple Bloom affirms, batting away Applejack's hands from her face. Applejack laughs, straightens, and allows Apple Bloom's small chubby hand to slip into her own as they walk on the meandering dirt path home. "Miss Cheerilee liked my science project! She said that I'm gunna be one of the participants in the science fair this year!"
"That's plum amazing, sugarcube. I'm sure ya worked real hard on yer... Erhhh.... Applejack scratches her head. "...Pray tell, what was yer science project again?"
"Applejack! You forgot?" Apple Bloom puffs out her cheeks and shakes her arm indignantly. "Ya even helped on it!"
"Did I, now?..."
"Yeah! You helped to correct my drawings so that my shishi-odoshi could actually work. And you brought wood for building my prototype!"
"A shishi- come again?"
"A shishi-odoshi! The Japaneighse water fountain, remember?"
"Oh. Ohhhh. So that's what it was for." Applejack does vaguely recall heaving stacks of logs and planks of different types from the shed for Apple Bloom to choose from- she just hadn't know for what. She smirks. "First an etymologist, second a gymnastics athlete. And now, yer fixin' ta' be a Japaneighse traditional garden designer?"
"Entomologist," Apple Bloom corrects her. "And yeah! Sweetie Belle wants to be a singer and she wants to sing in a beautiful garden."
"And the other one—Scootaloo?"
"Scootaloo wants to ride a motorcycle and join a rogue biker gang."
"Well, that can't be good," Applejack grunts disapprovingly. "Make sure she's not committin' any crimes."
Apple Bloom laughs and shrugs. "Honestly, I think she's more interested in the motorcycle part than the biker gang thing."
"She'd better be."
"Ayup."
"So... yer actually gunna make this fountain now? Need me to fetch the wood again?"
"Uhh, well," Apple Bloom holds up a finger in the way that she does when she's acting smart—or like how she calls it, being professional. "A real shishi-odoshi is made from bamboo, not wood."
Applejack frowns, tapping her chin in thought. "Bamboo, huh? I got no cotton-pickin' idea where we can get that from."
"Can't y'all get it from some shop in the city or somethin'?"
"The city ain't some magical place where there's everything ever existed on planet Earth, sweetheart."
Apple Bloom hums, unconvinced. "It sure seems like it, from what folks say."
"Yeah, well," Applejack looks toward the horizon. "Not really."
"But it's okay if ya can't," Apple Bloom shrugs. "I can just make it out of wood! I'm sure we can give it a paint job and fix her up nice an' fine, so it looks just like real shishi-odoshi bamboo."
Apple Bloom's a mature girl for her age. When Applejack looks at her unwavering smile, she should feel proud—she ought to—but the only thing she can think about is what she can't give her.
"I'll do my best to find it for ya, okay?" Leaning down, Applejack ruffles her hair and pats her shoulder. "You just do well in school and treat yer classmates nice."
Apple Bloom brightens visibly. "Yay! Thanks, Applejack!"
"No problem," Applejack responds as she urges Apple Bloom into the homestead, where they've arrived.
Inside, the table is set, plates and cutlery and cups laid out on the tablecloth—today, they're using the one with the daisy print. The lights, lamps hanging down from the wooden roof-beams, cast a warm glow against the red-painted interior of the farmhouse. There's not a soul to be seen until a brown-white collie, ears perked up at the sound of the opening door, bounds out of Applejack's room, tail wagging excitedly.
"Winona!" Applejack calls as the dog jumps up at her. She wraps Winona in her arms briefly, who licks at her face affectionately before leaping down to greet Apple Bloom with the same vigour. "Heheheh, good girl, good girl." She's squatted down, scratching at the scruff of Winona's neck when she finally notices the buttery aroma wafting into her nostrils.
"What's that a'cookin'?" Applejack furrows her eyebrows. "I thought I already made dinner."
"Well I done made some more!" Granny Smith totters out of the kitchen with a steaming tray in hand. Her snow-white hair is in a high bun, frizz kept barely in place by a hairnet, and a stained apron drapes across her front. She sets the tray on the table with a heavy clang and blows her bare hands off. "Hoo! Now that's what I call fresh from the oven!"
"Granny," Applejack sighs. "Why aren't you using the oven mitts to take things from the oven?" Said mitts lie on the corner of the dining table by the jam spreads, untouched.
"Oven mitts schmoven mitts!" Granny exclaims. "I've been bakin' apple crumble cookies for years and years with mine own two hands. I ain't got no need for them to fetch a hot pan from the hob."
"Cookies??!!" Apple Bloom whoops and bounds over to the table, already salivating. "Yayyy! This is the best dinner ever!"
Applejack hauls Apple Bloom back from the table by her collar, preventing her from seizing one with her grubby hands. "Hold yer horses, scamp. Wash yer hands first." Once the child has waddled a safe distance from the food, she walks over to inspect Granny's wrinkled hands. Finding no cause for concern, she soon lets go, but not without chiding first,
"It doesn't hurt to be careful. Use the mitts next time around, kay? And maybe tell me before you decide to whip up dessert—I ain't sure we can finish up all the food this here evening."
Granny makes a noncommittal noise and turns away. "Today's yer first day of school! It's cause for celebration. If there's leftovers, we can eat 'em tomorrow." She starts toward the kitchen.
Applejack's eyes follow her warily. "Where're you goin'?"
"Why, to get the rest of the cookie batch, of course."
"Granny, the mitts."
Granny disappears into the kitchen.
"Granny," Applejack snatches up the mitts and chases after her. "Grannyyyy!—"
Dinner officially starts after Big Mac has returned from the fields and washed himself off. This delights Apple Bloom, who has been squirming impatiently in her seat for the past ten minutes, but she too waits for Granny to rise from her seat and serve the four of them. Granny takes her time to ladle hot, creamy soup into each of their bowls, then scoop mashed potatoes and greens on their plates.
"Now aren't you famished today," Granny chuckles under Apple Bloom's anxious hazel gaze once she's done. "Have at it, gurl."
Not needing to be told twice, Apple Bloom wastes no time in pouncing upon the meal with her fork and knife, shovelling potatoes in her mouth like a ravenous wolf. They all laugh.
"She's a growing child alright," Applejack notes.
"Eeeyup," agrees Big Mac.
"She's got an appetite just like your Pa did," Granny says. She blinks, looking around. "Well, what are the rest of y'all waitin' for? Dig in!"
They talk about one thing or another: work on the farm, more about Apple Bloom's science project, interesting happenings around the village. At some point Granny titters, telling Big Mac to turn on the television, and he obliges, shuffling to the coffee table where the remote control is. Sweet Apple Acres has the good fortune of being located near a broadcasting tower, so they are at least able to access a few news and entertainment stations on the family T.V..
The television flickers on.
Applejack has to rub her eyes.
For on the screen is...
"A seventeen-year-old clinches a place in the Wonderbolts, in a historic turn of events!" The television newscaster, a man in a stuffy black suit, reads into the microphone. Beside him, a familiar teenage girl with multicoloured hair sits on a giant plush chair, elbows up on the glass table. Virtual screens flash behind the both of them, displaying words and phrases as he speaks over a heavy bass and drums intro.
"Mmmrprh-" Apple Bloom says around a mouthful of baked beans.
"Swallow your food first, dear," Applejack mutters. She herself tries to focus on her potatoes, but her eyes end up glued to the screen.
The newscaster continues. "They say it's never too late to pursue your dreams, and this here proves that it's never too early, either!" He smiles a little too wide for Applejack's taste. "For those of you who aren't caught up to speed, the Wonderbolts are the nation's most elite aerobatic pilot team. Established since our country's founding, the Wonderbolts were present at the first national day parade and have performed at every one since. Renowned worldwide, the Wonderbolts today also paint the skies of countries all around the globe with their breathtaking acrobatic shows. Members of the Wonderbolts include some of the top pilots of their time, like Firefly, Purple Dart, and Easyglider."
"It's no surprise, then, that thousands and thousands of aspiring pilots vie for one of the extremely coveted spaces in the Wonderbolts every year. And here today we have the Wonderbolts' newest accepted candidate—incidentally, the youngest one in its history of establishment:--"
"Isn't that your friend?" Finally finished chewing, Apple Bloom pipes up again. "The one that's called Rainbow- Rainbow-"
"Rainbow Dash," the newscaster supplies pleasantly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Hey," Rainbow says casually and winks at the camera. Applejack barely hears the newscaster chuckling in response.
"Rainbow Dash is just seventeen, a student from Canterlot High, in her last year of high school. To most people, this may be downright unbelievable news, and to be honest, dear watchers, I myself am quite flabbergasted. Tell us, Miss Dash, just how did you manage to land a spot in the Wonderbolts?"
Rainbow clicks her tongue and draws the microphone to herself. "Well, it's kind of a looong story, sir. But you see, I've always wondered what it was like to soar in the sky since young, and I really liked watching those aerobatic shows—yep, the Wonderbolts included!" She giggles and tucks her hair back. "When I was in middle school, my dad knew some people in the aviation industry and they let me try out their flight simulators. They were crazy impressed—they thought I had a rare talent for it and wanted to teach me more, so I was like, heck, why not? So I started taking lessons, y'know, and I guess one thing led to another."
"So how do feel, now that you've finally realised your dreams?" the newscaster asks.
"That's an easy one," Rainbow smiles. Galaxies reflect in her eyes. "I couldn't be happier. Duh!"
Click.
Remote in her hand, Applejack switches the channel: to some local cooking show, or something else she can't be bothered to check. Then she stands up abruptly, beginning to stack the scraped plates and empty pots.
Everyone is silent, staring at her with confused expressions. Even Apple Bloom has stopped chewing.
"Just what are yer doin'?" Granny asks, completely mystified.
"Washing the dishes," she monotones.
"But you haven't even had dessert yet!" Apple Bloom says.
"I'm full."
"Reeeally?? Then just have one?"
"I can eat 'em tomorrow."
"But... but..." Apple Bloom fumbles.
"There somethin' wrong with the T.V.?" Granny presses in her tinny voice. "Ya dun like the news or somethin'?"
"No," Applejack says. "It's just... don't ya think what was on there was awful boring?" More bowls and plates go onto the stack. From the corner of her eye, she sees Big Mac merely watching her, silent.
"Uhhhhhh-"
Apple Bloom begins, but Applejack is already turning away. Piling her arms full of silverware, she walks into the kitchen alone, where she lets the sound of water and soap suds drown out the noise.
~~~