//------------------------------// // Shadow - CalmNQuiet // Story: AppleDash Group Collab // by DbzOrDie //------------------------------// Applejack strapped the apple-cart to her back and mentally checked off each task she needed to accomplish for the day. She sighed and looked up at the sky. “Common now girl, up and at em. Big Mac’s down with the Flu, and it’s up to me to pick up the slack.” She pressed her body half-heartedly against the harness until the weight gave way. “It’s not like today was supposed to be my day off or anythin’.” She smiled ruefully to herself and made her way into town. “‘nd Rainbow just had to get all quiet when I told her I couldn’t skip work for her.” Another long sigh. “Darn fool pegasus — always flyin’ off when she can’t get her way.” She couldn’t help to chuckle at the thought of Rainbow’s pouting face. “Now lookit me. Talkin’ to myself like I’m going mad.” Pausing for a moment to wipe the sweat from her brow, she glanced upwards again and smiled. “I’m sure Rainbow knows I ain’t mad at her. Just because I said work was important doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend as much time as I can with her.” She stretched her hooves and continued down the path into town. “Guess I’ll make it up to her with a kiss and pie — that always brightens her up.” Once she got to town, she started ticking off her mental checklist in earnest: new baking supplies, another box of nails for the rickety old fence, and a few more candles. She stopped by Twilight’s to pick up a book on pegasus anatomy. She flashed Twilight a predatory smile when asked why, but it’s meaning was completely lost upon the librarian. Finally, she pulled her apple cart into the market and set up shop. Business was particularly good today and by the time noon rolled around she’d collected a sizable amount of bits. But the sun was absolutely scorching. Luckily, a convenient patch of cloud provided just enough shade for her to stay cool. “Sure is nice having a cloud on a hot day. I’m going to have to thank the weather pegasus the next time I see em’” The remaining apples sold out pretty quickly which meant all that was left was to get the cart back home. She trotted along easily with the empty cart and a sack full of bits whistling to herself. As she crossed the town’s edge she glanced up again and chuckled. “I guess I’m all done now. And I still have almost half a day left.” No response. “Rainbow, you can come down now. Clouds don’t just follow ponies around all day.” After a few moments, a bashful looking Rainbow Dash poked her head out from over the edge of the cloud. “H—hey AJ. Fancy seeing you here.” “Rainbow, your little cloud’s shadow has been trailing me all day. What were you doing up there?” Rainbow hopped off her cloud and flew down in front of Applejack. “Uhm... well. When you said you had to work on our day off together. I... I didn’t want to seem like a love-sick filly following you around.” “Rainbow...” Applejack extended her hooves and pulled Rainbow into a hug. “No one’s going to judge you for spending time with me.” Rainbow didn’t look convinced. A swift and passionate kiss from Applejack solved that problem. Smiling at the now blushing pegasus, she leaned in conspiratorially, “So, do you want your pie now or later?”