The next day, Applejack got out of bed, threw her hat on, and trotted outside. Rainbow Dash was supposed to be meeting her in front of the house, to bake another pie. AJ was excited, but not for the pie. She really wanted to see Rainbow Dash again, and possibly get some clarity on what had occurred yesterday.
Rainbow Dash was flying slowly today. She felt embarrassed about what had happened the day before, and wasn’t so eager to go back to where the incident had happened.
AJ Spotted Rainbow Dash in the distance, and waved to her, smiling a bit.
“Come on over! I made some apple oatmeal if you’re hungry!” She shouted, gesturing for Dash to land.
Rainbow’s tummy growled. Apple Oatmeal. She wasn’t really hungry, but AJ’s confidence bolstered Rainbow Dash’s appetite. Hopefully, yesterday wouldn’t come up in any conversations...
Applejack trotted inside for a bit and came back out with two steaming bowls of oatmeal, sweetened with cubes of apples. She set them on the place onto the porch where she usually sat to enjoy the day.
Rainbow Dash didn’t want to make the memory of this breakfast awkward, but curiosity got the better of her.
“ I’m sorry about yesterday. You know, with the mess I made...” said Rainbow Dash.
Applejack shook her head.
“No, it’s okay. We’ve been in worse pickles before. And at least you stayed to help clean it up...” She said, smiling a bit and maybe, just maybe, blushing.
Rainbow Dash went right on ahead and blushed.
“Yeah, um...” started Rainbow Dash. “ I flew off yesterday, and, I realized, I forgot to help you clean it up, so then I came by today to clean the mess...and uh...Yeah.”
Lamest. Excuse. Ever, thought Rainbow Dash.
AJ smiled and finished off her oatmeal.
“Well, walk on in. I’ll be right behind you.” She said, pointing to the door.
Rainbow Dash gulped the last of her oatmeal, and, in respect for her friend, walked into AJ’s house.
“I like what you’ve done to the place,” commented Rainbow Dash. “The smell of apples is now sweeter than it was before...”
Which wasn’t true, but you don’t tell your friends that. Rainbow Dash shook the thought out of her head. For some reason, the term ‘friend’ upset her. Rainbow shook herself again, and looked on the bright side. At least we’re not talking about...Why should I even feel embarrassed anyway? It was nothing, so I can just forget about it... That was a lie, and she knew it, but she was just too stubborn to accept that. It’s the oatmeal. After a good breakfast, people tend to think more about certain things, right? I mean, seriously...I blame the oatmeal.
Applejack walked into the kitchen.
It smells the same to me...” She remarked, grabbing a cloth and wetting it under the sink. She started to wipe off some flour that was left on the counters.
“Rainbow Dash, would you mind wiping off the spots I missed on the floor?” She asked, looking behind her at the entrance to the kitchen. “It would be a big help.” Rainbow Dash seems like the one who needs help... She thought. She’s been shaking her head and staring into the distance. I wonder what’s gotten into her...
“Sure,” said Rainbow Dash. She bent down to clean the floor.
Applejack kept looking behind her, at Rainbow Dash. For some reason, she couldn’t stop looking at her. It was like she was a magnet, and AJ a helpless nail caught in its pull.
Rainbow Dash kept cleaning the floor, back burning with anxiety. Why do I feel like I’m being watched?
Applejack kept scrubbing the same place on the counter, though it was clean. It was like she was entranced by Rainbow Dash. What am I doing? Why can’t I stop looking at her? She asked herself, as if some part of her could answer.
Rainbow Dash couldn’t bear this feeling anymore. She shot up, and looked at Applejack to see if she was staring. She was. “Why are you staring at me?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“To see if you were workin’.” Applejack said, her intense blushing giving her away. Did I just lie? I never lie to anypony, anytime, anywhere! She thought, turning back to her counter, staring at it intently as if it could make the world around her disappear.
Rainbow Dash could tell that something was bothering Applejack. She went to her side, and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You okay, AJ? You seem distracted. If you want me to leave, I’ll leave...”
Applejack shivered a bit.
“No, you don’t have to. I’m fine. Really.” She said, turning back to the task at hoof.
Part of Rainbow Dash withered and died. She didn’t insist she stay. Just, you don’t have to. Rainbow Dash felt miserable. She took her hoof off of AJ’s shoulder, and backed away. She didn’t feel so good right now. I thought she cared. Does my presence bother her? She would say something, right? After all, she is supposed to be an honest pony...Right?
Insecurity poked through Rainbow Dash’s heart like a needle, small, but difficult to ignore.
Applejack looked at her.
“Are you okay, Dash? You seem kinda sad.” She said, in a slightly softer tone. Did I offend her somehow? AJ thought.
“Ah, no...eh, it’s just...The oatmeal!” she yelled, stunning Applejack. “I mean, it’s just that the oatmeal is a bit heavy on my stomach...Heh-heh...”
Of course. Blame it on the Oatmeal.
AJ shrugged.
“I’ve never heard of oatmeal doin’ that to anypony, but okay... Good job on the floor, by the way. Maybe we can start baking a pie that won’t get knocked down.”
Mmm. Pie. Though that’s not what she really meant. She had high hopes that AJ would show her how to cut apples again, by way of ‘hooves-on’ teaching methods. And if not, then feign something else.
Applejack grabbed a few apples from a basket and set them down. “Err... I’ll do the choppin’. You can make the crust. Do you know how?” She asked, grabbing a knife and slicing up an apple.
“As sure as...,”started Rainbow Dash, trying to find a good pun, only to have to start over.”Sure I know how. Easy as pie.” Lame, thought Rainbow Dash.
Despite Dash thinking it was lame, AJ actually chuckled a bit.
“Good. All the ingredients you need are in the pantry. Be sure not to mix too fast. We don’t want another mess on our hooves.” She said, slicing another apple.
Rainbow Dash immediately got the ingredients out of the pantry, grabbed a small bowl on purpose, and sloppily mixed them together.
“Aw, AJ. I need your help!” cried Rainbow Dash, smiling at the stupidity and deviousness of her plan. She had partially-mixed dough all over her coat and mane. On purpose.
Applejack sighed and walked over to Rainbow Dash.
“You did just what I told you not to do.” She said, though there was a noticeable tinge of amusement in her voice. “Now I suppose you want me to help you?” She asked, smiling slightly.
Rainbow Dash put on her best innocent face. “Please?” she asked, in a hopefully adorable way, like Apple Bloom usually did.
Applejack grabbed the wet cloth she had used to clean the counters before and walked over to Rainbow Dash, grabbing a cloth for her as well.
“Better start cleanin’ up if we ever want to finish this pie.” She said, wiping off the table.
Rainbow Dash frowned, then realized what she was trying to accomplish. Are you crazy!? she wanted to shout at herself. Why am I doing this?
She got to work, secretly and furiously cleaning herself and trying to figure out what was going on.
Applejack finished up the table and noticed a spot on Dash’s back that would be tricky for her to get. She rubbed the dough from that spot, blushing slightly, yet feeling kind of warm.
“Thought you may need some help...” She said, smiling sheepishly.
Because this action was unexpected to Rainbow Dash, and the fact that AJ was rubbing her back (a sensitive area to pegasi), Rainbow unintentionally let a moan escape through her lips.
Catching herself, she jumped away, because though she accomplished what she wanted, and she was not satisfied at all. What am I, a filly-fooler? GET A GRIP, DASH!
“How ‘bout, you make the pie, I‘ll watch. It’ll make life a whole lot easier.” said Rainbow.
Applejack blushed more intensely, the warmth becoming a heat that spread through her body.
“Yeah. Okay. Good idea.” She said, starting to preheat the oven and finish up the crust. She was thinking to herself the whole time. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me. What I’m doing is wrong... I’ve been taught that my whole life, but... I feel this pull. What’s wrong with me? Am I really falling for a mare? Falling for Rainbow Dash?
Rainbow Dash decided it was best to keep AJ occupied with a conversation.
“ Wonderful weather we’re having,” said Rainbow Dash. “Wanna know why?”
And without waiting for an answer, she plowed on, regardless.
“Because I’m in control of the weather, that’s why. And, if I do say so myself, I’m doing a pretty fabulous job, wouldn’t you agree? So, next time someone says, ‘Wonderful weather we’re having,’ keep in mind that the weather is provided courtesy of Rainbow Dash. And if they say ‘Terrible weather today,’” Rainbow Dash paused, building the effect. Then she whispered ominously, “I want their name, and their address...” There. That should distract AJ good enough. And if her ego wasn’t big enough to distract her, she wouldn’t know what else would be.
While Rainbow Dash was talking, AJ filled the finished crust with the sliced apples, laid more crust on top, and put the pie in the oven.
“That’s very nice and all, Dash, but who do you think gives you the apples that everypony eats? I do. Well, my family does.” She said with a tinge of pride. “We wake up early every morning to work in the fields, or just do work around the house, then we sell our apples (which happen to be the best in Equestria) all over the place, anywhere we are, so that any pony can taste how sweet and delicious our apples are.” She continued, standing up tall.
Rainbow Dash was glad AJ’s mind was on other things. Rainbow Dash stood and walked to her friend.
“I’m glad you do this for all of Equestria. That you do this for me.” said Rainbow Dash.
And without warning, Rainbow Dash kissed Applejack, lips curving together perfectly. Warmth and euphoria spread through Rainbow Dash’s body, getting converting to pressure against her and Applejack. AJ pushed back too, but did so with surprising strength. They separated quickly. A little too quickly, for Rainbow Dash’s taste. Speaking of taste...Who knew Applejack would taste like...Apples? Rainbow laughed at that thought. Applejack laughed too, but probably not for the same reason.Then Rainbow realized what she just did. She flew out of AJ’s house and into the sky.
For better or for worse, she had kissed Applejack. And, by heart, she knew that they both enjoyed it. She smiled at another thought.
I blame it on the Oatmeal...