//------------------------------//
// Insulted - First_Down 
// Story: AppleDash Group Collab 
// by DbzOrDie 
//------------------------------//

Applejack left the fairground with her head high, trying to retain what she felt was the remainder of her dignity. It was a task made difficult thanks to a rainbow-colored leech currently wrapped around one of her back legs in a tightening grip.

“I can’t recall the last time I’ve ever been so insulted.” Applejack said, breaking the tense silence.

Rainbow Dash responded immediately by squeezing tighter around her marefriend’s leg in an attempt to slow her down. Her new career path as a fleshy anchor wasn’t off to a good start, however, as Applejack kept dragging her across the ground with each exaggerated pull. “Come on, Applejack,” Rainbow finally whined. “I said I was sorry. It… it was an accident.”

Applejack didn’t slow down, but she shot Dash a downward glance. “An accident, huh? What, like you tripped and yer mouth just happened to end up there?”

“It was just a one-time thing. It didn’t mean anything, I swear,” Dash defended.

“I reckon I’m the only one who’s allowed ta swear right now, and I’ll have plenty more swears for ya later tonight,” Applejack said with a hard edge in her voice. “Suppose I shouldn’t be surprised none. That mare’s got ‘Tart’ in her name for pony’s sake!”

“Ok, now you’re just being ridiculous.” Dash gritted her teeth. The ground was starting to wear away at her coat. If she kept hanging on, she’d eventually end up with a bald belly.

“Am not.”

“You didn’t mind when our other friends were doing it,” Dash tried to reason.

“They ain’t my marefriend, Rainbow,” Applejack said with an angry huff. “Ya do somethin’ like that in public, how’s it gonna look on me?”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Dash finally relented. “What’s it going to take to get me out of the doghouse? …I’ll help with farm chores tomorrow. I’ll read bedtime stories to the saplings you just planted.”

That almost got Applejack to smile. Almost. “Don’t you try nunna that fancy sweet talk on me now.” With one last forceful tug, Applejack at last freed her leg, leaving Rainbow Dash face down in the grass. She tilted her head back at the prone pegasus. “We’re havin’ a nice, long talk back at the farmhouse tonight, y’hear?”

Rainbow groaned at Applejack’s receding figure. After a minute, she felt the earth shake from vibrations of steady hoofsteps drawing nearer. From the force of each impact, she guessed who it was.

Big Macintosh nudged Rainbow with a toe as a way of greeting. “AJ saw ya eat one'a Pear Tart’s turnovers, didn’t she?”

“Eeeeeyyyyyyyup.”

“Ya know my sis’ gets mighty particular ‘bout her baking, right? ‘Specially when she’s competin’ fer a blue ribbon?”

“Eeeeeyyyyyyyup.”

Big Mac quickly looked from side to side, making sure no one else was around, before leaning close to Dash. “Were they worth it?”

Dash cracked one eye open and lifted her head, a half smile forming across her muzzle. “So. Bucking. Delicious.”