//------------------------------// // bookplayer // Story: The Collection // by Churchy //------------------------------// This chapter was written by bookplayer o----o “Did you see it?” Twilight Sparkle asked Applejack, grinning eagerly. Applejack was standing next to her apple cart, trying to decide if she should start offering golden delicious apples two for a bit, since they were looking slightly less than delicious at that point. She looked up when Twilight spoke, but had the feeling she had missed the first part of the conversation. “Did I see what now?” “Last night! Did you see it? It was amazing!” Applejack thought back to last night. Unless Twilight was talking about the B+ Apple Bloom brought home on her spelling test, Applejack had seen nothing amazing. The B+ had been amazing, but only because the Apples were all awful at spelling- sounding out words was hard when you talked different from other ponies. As proud as Applejack was, she doubted that Twilight would be that impressed by the passing grade. “I can't say I did. What was it?” “It was-” “Hey, can I buy some apples?” a blue mare with a white mane interrupted. Applejack turned cheerfully to the paying customer. “Sorry ma'am, what can I do for ya'?” “I'll talk to you when you aren't working, I'm going to go find out if Fluttershy saw it!” Twilight said over Applejack's shoulder, then Applejack heard the sound of hoof beats trotting away. Applejack returned her attention to selling some apples. When she finished the transaction, having unloaded six of the problematic yellow apples along with some much nicer red ones, curiosity started creeping back into her mind. What had Twilight seen last night? Some stars thing, which would be much more exciting to her than anypony else, seemed like the most logical answer. Of course, Twilight might have learned to do some magic thing. Or maybe it was something somepony might have brought over to show her, maybe Rarity had made a new dress, or Pinkie invented a new. . . something. Applejack looked at the ponies passing by, wondering if any of them might know what Twilight was talking about. Everypony was going about their business. None of them seemed to be excited about seeing something amazing. Her eyes finally settled on Rainbow Dash, flying down the street with a can of paint tucked under her foreleg. “Hey, Dash!” Applejack called, causing the pegasus to notice her and fly right over. Rainbow Dash hovered in front of her. “Hey, AJ, what's up?” “Did you see it last night?” Dash stared at her, confused. “Did I see what last night?” “I dunno.” Applejack shrugged. “But I hear it was amazin'.” “But you don't know what it was?” AJ nodded. “Twilight was by, and she asked if I saw it, but she didn't get to tellin' me what it was. I was hopin' you'd know.” “She said it was amazing?” Dash thought for a moment. “But, I was home, asleep.” “Ya' know, Dash, there are more wonders in Equestria than your flank.” Applejack said dryly. “I know.” Dash grinned. “There's my mane, and my wings, and that's not even counting all the tricks I can do, like-” “It wasn't you,” Applejack broke in to avoid being subjected to the litany. Dash nodded. “Right, I know. Okay, then what could it be?” “Somethin' in the sky only Twilight would notice?” Applejack suggested. “Probably not. We get reports of all that stuff at weather patrol. They all say stuff like 'planetary thingamabob numbers numbers numbers.' Ya' know, in case ponies ask us about the glowy thing in the sky.”   “Ponies ask about that stuff?” “All the time.” Dash rolled her eyes. “Like they expect me to remember that! I always just tell them it was a loose balloon.” “So, no loose balloons last night?” “Not that anypony mentioned to me. So, what's Twilight so excited about?” “She said she was goin' to see if Fluttershy saw it. Why don't you go find Twilight, and come back and tell me what it was?” “I'm on the case!” Dash smiled, and gave a salute. Then she took off down the street, still carrying her paint. “Wait! Dash!” Applejack called, but Rainbow Dash was already moving fast in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage, leaving Applejack to wonder both what it was that got Twilight so excited, and why Rainbow Dash was carrying a can of paint.