Rainbow Dash nodded absently and pushed her way through a cluster of reporters, the mugs of cider in her teeth her excuse. Applejack's Stetson was easy to see above the crowd, up against the far wall, a dark unmoving island on the edge of a shifting multicolored sea.
She set both mugs down on the small, round standing table between them. "Courtesy of the Wonderbolts."
"Thanks, Dash," Applejack said. "Guess I win on both ends of this transaction."
They each took a long draw of cider and looked out at the ponies milling around the dance floor. There wouldn't be any dancing for at least an hour, after the fanboys had gotten their signatures, the reporters their soundbites, and the schmoozers their business cards. And if some fanboy could keep up with her dancing, then–
Dash leaned over and nudged Applejack's elbow, and nodded over towards where Twilight, Derpy, and Fluttershy were being chatted up by three stallions. Twilight seemed to be arguing a point with one of them, Fluttershy was backed up against the wall and nodding intermittent reluctant affirmatives, and Derpy was leaning forward excitedly, as if the story the agitated unicorn across from her was telling were the most fascinating thing she could remember hearing. Dash didn't doubt that it was.
"I should totally set them up," she said.
Applejack rolled her eyes.
"I could too!" Dash insisted. "You see how Twilight's about to wreck it for all of them? I go over there, give her a big hug, be all buddy-buddy with them, sprinkle a little Wonderbolt glitter, and, bam, it's over. Even Twilight's dancing won't be able to scare them off then."
Applejack snorted. "Ah'm sure Fluttershy would be eternally grateful for that."
"Or Derpy's eye," Dash added.
Applejack looked away.
"And we have to stay for the dancing. Just to see if Derpy is worse than Twilight."
"Rainbow."
Rainbow Dash frowned. "Sure, sure. I understand." She took a longer drink and gulped it down. "You gotta stick up for her. I respect that, AJ. I really do. It was hard enough to get anything done dragging around Pinkie and Fluttershy. I can't imagine how you don't go crazy with a third–"
"She's loyal. That's all the job requires."
The two ponies both looked away. Off to the left, a DJ was setting up for karaoke.
Rainbow Dash took another long look across the room at Derpy, then pushed her empty mug away from her. "On second thought, I saw a cute stallion in the corner with stars in his eyes. I oughta snap him up before one of my teammates does."
"If it makes you happy."
"It does," Dash said. "Very. You oughta try it sometime. You staying at the palace?"
Applejack shook her head. "The Sun's Rise. Less fuss."
"I'll stop in and see you after, okay?"
Applejack raised her eyebrows. "After?"
"I'm fast," Dash said. "You should know that."
"What about your friends?" Applejack nodded to a couple of other Wonderbolts out on the floor, surrounded by reporters.
The hair on Rainbow's neck rose.
Applejack fiddled with her hat. "I mean, sure, Dash. Come on round by after. That'll be nice."
Rainbow set off for the other side of the club, where she'd idly noticed the stallion half an hour ago. He wasn't really all that cute, but she might give him a chance. Or she might just step outside, climb into the night air, then fold her wings in tight and dive down the side of the mountain until the air pressure squeezed any pointless thoughts out of her head.