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// 9: The Arcade [Romance] [Slice of Life] 
// Story: An Apple A Day 
// by Esle Ynopemos 
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((Prompt: A trip to the arcade.))

Rainbow Dash let loose a whistle as Applejack strode by under her cloud. “Nice hair! You got a hot date or something?”

Applejack's reflexively felt the braids her granny had helped her with and smiled. “Somethin' like that,” she said. Rainbow knew all about who Applejack was off to see. Hay, Rainbow had been the one to all but physically shove her and Fluttershy together.

Rainbow Dash dispersed her cloud with a kick and drifted down to walk alongside her. “So, what's your plan? Where are you taking my flight school buddy?” Her lip curled up in a smirk. “'Cause if it's someplace lame, I've got an obligation to stop you by force.”

Applejack let loose a snort that seemed at odds with her makeup and well-brushed mane. “C'mon, Dash, we both know you couldn't stop me if there was two of ya!”

“Oh yeah?” Rainbow flared her wings. “You wanna find out if that's true?”

Applejack was sorely tempted to put that uppity showboat in her place, but Granny Smith had spent a lot of time working the tangles out of her mane, and she didn't want to show up to Fluttershy's all covered in dirt and grass. She shook her head. “I'm takin' her to the arcade.”

Rainbow faltered for a few steps. “The arcade?” she repeated. “You're taking Fluttershy to the arcade?”

Applejack slowed her pace a little. “Yeah... what's wrong with that?”

“Don't you think it's a little too...” Rainbow waved her hoof in a circle, “loud noises, flashing lights for her?”

The confident smile returned to Applejack's face and she resumed her pace. “She's shy, Dash. She ain't epileptic. Fluttershy told me she likes it. She goes there every now an' then when she needs to relax.”

Rainbow shook her head in disbelief. “Fluttershy goes to the arcade... to relax?”

“I reckon so,” Applejack said. Rainbow nearly ran into her as she stopped. “So...” She nodded pointedly at the cottage before them. “Were ya plannin' on makin' this a three-way, or would ya be kind enough to scoot along?”

Rainbow blinked. “I, uh... huh. Have fun at the arcade, I guess.” She spread her wings and took off.

*

Fluttershy leaned her head against Applejack's chest, a happy sigh on her lips. “This was a wonderful date, Applejack.”

The earth pony nodded, resting her hoof on the picnic basket they had brought. There had been little enough traffic this evening in the old arched walkway—or arcade, as it was called—that they had been able to set up and eat their meal right there in the middle. “Not too much loud noises or flashin' lights for ya, hon?”

Fluttershy giggled and shook her head. “No, it's so peaceful. Dinner at the arcade was such a thoughtful idea. Thank you, Applejack.”