//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Holding It In Never Lets It Out // by democritus //------------------------------// Coffee. Coffee is all that mattered. Applejack slowly walked into the kitchen, every step heavy and ponderous. She pushed with every ounce of strength to reach that glorious nectar. She grabbed the coffee pot and poured herself a cup; tall, dark, steaming, beautiful. She chugged half of it down before she had to take a breath, and the bitter sting told her she was awake for certain. That's good, she thought. She could pretend last night was a dream. She moved halfway to the nearest seat at the table before finally regarding Big Macintosh, who had been watching the whole show in bewilderment. "Long night?" he finally asked. Applejack stared at him and frowned. "You wouldn't know the half of it." Big Mac waited until Applejack found her seat. "I don't know, you and Rainbow sure yelled loud enough," he said with a shrug. "Woke me and Apple Bloom up." Applejack froze mid-sip and her eyes shrunk to pinpricks. "You... heard?" "Ee-yup." "What? How much?" "I couldn't understand much of it. All I could really make out was three words from Rainbow-" Applejack slammed her mug on the table. "Don't worry," she said tersely. "I know what you mean. It's been bouncing around my head ever since." Big Mac smirked a little. "So, you like her?" Applejack glared. "Don't you start with me, mister." She sighed, and took another long drink. "It's just... she acts all weird and ticks me off, and then she tells me... that." Big Mac frowned a little. "So, you don't like her." Applejack looked up at the ceiling. "But, I saw a side of her I don't think many ponies have seen, a humility I didn't think she even had. She's willing to throw out the bravado for me. The sincerity was touching." Big Mac smirked a little. "So, you like her." Applejack got up and walked to the coffee pot. "But she's a friend, a pain in the rear sometimes, but a friend." She poured herself another cup. "And I never thought of her as more. I never wanted to. She's a friend, and I dont, I can't see her as more. I mean, how would our friends react? What if it didn't work out?" Big Mac frowned a little. "So, you don't like her." Applejack took a long drink and swallowed loudly. "But this means so much to her, you know? She must've been holding it in for months. And the gifts weren't no knick-knacks, that's for sure." Applejack said as she pulled out a small, lightning-shaped pendant. "It was her last gift, the one she had when I caught her. It matches the one I got last week." Big Mac smirked a little. "So, you do like h-" "And it doesn't help you're trying to make it this simple yes/no thing!" Applejack snapped. "Can you tell me how you and Cheerilee are doing?" Big Mac blushed a little. "That's, uh, that's..." Applejack grinned. "See, ain't so simple, is it? It ain't every day your best friend ticks you off with fancy gifts." She slammed her face on the table. "And I think the coffee's broken." "It's decaf," Big Mac said. "You got it so you wouldn't keep yourself up." Applejack groaned. "This day cannot get worse. Where's some good news?" "I'll take care of your chores for you, you scoot back into bed." "That's not good news and you know it. I can't be owning you more favors." Big Mac smiled softly. "Then do me a favor and get some more sleep. You've got enough to worry about already." Applejack looked up at her brother and smiled back. "Aw, shucks, you're a big softie, you know that? "Ee-yup," he replied, a little embarrassed. That afternoon, Applejack rolled a barrel through an empty field. Her eyes darted around constantly. Nopony in sight, just what she needed. Her rest had given her an answer, and she had a plan. It was a most dangerous plan. She could only hope it got only the pony she wanted, and at worst she would be destroyed in a stampede. But she knew Rainbow Dash probably wouldn't come to see her of her own accord, not after last night. Rainbow deserved an answer, and Applejack had one. She pried the lid off the barrel and waved her hoof to let the scent waft. She gulped, considering taking one last chance to escape before things went wrong. Before she could think again, she saw a streak of color heading straight towards her. "CiderciderciderciderciderciderciderciderCIDERCIDERCIDERwaitAp-" the streak said before it crashed into the ground. Rainbow tumbled a few times, kicking up dirt, before coming to a stop on her back. The ground above was spinning. She saw pretty flowers. She tried to name them. Lilac, lavender, aster, Applejack. "Uh, you okay, sugarcube?" Applejack asked of the crumpled heap before her. "Wha-huh!?" With a mighty leap somehow from her back she untangled and reoriented herself. "A-Applejack!" She said while landing on her hooves. "How nice too see you! Heh heh!" She cast her eyes down. "You aren't still mad at me, are you?" "No, I ain't now," Applejack said. "I just wanted to ask you something." Rainbow gulped. "Yeah, what?" "You know any nice restaurants in town? I don't think Hayburger is exactly fancy." Rainbow's jaw dropped. "Uh." "Oh, Rarity told me about this place where she had dinner with a client, Dreamhorse I think it was?" Rainbow started to blush and looked around. "Applejack, is this some kind of prank, or are you-" "We could always plan a trip to Canterlot to hit one of the really fancy places, but I don't think I could stand something so hoity-toity." "APPLEJACK!" Rainbow yelled. Applejack leaned away a little. "What?" "I want to make this completely straight, clear, whatever!" Rainbow's face was beet-red. "You're asking me out? On a date?" Applejack smiled sheepishly. "Well, uh, yeah." "This is not a joke or anything?" "Nope, I'm one hundred percent serious." Rainbow pinched herself. "Ow! Guess it's not a dream, either." Applejack tipped her hat. "I'd be right ashamed of your subconscious's interpretation of me for leading you on if it were." "You said Dreamhorse?" Rainbow asked. "Alright by me. Friday evening?" "Sure." Rainbow shrugged. "Anything else you wanted to say?" "Nope, not now anyway. See you then, then." "Wait!" Rainbow shouted. "Can I keep the cider?" Applejack laughed. "Sure, keep it." "Alright!" Rainbow pumped her hoof. "If I can get out of here with it before that vicious cider-crazed mob murders me, this day will officially rule!" Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Did you say vicious cider-crazed mob?" Rainbow grinned apologetically. "Uh, yeah, did I forget to mention them? Uh, well, see you Friday, if you make it!" she darted off to the horizon. "Horseapples," Applejack said as the thunder of hooves grew deafening.