Appledashery

by Just Essay


Honestly, Now

“Don’t mention it.”

Rainbow Dash sighed happily, lying chest-first on the cloud. She gently rubbed little circles into her shoulder, as if she could still feel the warmth of Applejack’s playful contact from a day and a half before. A calm breath flowed through her as she smiled deliriously into the afternoon sunlight.

Then, from below…

“Hey, Big Sis! You’re back!”

“Oh, howdy, Apple Bloom!” Applejack trotted away from the wagon and nuzzled the little filly in question. “So sorry that I couldn’t say goodnight to you last evening, sugarcube. We all came back from Canterlot super late. Well… some of us later than others.”

“Did you have fun at the Gala?”

“Er… yeah, well…” Applejack fanned herself with her hat, smiling nervously. “I… sold a f-few apples, but… erhm…”

“Applejaaaaaaack…” Apple Bloom smirked. “But did you have fun?

Applejack blinked, then reached her hoof down to ruffle the filly’s red mane. “Heheh… Yeah. Sure thang. I got my kicks in.”

“Then that’s a good thing, right?”

“You betcha!” Applejack returned to wagon.

“Whatcha up to?”

“Figured I’d get a fresh start on the Northern Fields.”

“Want some help?”

“Don’t you have homework to do, sugarcube?”

“Nope! I did it all at recess today!”

“At recess? Isn’t that when you and all yer fillyfriends should be outside playin’ and enjoyin’ the weather?”

“Nah. It rained over the schoolhouse for most of the day.”

“Really? That’s mighty odd,” Applejack said. “I thought Rainbow Dash and the other fliers were clearin’ the skies today.”

“Beats me. Why don’t you ask her?”

“Who, Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah.” Apple Bloom pointed skyward. “She’s been floatin’ over our farm for the past half-hour now!”

“She has?” Applejack looked straight up.

All she saw were three fluffy clouds splitting into six as a swift trench exploded through the thick of them, heading due north with a brisk tail-wind.