Fluttershy almost dropped Angel from the force with which she gasped. "Applejack's about to lose the farm?!"
Rainbow Dash winced slightly. "Now, I didn't exactly say that, did I?"
"But... but you said that they've taken a huge dip financially!" Fluttershy's lips trembled from where she stood across the cottage's front room. "And that you overheard her talking to Big Macintosh about resorting to share cropping and—"
"Wait, I've got a question for you." Rainbow Dash sat up in the couch. "Did the big red dude say anything about this?"
Fluttershy bit her lip.
Rainbow rolled her ruby eyes. "Pfffft. You know I'm not trying to pry or any of that crud—"
"No, Rainbow, it's not that. It's just..." Fluttershy fidgeted, gazing lonesomely down towards the wooden floorboards. "No. No, Big Mac didn't say anything. I mean... he's said a lot of things since we started... t-talking more." Her lips curved slightly, but it was brief reverie. Sighing, she said, "He hasn't told me about any sort of distress with the farm."
"Well, you know how stallions are."
"Huh?"
"Nnnngh..." Rainbow face-hoofed. "They're proud, Flutters! A male pony like Big Mac isn't exactly about to volunteer any sort of super sensitive information, especially if it makes him look vulnerable!"
"I don't think... I would blame him in that regards..." Fluttershy rubbed her hooves together as she spoke in a pitiable tone. "He's such a sweetheart. If what you say is true about the f-farm, then he must be tearing apart inside!"
"Yeah, well..." Rainbow Dash glared into the ceiling above the couch. "He's not the only one."
Fluttershy's eyes darted Rainbow's way. "How is Applejack dealing with this information."
"I dunno." Rainbow shrugged. "I imagine not well."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because..." Rainbow bit her lip, hesitating.
Fluttershy trotted forward slightly. "Rainbow...?"
"Because..." Rainbow clenched her eyes shut, gritted her teeth, and eventually blurted, "Because she's cried about it before."
Fluttershy's eyes blinked wide. "Applejack's... cried...?"
"Yeah."
Fluttershy shook her head softly. "I have to be honest with you, Rainbow. I don't think I've witnessed our friend Applejack cry ever!"
"Well, she has, okay?" Rainbow grumbled, forelimbs folded. "She... let loose while we were hanging out together on the day after the Gala."
"You mean that weekend in Canterlot?"
Rainbow nodded.
Fluttershy squinted. "So... you're starting to remember details, then?"
"Yeah," Rainbow muttered. "And I'm also starting to realize why I probably forgot a lot of the stuff in the first place."
"Uhm... because...?"
"I don't even like describing it, Flutters." Rainbow tilted her head aside, reflecting her dainty friend with glossy eyes. "Applejack... crying?" Her body shivered from mane to tail. "Just thinking about it is really... really..." Her teeth chattered. "...freaky."
"Rainbow Dash..."
"I mean it!" Rainbow sat up in the couch. "There really is nothing worse in the world! Just the sound of it! Her voice collapsing. Her face all scrunched up and distraught." Rainbow winced yet again.
Fluttershy smiled compassionately. "Everypony deserves a good cry every now and then."
"Yeah, well, not Applejack!" Rainbow growled, folding her forelimbs again. "She deals with enough as it is! She doesn't have to deal with her whole world collapsing! It's... it's..." Her throat made a mixed grumbling and hissing sound as she looked out the starry window. "It's not cool!"
Silence.
Fluttershy trotted forward and nuzzled Rainbow's shoulder gently. "I know it's hard, Rainbow."
"Pffft." Rainbow's eyes darted towards her. "What's hard?"
Fluttershy smiled. "To know that the pony you care for is in anguish."
Rainbow stared at her. Slowly, her frown dissolved, and she gazed limply towards the couch cushions below her folded hooves.
Fluttershy took the time to ask, "Why is it that Applejack hasn't told all of us about it?"
"Hmmm?"
"She's always honest and upfront about everything. It seems strange that she would keep secrets about how bad Sweet Apple Acres would be doing."
"I dunno." Rainbow shrugged. "Maybe 'cuz she figures that she can still fix the whole mess. Horseapples! Maybe she can. I mean, this is Applejack, after all." Rainbow flexed and unflexed her feathers while exhaling, "Why does she even need to get all of the girls involved with the crud, huh?"
Fluttershy looked at the floor, then back at Rainbow Dash. "But she did tell you."
"Pffft. So?"
Fluttershy smiled softly. "So..."
Rainbow looked at her.
The pegasus continued to smile.
Rainbow's ears folded. "Fluttershy? You—" She frowned. "Don't go there. It's... it's downright friggin' cruel."
Fluttershy giggled ever so slightly. "You have to admit, it's a real sign of trust."
"Yeah, and Applejack trusts her dog Winona not to tear her galoshes to bits." Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and hovered across the cottage. "You know how much Applejack loves galoshes. Pffft... she practically wets herself whenever she says the word."
"I think you're changing the subject."
"And I think you're high on Big Mac." Rainbow hovered towards the door. "It's been nice chatting with you, Flutters, but I've got a busy day of deliveries tomorrow, and I think I need to get my awesome sleep."
Fluttershy suddenly gasped. "Oh good heavens!"
"Wh-what?!" Rainbow jerked a worried look at her. "I said 'awesome sleep.' You know... it's like how Rarity or Twilight get their 'beauty sleep,' only it's 'awesome'... 'cuz it's me?"
"No, not that!" Fluttershy rushed over to the doorway and picked up a small brown bag. "It's Big Mac! He forgot half of the medicine that I had meant to give him!"
"Oh, for the pigs and stuff, right?"
"Ohhhhhh..." Fluttershy moped, her wings limp. "If he doesn't give them their regular dosage through the weekend, they might come down with a fever!"
"In other words, this stuff has to get to Sweet Apple Acres super pronto..." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.
"Erm... well... y-yes..."
"Heh..." Rainbow snatched the bag away from Fluttershy. "Don't you freak out, girl. I'll get this to their place in a jiffy. It's what I'm good at lately, after all."
"But Rainbow!" Fluttershy bit her lip and gazed out the window. "It's already after dark and—"
"I'll try not to slam into any bats along the way. I get it." Rainbow opened the door and spread her wings. "You want my advice? Keep your head in the game. You don't want Big Mac distracting you so much that you forget your animals' medicine, now do you?"
"Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash." With a calm breath, Fluttershy smiled. "And do you want my advice?"
"Pfft. Whatever."
She leaned forward. "Maybe it's about time you earnestly tried to remember that entire weekend." Her eyes lit up. "Because Applejack may need your help more than you realize."
Rainbow was silent. After a deep breath, she flapped her wings and shot out into the night. Alone with the winds, she muttered againt the flapping of her feathers. "Yeah, well, she's got a funny way of asking for it..."