Two Little Birds
The loud thuds of Applejack’s hooves hitting the dusty trail brought a wild grin to her face, old memories of countless times galloping that same track through the trees running through her head. Now, she wasn't at full speed, but that was fine, as she wasn't alone as she had been before. On her left, a blue Pegasus with an adorably scruffy rainbow mane blowing about about the place trotting briskly. On her right, a purple Alicorn with a darker mane, highlighted with a bright pink streak, struggled a little bit to keep the pace, slightly out of breath.
“Hey Twi, ya’ll wanna take a break?” Applejack offered, breaking the silence of the three happy runners.
She shook her quickly in response. “I’m fine. It’s not my fault you two are such great athletes!”
“Yeah, I can’t help being awesome,” Rainbow Dash took to the air, lazily flying with her belly up to the sky, before twisting round to wink at Twilight. “I know how much you like my flanks.”
“What? Stop it!” She broke out into embarrassed giggles, blushing furiously.
Applejack allowed herself a good-natured chuckled. “I have to admit, they are pretty nice,” at Rainbow’s expected smirk, she leaped up and grabbed the prismatic tail hairs between her teeth, successfully yanking her marefriend to the ground. “Now stop showin’ off and jus’ run with us.”
Of course, she wouldn't be put down that easily, blowing a loud raspberry before flipping backwards and looping round above their heads. Finished with a show, she flew onward. “Betcha can’t catch me!”
“Rainbow, wait!” Twilight grinned, beating her regal wings to chase after her, filled with obvious excitement.
Applejack watched happily as the two met in the air, wrapping their arms around each other in a tight hug, even sharing a short kiss. She paused beneath them as they circled around each other, putting their wings to good use. A relationship with three ponies seemed a hard feat to sustain, but after the initial awkwardness and confusion, they’d settled down just fine.
While her two marefriends continued to flit about, Applejack trotted to a tall tree with heavy green leaves providing plenty of shade for the three ponies. She nudged her saddlebags off her back, opening one to reveal a carefully folded red-checkered picnic blanket. Grasping it in her mouth, she set it out, smoothing the wrinkles out. Glancing up to see Twilight and Dash still flying, she set out various items of food, calling out to them. “Soup’s on, gals!”
In a single moment, Rainbow Dash had swooped down, landing heavily, her eyes eagerly taking in the display before her. “Oh wow, this looks great AJ! We should totally go on more picnics.”
Applejack pushed her lightly, a grin still splayed across her face. “Only if ya help out with th’ food next time!”
“Done!” Rainbow bumped a blue hoof against her own. “But don’t blame me if we all get food poisoning.”
“Rainbow, slow down a little,” Twilight protested, fluttering down in front of them. “I didn't even realize you were gone.”
“Twilight, there’s food, what do you expect?”
The princess rolled her eyes, sitting down on the blanket, legs curled underneath her. “Thanks for doing this Applejack, it looks really nice.”
“Aw shucks, that ya kindly, Twi. I did mah best,” Applejack steadily gripped the handle of a knife between her teeth, cutting three slices from a warm apple pie baked just that morning. She loaded up the plates, passing them out. “Dig in, ya’ll.”
She picked her own piece up, taking a bite and chewing contently. Rainbow Dash had nowhere near as much restraint, gobbling up the apple pie furiously. “Mmm, thish is declicioush!”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Twilight scowled as a half-chewed bit of pastry landed on her shoulder, magically flicking it off.
She sheepishly swallowed. “Sorry, Twi. But it is delicious.”
“That’s true,” she rubbed her head against Applejack’s neck, causing a blush to bloom upon her cheeks. “Maybe we can cook together someday? I’m not that good, but I’m sure you could teach me how.”
“She promised me as well,” Dash snuggled up against her over side. “We can have a big cook-up, or something.”
Applejack smiled at the warmth from her two marefriends. “What’s with all th’ attention today? All I did was bake a pie.”
“A delicious one.” As if to prove her point, Rainbow Dash chomped down on her meal, punctuating her chews with ‘mmm’ sounds.
A familiar warmth blossomed in her chest. Everything was perfect. From the sun above casting gloriously warm rays down onto the farm, to the ponies by her side, who she loved more than anything.
It didn't take long for them to devour the meal Applejack had spent the morning preparing, washing it all down with fresh water from little stream trickling between two trees. Dash was soon in the air again, calling for Twilight to join her. Holding hooves, they spun around, practicing simple little tricks Applejack assumed they’d worked on another time.
With them busy, she lay back in the shade, glancing up through the patches the leaves didn't cover. She glanced over at them, her two little birds, swooping about as if they had no care in the world. Smiling, she let her eyes drift shut to the welcoming cover of darkness.
An orange bird perched on her branch, shuffling every now and again as if it would ward of her terrible boredom. She’d caught some tasty worms earlier, but now she was stuffed and knew she couldn't eat any more. She sighed, glanced with contempt at a pair of birds, purple and blue, soaring between the branches together, singing their song proudly. She hadn't sung in a while. After all, singing was practiced when a bird was happy. She wasn't happy.
Sinking her claws cautiously into the soft wood, she peered over at the ground below. It lurched, moving further away from her until she would have to squint to see it. But she didn't want to see it, not when squeezing her eyes tight shut in terror was an option.
No. No longer would she be afraid, huddling on her branch day in and night out. She was a bird, she was free! Filled with new spirit, she launched herself forwards, ready to unfurl her wings and take flight. That was, if she had any. She stared in horror at her body, lacking the wings that would take her to safety, leaving her to plummet to her eventually doom. How could she forget?
How could she forget she had no wings?
Applejack awoke in a cold sweat, gasping for breath. The feelings of falling had been so real, nothing to stop her from dying. It was then she noticed Rainbow Dash and Twilight watching her, worried frowns across their faces. “Hey AJ, are you okay? You seemed like you were having a bad dream.” Dash said.
“O-oh, nothing,” she pressed a hoof against her forehead, willing herself to calm down. “I’m fine now. Why don’t we play a game?”
“If you’re sure,” Twilight seemed hesitant. “What do you want to play?”
“Well, we could continue the run,” she began to pick up the used plates and uneaten pie (although it seemed a lot like a large wedge had gone missing, and Applejack had a sneaking suspicion a certain Pegasus was at fault), slotting them back into her saddlebags. “We've finished all of our food. Unless ya’ll wanna do somethin’ else?”
“No, I’d like to stretch my legs,” Rainbow Dash trotted on the spot. “Been flying for a while.”
Applejack’s eyes rested on the feathery appendages, neatly folded against her sides, flickering over to the smooth slope of her own back. “Yeah. Ya have.”
She bent to pick up her saddlebags, only to have them snatched by Rainbow. “Hey, you had them the whole way. Let somepony else have a turn.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Ya’ll say it like it’s some special privilege to carry mah saddlebags.”
“Oh, but it is,” she held them close to herself, theatrically sniffing them. “They smell of you, Mistress Applejack.”
A soft weight on her back made her jump, only to recognize it as a purple wing. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Twilight murmured quietly. “You’re not normally so easily started.”
“I’m fine, sugarcube. Don’t worry about it.” She stole a quick peck on her cheek, before pulling away. I’m fine.
~~~~~~~~~~
Applejack dropped her saddlebags onto a spare armchair, unable to clean up after herself for once. The rest of the day had been fun, but she couldn't help feeling there was a shadow hanging over the whole thing. It was from her mind really, with her stupid obsession with their wings suddenly.
With a huff, she stomped up the stairs, pushing open the door and throwing herself onto her bed. She’d never had a problem with being an Earth pony before. She was proud of who she was, and had never wanted to change. But for every date they went on, Twilight and Dash would be up above, enjoying the weather the Pegasus way. She knew she shouldn't mind, though sometimes she did wish she too could spread her wings, easily flying up to join them.
Growling, she buried her head beneath her pillow. Stupid. She was being stupid. Peeking out, she grabbed a framed photo beside her bed, bringing it closer. It was a picture of Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, all huddled together and beaming, taken when they first started dating. They’re growin’ away from me. Before I know it, they’ll be dumpin’ me an’ going’ off on their own, she frowned. That ain't going to happen. But I can’t keep up with ‘em like this.
Placing down her picture, she made her way towards a tall mirror, gazing at her reflection, trying to imagine a pair of orange wings sprouting from her back. She couldn't see it. With a sigh, Applejack placed her hoof against the mirror. Would it really be fer th’ best, if I were a Pegasus? AIn’t no way I could be, anyhow.
Applejack buried herself under her duvet. Jus' stop thinkin’ about it. Everythin’ will be alright.