//------------------------------// // Crazy Obsessions // Story: An Apple Amidst Crazies // by Kevinltk //------------------------------// After leaving Fluttershy and the aspiring animals, Applejack decided to go see Rainbow Dash next. If Sweet Apple Acres did not get a good harvest from applebuck season, then there would be less time and fewer apples to dedicate to their famous cider. Since Rainbow had what could be seen as an unhealthy obsession for the cider, Applejack knew the thirsty pegasus would go to great lengths to prevent a shortage of the drink. As Applejack approached Rainbow’s house, she saw the very pony she wanted to see digging through an enormous bag that could fit any pony inside it. The busy pegasus was so occupied with her work that Applejack was able to walk right up to her unnoticed. Smirking, Applejack yelled out, “Howdy, Rainbow!” Instead of jumping up in fright, like Applejack expected her to do, Rainbow froze at the sound of Applejack’s voice. Slowly getting up and turning around, she responded with a hint of nervousness in her voice, “Oh, uh, hey, Applejack. What’s up?” Nothing suspicious here at all, Applejack thought as she rolled her eyes. “What’s in the bag, Rainbow? Goin’ somewhere or is this some harebrained prank you’re tryin’ to pull?” Applejack asked as she leaned a bit to the side, trying to get a peek at the contents of the bag. Rainbow leaned over a bit, just enough to block Applejack’s vision of the bag. “Nothing,” she drawled out in response to the questions. Applejack met the response with an unamused stare. Rainbow sighed. “Alright, alright. I’m heading over to Canterlot. Daring Do is doing a book signing of her newest book, and I want to head up there and get her to hang out with me.” Applejack chuckled at Rainbow’s answer. “Sugarcube, we all know you pretty much worship her. That’s too bad you have to go though. Ah was hopin’ to get your help harvestin’ the apples. Big Mac got hurt, so he won’t be able to do any applebuckin’ for a while. Without any help, we might not have enough apples ready for the upcomin’ cider season.” Rainbow’s eyes shot wide open at the dire news. “No cider?!” she cried out in fear. Groaning in frustration, Rainbow sat down as she brought her forehooves to her head. Applejack could see Rainbow was conflicted and carefully weighing her options. Seeing the usually brash pegasus in such deep thought was a rare sight for her. She just wished it did not have to be a decision between one obsession over another. Rolling her eyes yet again at Rainbow’s antics, Applejack offered a solution. “Look, sugarcube, Ah know you really like Darin’ Do and her books, so don’t worry about the cider. Ah can go ask some of our other friends to help out. Go ahead to that book thing.” A huge smile appeared on Rainbow’s face as she launched into the air, performing a few loops in joy. “Woo hoo! Thanks, Applejack! As soon as I get back, I’m coming over to help out the cid—er, you. Anyway, I got to head out now if I want to make it in time. See ya!” Rainbow quickly grabbed her bag, but because she forgot to close it in all the excitement, the contents within spilled out as soon as the bag left the ground. Rainbow gasped in horror as she saw her belongings land in front of Applejack. Applejack sat down to get a closer look at the interesting objects. Questions raced through her mind as she identified what she was looking at. “Rainbow, why are you bringing rope to a book signing?” Applejack asked, an eyebrow rising. “Uh, in case I wanted to practice those rope thingy stuff you do?” Rainbow answered even though it sounded more like a question. “What’s this then?” Applejack picked up a bottle from the pile. Her eyes flew open as she read the label. “What the hay, Rainbow!? Why in Equestria do you need chloroform!?” Rainbow quickly flew over and grabbed the bottle of chloroform. She nervously laughed as she hid the bottle behind her. “Heh heh… Oh, that? I was planning to take a nap during the train ride. You know how much trouble I have sleeping,” Rainbow explained, beads of sweat starting to drip down her face. Applejack returned the flimsy excuse with a flat stare. “Rainbow, you pretty much spend more time nappin’ than actually bein’ awake. Where did you even get this?” “I was just flying around yesterday when I crashed, er, found a stash of bottles in a tree.” Applejack scoffed at Rainbow’s explanation. “Do you really think Ah’m goin’ to believe that somepony just leaves a stash of chloroform in some random tree, and you just happened to find it?” “I’m telling the truth, honest!” Rainbow retorted. Applejack was surprised that she was not getting dizzy as she rolled her eyes yet again because of Rainbow’s odd behavior. Knowing that her friend was likely not going to tell her the truth anytime soon, Applejack tried to figure out what the weird items would be used for. When the pieces started falling into place in her mind, Applejack sighed as she brought one of her forehooves to her face. “Rainbow, please don’t tell me you are goin’ to do what Ah think you are goin’ to do.” “If you mean you are thinking that I might be going to Canterlot to kidnap Daring Do and bring her back to my place, so we can be best friends forever… then no, I am totally not doing that,” Rainbow kind of confessed as her eyes nervously darted around. The oblivious pegasus’s unintentional confession caused both of Applejack’s forehooves to meet her face. “You can’t be serious. Rainbow, you are not goin’ to Canterlot and kidnap Daring Do to keep her for yourself. End of story.” “Aww.” Rainbow bowed her head in disappointment, a frown appearing on her face. Suddenly, her head shot back up, a small grin adorning her face, as she not so discreetly took out a rag from the bag with her free hoof and hid it behind her along with the chloroform. Rainbow’s shenanigans were giving Applejack’s face a thorough workout as one of Applejack’s eyebrows once again went up in curiosity. Applejack silently watched the unusual pegasus as she fidgeted around, clearly doing something behind her back. Rainbow then brought out the rag, presenting it in front of her and dripping with liquid. “Uh, hey, Applejack, does this rag smell bad to you?” Rainbow asked with a smile that was too wide on her face. Applejack gave Rainbow a flat look at the obvious trap. In her mind, Applejack was lamenting over the fact that she did not have enough hooves to show her face how frustrated and embarrassed she was with her desperate friend. Needing time to figure out how to defuse the insane pegasus, Applejack decided to humor the crazed pegasus by leaning in close to the rag and pretended to sniff, careful to not breathe in. “Ah, don’t smell anything.” Rainbow gave a confused look as she stared at the rag. “Really?” Bringing the rag in front of her face, Rainbow took a big sniff. Rainbow’s eyes then glazed over as she fell back. Applejack blinked a couple of times, still processing the bizarre turn of events. “Ah can’t believe that just happened.” With a sigh and a frown on her face, Applejack prodded the unconscious Rainbow Dash. “Yep, out cold,” she muttered, shaking her head in exasperation. “Guess Ah should bring all this with me to keep them out of her hooves,” Applejack said, packing up all the illicit equipment back into the bag. “Well, at least she won’t end up getting a restraining order today.” Applejack slung the filled bag onto her back and trotted away, leaving Rainbow in her stupor. Ah should go see Twi and Spike next, so Ah can also tell Twi how readin’ is not good for Rainbow’s health.