//------------------------------// // Chapter Five: Setting Out // Story: Flying Without Wings // by FierceRainbow //------------------------------// Setting Out Most ponies probably assumed Applejack was the type of mare who relished waking up at the crack of dawn, watching the sun rise and chase away the sense of chilliness that hung in the air. While that wasn’t entirely false, it wasn’t entirely true either. No, she appreciated the sight of even that great, beautiful sun that Princess Celestia so tirely rose had to come down, dipping below the horizon in a breath-taking display of colors, until it was finally gone. Then, it was night and she could gaze upon the pale moon and the mysterious darkness of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack smiled softly as the last orange rays shrunk until they were no more, and the sun had gone, along with all the sunlight. Still, Princess Luna’s stars shone brightly, and that would be plenty enough for her when she finally set off. If she listened carefully, Applejack could hear the familiar sounds of Big McIntosh’s heavy hoofsteps against the wooden floors, followed by the creak of his bedsprings as he lay down to rest. Applebloom would be secretly reading some magazine under her bedcovers, imagining nopony heard her terrible hidden giggles, until all off a sudden she dropped off. Granny Smith, being the elderly mare she was, would already be asleep, snoring contently under the family quilt. She sighed, her eyes watering slightly. Her role would be simple. Lye down, and have a good night’s rest. But tonight was going to be different. Applejack took her time, waiting until they would all surely be asleep. Then she began. She got down low so her belly brushed the planks, reaching under her bed to tug out a large pair of saddlebags, fit for a long journey. The first thing she packed was the book, tenderly placing it in and wrapping it in a large, soft blanket (Twilight would freak if she damaged a book). Quietly, she packed the rest of her bags with care, and a few sneaky trips downstairs. She slipped them onto her bag, testing the weight. They were good ‘n heavy, showing all the good supplies packed, but not too much it would be a bother. “I’m ready,” she said aloud, despite all her efforts to be completely silent. The words were important, more to reassure herself than anything. Applejack breathed deeply, repeated the phrase. “I’m ready. I’m ready.” She let out the breath, finishing with a grin. This is rather excitin’, now that I think ‘bout it. A real adventure! I ain’t been on one in long time. Applejack twisted the doorknob, slipping past the door and closing it gently behind her. With great care, she began to tip-toe down the corridor, past the other members of her familys’ room. Reaching the stairs, she trotted down them briskly, more confident in her security. Apparently that was mistakes, as in her rush she had forgotten about the bottom step. It let out a deafening creak, clearly alerting her presence, Applejack winced, moving her hoof backwards onto the past step. She held completely still, her heart racing, beads of sweat forming on her clammy skin. For how long she stood there, frozen with fear, she didn’t know. But nopony came demanding what the hay she was doing up at such a late hour, and with her travelling saddlebags too. So she moved on. Applejack moved quickly from then on, despite the quiet clacks of her hooves. She had no time to be dithering around, making sure every step was performed to perfection. That was Twilight’s job. Twilight, she stopped in her tracks, a sudden pain hitting her chest. Hard. She’s gon’ be wonderin’ why I snuck off with th’ book she was so generous to lend me. I can’t leave her and Dash, not like this, she squeezed her eyes tight shut, recollecting her thoughts. No, no… this is fer them, remember? Ya’ll are holdin’ ‘em back, what with not bein’ able ta fly and all. I ain’t gonna do that ta them, and mahself. Resolute once more in her decision, Applejack made to move forwards once more. That was when she heard the sound of hoofsteps. Fear striking her, she darted under the table, brutishly banging the chair legs in her process, but managing to hunker down in her middle, quivering slightly. The hoofsteps revealed themselves as belonging to Applebloom, stomping sleepily down the stairs with little. Applebloom? What’s that silly little filly still doin’ up? Darnit, I didn’t wait long enough! She rubbed her eyes, giving a little yawn, before stretching up to grab a glass, filling with water from the sink. The loud gulps of Applebloom consuming her drink only served to aggravate Applejack even more. Finally, she finished, placing her glass carelessly on the draining board and stumbling away again. Only until at least five minutes at least had past, did she dare move. Applejack wriggled out from under the table, scowling at the stairs ‘Bloom had recently trod. She ain’t never stayed up this late before. I sure hope she ain’t got a dirty magazine from under Mac’s bed. Though, I don’t if he actually does have those sorta things, but Rarity says all stallions have ‘em, she chuckled to herself briefly, the sound breaking the tense silence easily. ‘Course he doesn’t! Mac got all embarrassed when Rainbow’s stretches revealed jus’ a little too much. Hmm, that was a good view. Maybe I can get ‘er to come workout over here again, after all this is over. Submerged in her wandering thoughts, Applejack continued to move through the room, quickly opening the door. The blast of cold air was a shock, but she had no time to hang around in the warmth, so she stepped outside. The entire farm was covered in lengthy shadows, the short grass beneath her hooves dark, and the shiny apples hard to make out. Above her head, the sky was dark, the velvet surface of it dotted by many bright stars and the large, glorious white surface of the moon. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply of the fresh air. She let her breath out, watching it fog in front of her. Beaming, she set off firmly down the dusty path. “Alright! Let’s get this show on th’ road!” A jump in her steps, Applejack began to hum. It was a simple tune, from the lullabye her Ma used to sing to her. Before she knew it, her quiet little humming had slipped into singing as she turned off the path that led to Sweet Apple Acres, instead following a grassy meadow, as the book’s map predicted. “Hush now, quiet now, It’s time to lay your sleepy head, Hush now, quiet now, It’s time to go to bed,” The simple action of singing warmed Applejack up in a way nothing else even came close to. Except for her friends, and her two Very Special Someponies. Often, she would find herself away at it while she heard at work. There was nothing wrong with it, of course, and if anypony told her otherwise she’d have a thing or two to say to them. Soon, she was passing under a very familiar cloud building that was obviously the home of a Pegasus, fixed with liquid rainbow flowing down the sides. She dropped her voice so Dash wouldn’t hear her. As she plodded along, time seemed to fly by. The seconds turned to minutes, and the minutes turned to hours. Or at least, one or two hours. It felt like that anyway. She could see no civilization, no anything, for that matter. Just the endless rows of long, dark grass waving in the wind. Applejack groaned, hunching forwards. Her hooves were aching badly from the long walk. Desperately, she lifted her head, trying to find what she desired. Her eyes lit up like two miniature suns when she took in a few natural slabs of rocks leaning against each other, providing a cave-like structure. She wasted no time, dashing into the dark hollow and collapsing with a sigh. For a while she lay there, until a rumble from her stomach reminded her of a bad cause of hunger that infected her recently. Clumsily undoing her saddlebags, Applejack tugged out the big red-checkered blanket, The Wishing Cave tumbling onto the floor in the process. Cursing, she brought the book over to inspect it. Thankfully, it had sustained no damage. Ya’ll should be more careful, Applejack! What if it got broken?, she mentally scolded herself, before giving chuckle. Ya’ll should also stop talking to yerself. Applejack retrieved the blanket, wrapping it around her sides snuggly. Her ears drooped as she remembered it previously being used to serve food to her winged marefriends. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she opened up her other saddlebag, taking out one of the many apples inside. Crunching down on her tasty snack, Applejack flipped through the book to the page she was looking for. Locating the farm on the map, she traced her path, pleased to see she was going in the right direction. Happily, she tucked the book away again with care. Once she finished her apple, she chucked the core away, maybe to someday grow up into it’s own little tree in the meadow, which could then become an orchard. Smiling, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts of Twilight and Rainbow, beaming at her as she joined them in the sky.