//------------------------------//
// Aramadon 
// Story: At The Drop of A Hat 
// by Tchernobog 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash's day hadn't exactly started well.

There was still time to salvage it, though. After all, she'd been looking forward to today all week. Applejack had agreed to spend most of the day with her. She just had to do a few hours of morning chores, and then they would meet up, have lunch, and hang out. In fact, Rainbow Dash had the whole day planned out. As much as having picked out a couple of cool places she could go with Applejack, and then pretty much winging it when she got there counted as a plan. Yes, that definitely counted as a plan. Actually, it was an awesome plan. 

And maybe she could even do that thing that Rarity mentioned about figuring out where they stood. Or, you know, why bother? Things between her and Applejack were just fine.  They were great, even! Rarity was probably just trying to overcomplicate things again. OK, so Rarity wasn't the only one of her friends that said that she and Applejack acted like a couple already. They'd even hung out together last Hearts and Hooves day. But hey, that had been a great day, even without any of that “where they stood” nonsense. They stood just fine. And today was going to be just like that: another great day with her best friend.

Of course, that had been the plan before Applejack had started ignoring her. Rainbow had just decided to drop in and surprise her best friend. Maybe even help her out on the farm a bit, so they could get started on their awesome day even sooner. 

Unfortunately, things were just about as far away from “according to plan” as they could be within less than a half hour of waking up. Applejack had already ditched her twice, running somewhere with the manic dedication of a madpony.

Not one to be easily discouraged, Rainbow decided that one way or another, she was going to figure out what was up with Applejack, and then they were going to have a totally amazing day together. With that goal in mind, Rainbow took to the skies and tried to spot Applejack again. It wasn't too long before she saw a commotion of ponies near the train station. It was as worth checking out as anything. 

Rainbow swooped down and landed by the crowd, eyes peeled for signs of any signs of an orange and yellow pony. She didn't have to look far, as she spotted a forlorn-looking Applejack staring at the departing train. 

Rainbow walked over and put a wing around her, sitting by her side. “Hey there.”

Applejack pulled away for a second, being startled, but then settled back into Rainbow's side. She looked kind of tired. “Oh, hi.”

“What brings you to the train station, AJ?”

Applejack lifted a hoof towards the departing train that was gradually moving into the distance, but then she sighed and put her hoof back down. In a low, grumbling tone that was almost too soft for Rainbow to hear, she mumbled a response. “Ah lost mah hat.” Applejack gave Rainbow a quick glare and elbowed her in the chest. “Thanks a lot for that.”

“Hey, what did I do?” Rainbow answered, giggling at Applejack's antics.

“Ah never would have lost it if you hadn't tackled me this mornin'. Now it's on a train headed to who knows where.” Applejack looked away again, staring at the barely visible train in the distance. She was trying to give off a look of mere annoyance, but Rainbow could see in her eyes that she was more than a little frustrated, and part of her was genuinely sad about losing her hat.

Suddenly Rainbow had a crazy idea. “Let's go after it.”

Applejack looked at her quizzically. “Ah beg your pardon?”

“I can totally catch that train. Come on, I'll take you with me!”

“Oh no you don't. If you want to fly after the train, then go right ahead. Ah'm staying right here on the ground.”

“Oh, come on Applejack, it'll be fun! When have I ever let you down? You can trust me, I'll have you on that train in a jiffy.” Rainbow Dash gave her best impression of puppy dog eyes.

Applejack stared blankly at Rainbow for a few moments before answering. “Ah can't believe Ah'm bein' talked into this...” She shook her head and a determined expression settled on her face. “Fine, let's do it.”

Applejack climbed on Rainbow's back and put her forelegs around her neck. Rainbow flapped her wings a few times to lift off the ground. Applejack tightened her grip as she found herself with no more surface beneath her feet to stand on. Rainbow took a moment to look back and give Applejack her best confident grin. Before turning back to face forward again, she noticed a faint blush on Applejack's cheeks.





It may have been slightly harder to catch up to a speeding train while carrying a passenger than Rainbow Dash had expected. By the time she finally set Applejack down on the roof and landed, she was panting and sweaty.

Applejack looked like she was about to climb down between two sections of the train, but paused when she saw how heavily Rainbow Dash was breathing.

I should ask for a moment to catch my breath, Rainbow thought to herself. On the other hoof, her pride wouldn't quite let her. Applejack rolled her eyes and gave Rainbow a few more moments, not saying a word.

Rainbow couldn't help but feel a little warmth in her chest at that. Applejack really got her...understood her on a level that very few ponies ever did. As perhaps nopony else did. That was a bond she cherished deeply. More deeply than she'd ever been able to say.

Finally, the two made their way down between cars, where a small, railed walkway had been placed over the train's connections. Applejack opened a door, and then turned back to look at Rainbow. “Last Ah saw it, my hat was on a luggage rack. Ah'll go this way, you go look in the train cars in the other direction.”

Rainbow nodded, and opened the door leading to the rear half of the train cars.

Nopony seemed to notice a new pony walking through the train. Rainbow walked steadily, passing by dozens of ponies who were either resting or just chatting with friends. She was in the last train car before she even realized it. It was just the place she wanted to be, too. There were no passengers here, just loads of luggage. Rainbow quickly set about to looking everywhere, peering under bags, craning her neck up over tall stacks of luggage, making a quick but keen-eyed pass over the contents of the car. After a few moments, her search paid off. She saw something in the corner of her eye, and dashed over to pick it up.

At last! She had it! Applejack's Stetson was in her hooves! She would give the hat back, Applejack would be grateful, and they could have a good laugh about all this when they got back to Ponyville.

Rainbow put the Stetson on her head and started walking towards the front of the car, but then she suddenly froze in place. Something felt... off. She took the hat back off and studied it carefully. Did it seem a little bit too big? She looked back towards the very end of the train car.

Uh oh. Her eyes widened. Oohhhh no. She walked slowly towards the back wall of the train, her brain slowly coming to the foreboding conclusion that Stetsons must have been a popular choice on this train ride. There, on a row of mobile luggage racks, were more hats. Counting the one she had already picked up, she was confronted by full thirteen Stetsons.

Oh boy.