//------------------------------// // bats // Story: At The Drop of A Hat // by Tchernobog //------------------------------// Applejack’s brain kicked into high-gear, ‘don’t die’ mode as she took in the rapidly-approaching ground. Noting that she owed Discord a couple of sucker-bucks to the gut for sticking her in a paisley-print muumuu, she tore the billowy garment off herself, grabbed all of the leg holes, and cringed her eyes shut as it puffed out into a makeshift parachute. She hit the last ‘O’ on the sign a touch harder than her flanks appreciated and tumbled end over end into a bush. A long, beleaguered sigh escaped her muzzle as the ugly muumuu drifted on top of her. Applejack wasn’t normally one to take naps, but she was sorely tempted. Rolling out and back onto her hooves, she ran through a mental checklist of all her limbs. All four legs held her weight without complaints, and aside from stiffness in her shoulders and haunches from running all day, she felt no worse for wear. She rubbed the tender spot on her rump and silently thanked Celestia that any extra redness vanished into her cutie mark. She retied the ribbon in her tail that had loosened, patted down her mane, and lifted a hoof to straighten her hat. Oh, right. Groaning, Applejack shook her head clear and took off for the ruins of the ‘D.’ The black-clad pony’s hanglider jutted out from the splintered letter, jagged and torn. She frowned in concern, picking through the debris, scanning for flashes of color. “That landing was awesome, AJ.” She whipped her head towards the wavery voice, finding Rainbow grinning at her from beneath a section of boards. She jumped up and rushed to her friend. “Where’d you come from? And where’d you get the—” she struggled to hide her snickering “—dress?” Applejack muttered an oath of vengeance under her breath as she grabbed the top board. “I see you’re in plenty good spirits. Y’alright, Dash? Anythin’ hurtin’?” “I’m alright,” Rainbow answered, her tone more subdued than normal. Applejack’s pulse jumped as she shoved the first bit of wood away and dug her hooves under the next, but she told herself she’d seen her foolhardy friend fly head-first into rocks on purpose and sound worse-off afterwards. “I had something soft to break my fall.” The last board came free and Rainbow grunted as she pulled herself up, revealing the unconscious hanglider. Applejack poked her with a hoof. “…You got any clue what the heck she was doin’ goin’ after my hat?” “Nuh uh.” Rainbow shook the layer of dust from her coat and lost balance, sinking to her haunches. “Wooh…” Applejack bolted to her friend’s side to lean against. “Easy there, sugarcube.” “I’m fine,” she waved Applejack off with a hoof. “It’s everything else that’s spinning.” “We’ll just sit here for a few,” Applejack assured. “I reckon we both lost track a’ my hat somewhere between you droppin’ me an’ the crash, an’ I ain’t got a clue where the darn thing scurried off to now. No need to be rushin’ around just yet.” Her voice dropped. “If we can find it at all now.” “We’ll find it.” She heard the relief hidden in Rainbow’s tone as her friend stopped struggling to hold herself upright and pressed into her side. Her friend’s messy mane tickled her cheek as she grew aware of how close Rainbow actually was, sending her mind back a few hours to the train. Or minutes ago, if she forced herself to face reality. Hours felt more manageable; she’d pretend it was hours. Applejack cleared her throat. “You, uh…you gonna tell me what that was all about?” “Hey, don’t blame me; it’s your damn hat, and we weren’t gonna get it back just watching some hang-gliding ninja take off with it.” “Not that, Dash. You…” She cleared her throat again. “You kissin’ me.” “…Oh.” A silence stretched out on the hill as Rainbow fidgeted against her. Applejack really wanted her hat back, if only to have something to worry in her hooves and distract her. She took a deep breath. “I-if’n you were just distractin’ me from bein’ angry, just tell me now, Dash.” Her friend stiffened against her, but before Rainbow could answer, she plowed on, “‘Cause if’n after we get my hat back an’ I plant one on your lips as thanks for helpin’, I ain’t too keen on you laughin’ at me.” Rainbow leapt up, staggering on her hooves. “We gotta find your hat right now.” Applejack stifled a snort as she felt heat rise to her face. “Sit your flank back down, you ain’t in no shape to go yet.” “I’m totally cool to go, AJ, let’s find your hat really fast, I mean really fast—” As she turned to face her friend, Applejack caught her mouth in a kiss. Rainbow fell over. “That’s thanks for helpin’ already.” Rainbow blinked at her, cheeks pink, and gave her a goofy grin made all the goofier from dizziness. Sighing again, Applejack helped her up, back against her side until the wooziness passed. The close contact felt a little bit different to both of them. Rainbow broke the growing silence as her head cleared, her voice low. “So…uh…should we…talk about where we ‘stand’?” “Ya mean…talk about ‘us’?” Rainbow coughed. “Well, uhh…I guess we—” The air filled with the sound of sirens. Their attention snapped back to the busy streets of Applewood below them as flashing lights filled a busy street. A lone cart led a high speed chase, and as they watched with jaws slack, a brown speck flew up from the city, catching the wind and sailing high in the air. Rainbow Dash jumped up. “It’s your hat!” Tossing a manic grin over her shoulder, she took off toward the city with Applejack hot on her tail. As they disappeared into the trees, the familiar voice of the black clad pony called after them. “Not so fast!”