Appledashery

by Just Essay


Have It Your Way

“Rainbow Dash, this was soooooooooo nice of you to treat us all out,” Twilight Sparkle said while levitating a box of hay fries in front of her. “I only hope it isn’t taking too much out of your bit bag!”

“Pffft! Don’t crack your pointy egghead about it, girl!” Rainbow Dash waved a hoof from where she sat across the table inside the Hay Burger joint. “Besides, I’ve been saving up!” She smiled sheepishly.

“Well, they say that money can’t buy you happiness,” Fluttershy said as she took a dainty nibble of a sandwich in front of her. “Mmmmm…” She licked her lips and smiled gratefully. “But apparently it can get some nice tender morsels down your throat.” She giggled lightly.

“Oooh! Oooh! Past the sauce! Past the sauce!” Pinkie flounced and flailed as she struggled to reach across the table.

“Pinkie! Mind your manners! Honestly!” Rarity urged the earth pony back into her seat as she levitated the packets of ketchup and honey glaze across the table. “It’s okay to indulge in some… eh… less than reputable foodstuffs, from time to time, but it’s no excuse to not act like a lady!”

“Awww come on, Rarity.” Applejack stifled a belch before scarfing her way into another sandwich. “Even a unicorn with a belly as delicate as yers has gotta admit that this stuff is mighty scrumptious.”

“Mmmm… Yes. I must admit that it does have its tasty qualities.” Rarity levitated two utensils, carving a ridiculously neat cube of food from the edge of her hay burger. “But you know what they say about too much of a good thing.” She levitated the fork to her pale lips and nibbled.

“Awwwww… you gotta be kiddin’ me!” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Like this, girl!” She proceeded to chomp liberally into her sandwich, splattering her edge of the table with sauce and grease.

Fluttershy flinched; Pinkie giggled.

“Eeugh! For goodness’ sake!” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Do not make me lose my already finicky appetite!” She sighed and smiled Rainbow’s way. “Don’t get me wrong, darling. I know better than to refuse a sign of sincere generosity. I’m quite happy to be receiving this warm and… erm… fried gift of yours.”

“Hey! Eat up!” Rainbow leaned back in her seat, crossing her hooves behind her neck. “And don’t be ashamed to ask for seconds!”

“It’s just nice being able to see you again, dear,” Rarity said with a smile. “I swear, it’s almost as if the sky’s a lot less bluer when you’re not around.”

“Mmmmffnnngh--Tell me about it--mmmff!” Pinkie Pie nodded, wiped her chin, and chirped, “Every time I’ve seen you this week, Dashie, you’ve been dashing away!”

“I have?” Rainbow blinked.

“Rarity and Pinkie Pie have a point,” Twilight said with a nod. “You appear to be awfully busy lately. Let me guess…” She smiled. “You’ve got extra weather duties back in Cloudsdale?”

“You kidding?” Rainbow’s voice cracked. “Ponyville’s clouds take priority! Uh uh! I ain’t leaving this place in the dust!”

“Nopony said you were, Rainbow, but it’s normal for a mare your age to take on more than one job.”

“Oooh! Oooh!” Pinkie hopped in her chair. “Did you get accepted finally into the Wonderbolts?”

“Buh?” Rainbow blinked.

“Oh! That would be positively astounding!” Rarity said, but then blinked. “Wouldn’t it?”

“Heh… trust me, guys…” Rainbow fidgeted in her seat. “If I went off to join the Wonderbolts, I’d totally clue you in on it.”

“Only because you couldn’t contain yourself and the sound of your rainbow colored hairs going off like firecrackers would echo across the whole Equestrian Valley!” Pinkie sputtered. “Crkkkk-pow-pow-pow-ping-zoom!”

“Ahem…” Rarity smiled calmly. “Nothing quite so ridiculous, but I’m certain you would be positively ecstatic.”

“Uh… yeah, sure,” Rainbow said with a nod. “Though maybe with a lot less syllables.”

Twilight Sparkle giggled. “Rainbow, don’t tell us it was all just a phase!”

“Huh?”

“Your dream to join the Wonderbolts! I swear, every time I’ve mentioned them as of late, you just brush off the topic!”

“Pfft! I’m not brushing anything off, Twilight,” Rainbow said.

“Well, certainly not your mane,” Rarity said under her breath, forcing Fluttershy to giggle.

“It’s just that… y’know…” Rainbow fidgeted with the edge of the fast food restaurant’s table. “Some things are… m-more important than others.” She bit her lip, raised her eyes, and looked at Applejack across the way. “Like… like…” With blushing cheeks, she immediately glanced at Twilight. “Like my friends!”

Fluttershy stared fixedly at Rainbow.

“Rainbow…” Twilight’s eyes were narrow. “You didn’t work your tail off this past week just to make this day possible, did you?”

“Huh? Pffft. Come on, Twilight…” Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Would I go to such a length to put a guilt trip on you guys? I was just… y’know… flying around n’stuff. Nothing more to it, and certainly nothing… er… secretive…”

“Secretive?”

“Or… uhm… seclusive… sedimentary… sauerkraut. Don’t look so surprised, Twilight. I’m full of words! Heheheh… heh… hehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” Rainbow deflated against the table.

“Whew-wee, Rainbow!” Applejack exclaimed.

Rainbow gazed her way. “Y-yes, Applejack?” Her eyes sparkled. She slapped herself in the skull, shook the stars out of her eyes, and sat up straight. “I mean… ahem... what’s up, AJ?”

“That filled me up somethin’ proper!” Applejack leaned back, rubbing her belly. “Boy, I tell y’all what. I dun mind eatin’ apples and apple products until the cows come home, but sometimes it’s nice to fill my stomach with somethin’ else for a change. I feel so gosh-darn fueled up I could kick trees from here to Stalliongrad! Whew!”

“I hope you don’t get sick, Applejack,” Fluttershy said.

“Oh, don’t sweat it, sugarcube.” Applejack winked. “Me n’ the rest of my family know just how to keep in shape! I swear, I could laps around Ponyville at this rate!”

“Helps to be in a good mood, I suppose,” Rarity said with a wave of the hoof.

“Dang straight! The farm’s thrivin’! The bits are rollin’ in! I swear, it’s like Celestia herself has been smilin’ on me from the clouds!”

Rainbow smiled warmly with folded ears.

“Hey, you know what me and my sisters used to do when we finished a big meal?!” Pinkie Pie grinned at the rest of the group “We’d play a game of hoof-wrestle to see who’d get the first bite of dessert!”

“I doubt this place serves any dessert,” Rarity said. “But it would be rather thrilling to watch some good-mannered competition.”

“You wanna go at it, Rarity?” Pinkie slapped her elbow on the table, forcing Fluttershy to gasp. “You and me! Mare-o y Mare-o!”

“Oh, please!” Rarity rolled her eyes. “As if I would actually partake in an action so plebeian!”

Pinkie blinked. “But I-I thought you just said--”

“We all know it’s a moot point,” Twilight said. “Rainbow Dash would just take everypony out.”

“Well, perhaps, but Applejack would give her the run for the money,” Rarity said.

“Oooh! Totally!”

“Well, AJ?” Twilight asked.

“Hmmmm…” Applejack cracked the joints in her neck, smirking. “I reckon I have been itchin’ for a rematch ever since the Iron Pony Competition.”

“Uhhhh…” Fluttershy suddenly interjected, sweating slightly. “It’s obvious that Rainbow Dash has had a long week. Maybe… w-we shouldn’t wear her forelimbs out anymore…” She finished this with a spontaneous clearing of the throat.

“Awww, dun be silly! Rainbow’s never one to turn down the opportunity to win at something!” Applejack winked across the table. “Ain’t that right, sugarcube?”

“Uhhhh…” Rainbow Dash stammered, feeling her own heartbeat through her flouncing feathers.

“Well, champ?” Applejack’s green eyes sparkled from the outdoor sunlight wafting in through the windows, highlighting the freckles that hovered over a smug, saucy grin. “You think you can handle me?”

Rainbow lost all oxygen in her lungs. She had to pace her next inhale so as not to look like she needed to collapse. Her eyes caught a glance of Fluttershy’s expression--a very nervous, jittery thing. Then, without a second thought, she smirked back.

“Heh… you’re on.”