//------------------------------// // Chapter five- A repetitive tune // Story: Castle in the clouds // by ovineConventionalist //------------------------------// Six ponies and one dragon stood on the station’s platform. Rarity dithered back and forth counting her bags for what was probably the five hundredth time. The dresses were finished, their designs impeccable. An entire suitcase was devoted to spare materials in case any gowns didn’t fit absolutely perfectly. Nothing, she thought with baited breath, could possibly go wrong. Applejack and Rainbow Dash stood a little apart from the others. Both had decided not to accompany their friends on the trip. Rainbow and Fluttershy’s relationship had grown tense and it made Dash feel as if a part of her was missing. Perhaps if she could avoid Fluttershy, she could also avoid that particular feeling. Rainbow didn’t like to have favourites: but she did consider Fluttershy to be her very best friend. “Rainbow Dash? Can I speak with you?” A soft voice roused her from the regretful reflection. “Yeah, sure.” “Um… I just wanted to say goodbye.” Fluttershy told her. “Oh.” Dash didn’t know what she had been expecting, but still she felt relieved. “And um… I really am sorry.” “I know, you said that already.” Dash didn’t want to go down that road again. The first apology had been bad enough. “I know it’s just… you’ve been so distant lately.” She said sadly. “I miss you.” Don’t give me your pity “Dash, you know I love you… even… even if not in… oh!” Fluttershy threw her hooves around Dash’s neck. Startled, Dash took a step backward but held onto her friend automatically. She closed her eyes, tightening her grip on Fluttershy. For her part, Fluttershy rubbed her back soothingly, making no effort to break the embrace until Rainbow wanted to. It was a shrill ‘AHHHHH!’ that broke the pleasantries. Rarity dived into one of her many cases and resurfaced, relieved, clutching a fancy jewel encrusted hairband in one hoof and her heart in another. Rolling her eyes, Applejack turned back to Twilight, whom she had been speaking with: “Ah spoke to her when she was on ‘er way back from yours house.” AJ informed Twilight. She hesitated, Twilight was concerned about Rainbow who had been acting ‘strange’, Applejack didn’t want to reveal what she knew about the subject. Applejack can withhold information, in fact she can lie if she has to. But both of those things cause her discomfort. “And? Did you notice if she was a little… odd?” “Uh… Ah wouldn’t dwell on it Twi. Go have a good time in Canterlot, ah’ll be here for her if need be.” As if on cue, with a huff and a screech and a gust of air, the train rolled into the station. “Applejack, dear!” Rarity made her way over to the pair as Twilight said her farewell. “We’ll be fine Rare, honest. Ah got a lot of work to do, an’ so have you. Ah’ll see y’all in just a few days.” “Well, if you’re sure.” Rarity said regretfully. “Farewell, Applejack.” Rarity squeezed her friend tight and smiled at her before retreating to load her luggage onto the train. AJ watched her go with a vacant expression. “Bye Applejack.” Said Fluttershy. The orange mare almost jumped out of her skin as her mind was yanked back into the present. “Oh! I’m sorry!” Fluttershy squeaked. “No, ah’m sorry sugarcube, ah don’t know what came over me.” Applejack hugged Fluttershy goodbye, and did her best to look reassuring. Lastly, Pinkie leapt on her. “We’ll all miss you so so so so much!” By the time AJ looked up Pinkie had already materialised onto the train. “Bye Applejack! Bye Rainbow Dash!” She shouted, waving frantically. The train began to move. “Don’t forget to write!” Called Rainbow jokingly. Pinkie merely smiled at her. The mare turned to face the train’s interior and took a deep breath. She hoped Dash wouldn’t notice she hadn’t said goodbye to her personally. But there was a tiny part of Pinkie that hoped she would notice, and dwell on it all week. She wanted Dash to miss her more than anypony. Pinkie Pie shook her head agitatedly to clear it of those thoughts. She wasn’t a a selfish pony. She wished she could go back in time and hug Rainbow like her life depended on it, but she didn’t know if she could have done so without breaking down completely. She didn’t know why she was so upset. It wasn’t like she had ever thought for a moment that Rainbow Dash; the only pony in the world to achieve a sonic rainboom, a pony who was intelligent, loyal, hilarious, and the most fun pony Pinkie knew, not to mention the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria; would ever love her back. Stop thinking icky thoughts! But sometimes there was something in the way Dashie smiled at her, or hung out with her on the ground even when there was nothing to really stick around for, that made her think… just maybe. But not anymore. No, not anymore. Dash had liked Fluttershy all along. Pinkie couldn’t blame her really. Fluttershy was beautiful after all, and slender and graceful. Pinkie was loud and pudgy and overenthusiastic. And why would Rainbow Dash ever want an Earth pony? Pinkie sighed, plastered a smile onto her face and went to join the others in the carriage. **** Rainbow frowned. “What’s the matter sugarcube?” “I've told you I'm fine.” Rainbow was sick of Applejack asking her that question over and over. “No, ah mean what’re ya thinking so hard about jus’ now?” “Oh. Nothin’ really…’ she replied. But that wasn’t quite true. Dash was pondering over Pinkie’s behaviour at the station. She had seemed subdued, or subdued for Pinkie at least. Dash hadn’t nearly been squashed to death- and naturally that was a cause for concern. She tried to turn her attention to the soft crunch of their hooves on the pavement. As they neared Applejack’s orchard, she could hear birdsong coming from the trees, she smiled serenely. She thought back to the last time she had really noticed the happy, carefree chirping sound that nesting birds made. And then her heart dropped. Did Fluttershy tell Pinkie what happened? Was that why Pinkie was being so gentle? Did she think that poor little Dashie-washie was in distress after a rejection? The notion made her skin crawl. Her head hurt. She spat vehemently onto the ground. She couldn’t stand ponies feeling sorry for her. * Half an hour later Dash and AJ were sitting in the shade of a particularly tall tree with some lemonade Granny Smith had made for them. Granny Smith was a truly excellent cook. She must have known about every apple-related recipe in existence and apparently some non-apple related ones as well. Rainbow was acting quiet and moody. She has almost as hard a time hiding her feelings as she does understanding them. Sipping thoughtfully, Applejack decided she could probably give Rainbow some advice without divulging what she knew about her and Fluttershy. She just had to be sneaky. Not sneaky. Applejack never wanted to be associated with that word. How about tactful? “Ya know sugarcube, when ah was a young filly ah had a crush on this other mare and…” “You’re a filly fooler?” Rainbow Dash asked her enthusiastically. “I never knew that about you before!” The conversation already wasn’t going as AJ had expected. She frowned, and Rainbow thought she might have taken offence. “Sorry! I didn’t mean… It’s just that… I’m one too.” “Don’t be sorry sugarcube, it’s just that this filly… well she never liked me back.” Rainbow listened attentively. Applejack had never really opened up to her about anything before. It was something she felt their friendship had been missing. “An’ ah always thought there must be summat wrong with me.” “That’s stupid! There’s nothing wrong with you!” “Ah realise that now but at the time ah was pretty broken up about it.” AJ took a deep breath as she remembered. “An’ then one day there was another filly, she was real nice and smart and ah really liked her but… well she liked me a little more. Do you understand what I’m tryna say?” AJ looked at Rainbow hopefully, she didn’t want to have to spell it out. “Was that pony Cheerilee because I heard…” “NO IT WASN’T CHEERILEE!” Applejack glared. “What I’m try’na say is that ah learned, that no pony is worse off for bein’ single. An’ that just because you aint somepony’s type, doesn’t mean you aint good enough for ‘em. You can think a pony is great or beautiful or whatever an’ still not be attracted to ‘em.” Applejack nodded triumphantly. That hadn’t gone too badly. They sat quietly for a while, enjoying the scenery. They could see Big Macintosh arranging buckets around the trees ready for bucking. It’s one of Ponyville’s greatest mysteries where AJ keeps her thousands of buckets. And barrels. And snow ploughs. No pony ever dares mention it. “But what if I’m nopony’s type?” Rainbow said at last. “Ev’ry pony is somepony’s type sugarcube.” Applejack assured her. “An’ if it don’t work out, well yer fine on yer own. You got your friends an’ we love you. Heck, you got yer family if you ever bothered visitin’ em.” Rainbow wondered if Applejack was capable of envisioning a family that wasn’t completely over-the-moon in each other’s company. She chuckled, feeling warm and reassured. She closed her eyes, content to listen to the rustling of trees in the breeze and smell the ripe apples. Apple-bucking day was over, but there were still a few late bloomers ready to be picked. AJ wasn’t usually busy at this time, but still she had stayed in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash wondered if she had done so to keep her company, but she didn’t dare assume it. “Romance is overrated anyway.” Applejack sighed. She sounded folorn. “How come?” Inquired Rainbow. “The right ponies are never the ones yer actually attracted to.” It was true, Applejack thought. None of the ponies deemed suitable for her were ones she was actually attracted to. Granny Smith had attempted to set her up with various colts, AJ didn’t have the heart to tell her that could never work. Some shrewder family members might introduce her to another mare (typically her second cousin twice removed, or something to that effect) usually from another orchard, eerily similar to other (closer) family members. Farm-ponies weren’t Applejacks type, but it seemed she didn’t have much choice: an apple farm the size of Sweet Apple acres with only two fully-grown able-bodied horses to maintain it is an orchard at risk. Maybe Big Macintosh would marry some paramount farm-pony with extraordinary agriculture abilities. She lived in hope. As for Rainbow, she needed somepony devoted, supportive, with a very resilient occupation and an upbeat nature, willing to go and cheer her on in shows when she became a Wonderbolt, (as Applejack was sure she would) and understanding whenever Rainbow seemed cold and aloof. It wasn't a lost cause though, a pony as loyal and likeable as Dash would surely land the perfect partner. “What do you mean?” Rainbow asked. “If you don’t like them, surely they aren't the right ponies?” AJ chuckled. “It isn’t that simple, sugarcube.” “Why not?” “Because Rainbow Dash, Ah need somepony that can help me with my farm. Somepony strong, who doesn’t mind getting their hooves dirty. But you’ll be OK. A pretty mare like yourself, friendly an’ loyal. Yer gonna make some mare very happy.” AJ nodded at her with a smile. Dash had gone silent. It was a nice change of pace to be complimented rather than berated. It made her insides feel like warm, liquidated sugar. She felt like she had made a real connection with her friend. Pretty. Huh. Ponies don’t usually call me that… Then Rainbow looked up at her as if seeing her for the first time. AJ was pretty too, in her own way. Rainbow took in her glowing face, her freckles, her muscle tone and strong shoulders. She noted the trustworthiness of her expression and honesty in sparkling green eyes. She hadn’t ever looked at Applejack like that before, her heart started to hammer in her chest. AJ quite literally glowed before her. It was strange, having Applejack be open with her. Suddenly she felt differently toward the orange mare, like she was no longer an opponent, no longer friendly competition but something more. It felt safe talking to her after so much heartache. Rainbow felt better than she had done in days. “As fer me, well ah won’t give up lookin’ for somepony nice, who can help me farm.” Said AJ decidedly. “Well, how about me?” Rainbow blurted. The air went tense, the trees stopped rustling and the birds shut up. AJ’s jaw dropped.